Comprehensive Overview of Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a long-term lung disease characterized by the formation of scar tissue in the lung tissue. Its precise cause remains unknown, which categorizes it as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. As the disease advances, lung elasticity diminishes, impairing breathing. Contributing factors include genetic predisposition, exposure to toxins like asbestos and silica, certain medications, smoking, and environmental dust. Symptoms often start subtly with shortness of breath, dry cough, and fatigue, progressing to severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, and finger clubbing. Though treatments like pirfenidone and nintedanib can slow progression, a lung transplant may be necessary in advanced cases. Ongoing research offers hope for future cures.