Pulmonary Fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is scarring of the lung tissue that makes the lungs stiff, reduces their ability to expand, and gradually limits how much oxygen can enter the bloodstream. The core problem is progressive thickening and stiffening of the tissue around the air sacs (alveoli), which makes breathing increasingly difficult. mayoclinic.org
🫁 What pulmonary fibrosis is
Pulmonary fibrosis is a form of interstitial lung disease (ILD) characterized by:
- Scar tissue formation in the lung interstitium
- Reduced lung elasticity, making deep breaths difficult
- Impaired oxygen transfer, leading to shortness of breath and fatigue
In many cases, the cause is unknown. When no cause can be identified, it’s called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the most common subtype. mayoclinic.org
🔍 Symptoms you might see
- Shortness of breath, especially with activity
- Dry, persistent cough
- Fatigue
- Unintentional weight loss
- Aching muscles or joints
- Clubbing (widening/rounding of fingertips)
mayoclinic.org
🧪 What causes it?
Pulmonary fibrosis can result from several categories of triggers:
- Environmental exposures — silica dust, asbestos, metal dusts, mold, bird droppings
- Autoimmune diseases — rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma
- Medications — certain chemotherapy drugs, amiodarone, nitrofurantoin
- Radiation therapy to the chest
- Unknown causes — idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
mayoclinic.org
🩺 How it’s diagnosed
Diagnosis usually involves:
- High‑resolution CT scan (HRCT)
- Pulmonary function tests
- Blood tests
- Sometimes bronchoscopy or lung biopsy
my.clevelandclinic.org
💊 Treatment options
There is no cure, but treatments can slow progression and improve quality of life:
- Antifibrotic medications (nintedanib, pirfenidone)
- Oxygen therapy
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Corticosteroids (in select cases)
- Lung transplantation for eligible patients
my.clevelandclinic.org
📈 Outlook
Pulmonary fibrosis is typically progressive, but the rate varies widely.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis often has an average life expectancy of 3–5 years, though many people live longer, especially with newer treatments.
Want to go deeper?
You can explore:
- idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- pulmonary fibrosis symptoms
- pulmonary fibrosis treatment options
If you’d like, I can also explain how it’s diagnosed, how it progresses, or how it’s treated in more detail.
Diseases and Disorders
Digital World Medical School
© 2026