Interstitial lung disease describes ample amounts of disorders, most of which cause progressive scarring of lung tissue.
FREMONT, CA: Identifying and deciding the cause of interstitial lung disease can be challenging. A lot of disorders fall into this broad category. Moreover, the signs and symptoms of various medical conditions can mimic interstitial lung disease, and doctors must control these before making a definitive diagnosis.
The lung scarring that arises in interstitial lung disease can't be reversed, and treatment will not always be effective in stopping the final progression of the disease. However, some treatments may improve symptoms temporarily or slow the disease's progress. Others help improve quality of life.
Because many types of scarring disorders have no approved or proven therapies, clinical studies may be an option to receive an experimental treatment.
Medications
Intense research is ongoing to identify treatment options for specific types of interstitial lung disease. However, based on currently available scientific evidence, still, your doctor may recommend:
• Corticosteroid medications. Numerous people diagnosed with interstitial lung diseases are primarily treated with a corticosteroid (prednisone), sometimes in combination with other drugs that subdue the immune system. Based on the cause of the interstitial lung disease, this combination may slow or even balance disease progression.
• Medicines that obtuse the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The medicines pirfenidone (Esbriet) and nintedanib (Ofev) may be obtuse to the rate of disease progression. Treatment-relevant side effects may be considerable. Talk using the pros and cons of these medications with your doctor.
• Medications that reduce stomach acid. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects most people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and is associated with exacerbation of lung damage. If you have signs of acid reflux, your doctor may prescribe GERD therapies that reduce stomach acid, comprising H-2-receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors like lansoprazole (Prevacid 24HR), omeprazole (Prilosec OTC) and pantoprazole (Protonix).
Oxygen therapy
Oxygen therapy can't stop lung damage, but it can:
• Make breathing and exercise better.
• Avoid or lessen complications from low blood oxygen levels.
• Decrease blood pressure on the correct side of your heart
• Improve your sleep and sense of well-being
Although some people use it round-the-clock, you're most likely to receive oxygen when you sleep or exercise.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
The purpose of pulmonary rehabilitation is not just to improve daily functioning but also to help people with interstitial lung disease live full, satisfying lives. To that end, pulmonary rehabilitation programs concentrate on:
• Physical exercise to better your endurance
• Breathing techniques that refine lung efficiency
• Emotional support
• Nutritional counseling
Surgery
Lung transplantation may be an alternative last resort for some people with serious interstitial lung disease who haven't availed of other treatment options.
