The lungs are the most important part of the human body. Without them, we could not breathe or function. The lungs pass the oxygen and help to circulate it in the body. As lungs are vital to our body, we must take care of them and help them to function better. The lungs often suffer from acute diseases, we must identify these diseases and treat them. One of such diseases is Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD).
What is Interstitial Lung Disease?
Interstitial Lung Disease can refer to several lung diseases, from inflammation to scarring. Interstitial Lung Disease can cause the lungs to have difficulties breathing and getting enough oxygen.
The Causes –
The list of causes for Interstitial Lung Disease can be very long and widespread –
- Silica dust
- Asbestos fibres
- Grain dust
- Radiation treatments
- Taking medications such as Otrexup, Trexall, amiodarone, Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid, Macrodantin), and ethambutol (Myambutol), rituximab (Rituxan), or sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), can damage lung tissues. ILD can also be caused by medical conditions such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Scleroderma, Dermatomyositis and polymyositis, Mixed connective tissue disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, Sarcoidosis. These diseases for a prolonged time can severely damage your lungs.
- Smoking can be a known reason for ILD
- Sometimes family history can be the root cause of ILD
Know all the Symptoms-
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness and weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Dry cough
- Chest discomfort
The Treatment Required–
Though Interstitial Lung Disease cannot be cured forever, several treatments can be done to stop further lung damage. The following are some treatments that can be done to protect the lungs from getting worse –
- Lung transplant – lung transplants are done when the condition of one lung is too bad to function any further. This procedure is done to replace the diseased lung with a new one so that the patient may live. Lung transplant is a complex procedure and it is not always fruitful, as someone else’s lung may not suit your body for a lifetime. It is a very costly as well as a dangerous procedure but is often considered as an act of desperation, the last resort option. You can find one of the best lungs transplants in Hyderabad.
- Oral medicine – sometimes oral medicines as prescribed can be enough to cure your lung’s tissue damage.
- Oxygen therapy – here the patient is provided oxygen through masks and tubes. As a lung may lose its ability to breathe oxygen by itself because of ILD, oxygen therapy helps the lung to relax.
- Pulmonary rehab – here you are given all the exercises and training to get your lungs to work better with time.
Final Overview
All these treatments vary from one patient to another. Taking steps without a doctor’s consultation is ill-advised. And if a lung transplant is prescribed, Dr. Gokhale is considered to be the best lung specialist in Hyderabad. His clinic offers the best lung transplant surgery in Hyderabad. It is the safest and most reliable clinic in the whole country. These experts will guide you in every step of the way and will help you to find immediate solutions to your ailment.