Lung Fibrosis Treatment In India
Having lung fibrosis is very dreadful because you fear becoming a burden to your family. You might also be worried about the cost and side effects related to the treatment of lung fibrosis.
If you desire to find a solution to all these problems, then you are on the right place.
Some of the treatment options for lung fibrosis in India range from allopathic medicine, Ayurvedic remedies, homeopathic solutions, and innovative treatment options involving stem cell therapy.
Why does it matter?
Each treatment approach offers unique benefits that may aid you in managing your symptoms, slowing the rate of disease progression, and improving your overall health. These options will better equip you to pick a suitable option that will enhance your health.
Key Takeaways
- Learn about what lung fibrosis is: its definition, causes, symptoms, and its types to get an overview of what you are dealing with.
- Detailed insights into treatment options available in India. How each treatment variant handles- Allopathy, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, and Stem Cell therapy to help you make decisions well-taken.
- A detailed guide to the potential side effects of each type of treatment, so that you know what lies ahead.
- This includes knowledge of the complications likely to arise from lung fibrosis, requiring appropriate and timely medical intervention.
- General information on the life expectancy after diagnosis helps in planning a future for both the patient and his or her family.
- Comparing lung fibrosis to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), explaining the differences and similarities between both conditions.
What is Lung Fibrosis?
Lung fibrosis or pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease where damaged and scarred tissues make it hard for you to breathe. The problem with breathing worsens over time.
The cause of this condition is unknown in most of the cases. When the cause of it is not found by the doctor, it is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. It usually affects middle-aged and older adults.
You need to understand that lung damage from this condition cannot be repaired, but medications, therapies, and sometimes lung transplants can help manage symptoms and boost your overall health.
What are the common symptoms of Lung Fibrosis?
The common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis or lung fibrosis are as follows:
- Dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained weight loss
- Muscle and joint aches
- Fatigue
- Widening and rounding of the tips of your finger
What are the causes of Lung Fibrosis?
As said above, pulmonary fibrosis is the scarring and thickening of your lung tissue. This makes it harder for oxygen to enter your bloodstream. Though experts have not found the exact cause of this disease, it can happen by long-term exposure to toxins, some medications, radiation therapy, or medical conditions.
Your environment and job can also cause pulmonary fibrosis. More so, if you’re exposed to harmful substances like silica dust, asbestos, or mold without protection. Besides, radiation therapy for lung or breast cancer may also cause lung damage over time, depending on the dose and area treated.
Certain medications, including chemotherapy, heart drugs, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories, can also harm lung tissue. Apart from that, medical conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and pneumonia can lead to lung damage and fibrosis.
What are the different types of Pulmonary Fibrosis?
There are around 200 different types of lung fibrosis. Here are the most common types:
The most common type of pulmonary fibrosis is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and it has no known cause. Its symptoms begin between ages 50 and 70. While it’s more common in men, cases in women are increasing.
Exposure to harmful materials like asbestos or silica can also cause pulmonary fibrosis. Moreover, inhaling bird or animal droppings, radiation treatments, and some medications can also lead to PF. Smoking further increases the risk of developing this disease.
Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and Sjogren’s syndrome can cause PF. Additionally, viral infections and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), where stomach acid backs up into the throat, are risk factors. GERD may lead to tiny drops of acid being inhaled and this can damage the lungs.
Familial pulmonary fibrosis (FPF) is rare. It occurs when two or more members of your family have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or another form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). Some genes are linked to PF, but much remains unknown. If a family member has had any type of interstitial lung disease, consult your doctor and a genetic counsellor to understand your risk.
After COVID-19, some people have experienced a persistent cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms of post-lung fibrosis can vary. Some might get worse, some may improve gradually, and others may remain stable but ongoing. Some other common symptoms of post-covid PF are fatigue, depression, and anxiety.
But having a cough or shortness of breath after COVID-19 doesn’t necessarily mean you have pulmonary fibrosis. To get it confirmed, you should consult a doctor.
How is Pulmonary Fibrosis diagnosed?
The doctor will go through your medical history and perform a physical exam to check your symptoms. They may check your lungs for unusual sounds.
As pulmonary fibrosis can resemble other lung diseases, diagnosing it can be tricky. To help with this, your doctor might ask you to undergo some tests.
Let’s learn about these tests:
Your doctor may prescribe blood tests to rule out other illnesses that could be causing your symptoms. These tests can also help monitor how the disease progresses over time after you’ve been diagnosed.
This test checks the oxygen levels in your blood. You’ll walk for six minutes with a probe on your finger or forehead.
This test is used to assess how oxygen saturation levels change after a respiratory event or how decreased oxygen levels could affect health outcomes.
These are called pulmonary function tests. For these tests, doctors use different devices to measure how well your lungs work and how much air they can hold.
Your doctor may use a high-resolution CT (HRCT) scan to get a detailed look at your lung tissue. HRCT provides clearer images than regular CT scan and it shows healthy lung tissue as nearly black and scar tissue or inflammation as grey or white. There are many forms of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and they look alike on a scan. However, HRCT shows subtle differences and identifies the specific type.
If tests are inconclusive, a lung biopsy might be needed to determine the exact type of PF and to decide the treatment options.
A surgeon will take a small sample of your lung tissue through a tiny cut between the ribs for the biopsy. It is done sometimes to confirm whether you have pulmonary fibrosis.
What are the options for Lung Fibrosis Treatment in India?
If you are planning lung fibrosis treatment in India, you can avail a range of options for treatment at an affordable cost.
Coming to India will give you traditional treatment options like Ayurveda and Homeopathy to modern Allopathy and super advanced Stem Cell therapy. Each method offers unique benefits.
Let’s learn about all these treatments:
Ayurvedic treatment for Pulmonary Fibrosis is one of the best solutions as Ayurvedic or natural herbs have no side effects on your body.
You can expect remarkable improvement in the condition and recovery with consistent use of Ayurvedic medicines within a few months of treatment.
Ayurveda even has a treatment option for Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis where the focus is on the consumption of natural drugs along with lifestyle modification hence providing holistic improvement in the condition.
As per Ayurveda, the scarring and inflammation in tissues due to lung fibrosis can hinder gas exchange between your lungs and bloodstream. This can lead to symptoms like shortness of breath, dry cough, tiredness, etc.
Ayurveda can offer additional support along with your standard medical treatment to manage your lung fibrosis. However, you need to consult a specialist while integrating these therapies with your regular treatment.
MedicoExperts can help you the best Ayurvedic specialists in India who will help you integrate the goodness of natural herbs with your regular medical treatment.
Homeopathy aims to treat the condition along with the cause. It treats specific symptoms. Homeopathic treatment is tailored according to your needs and takes into consideration, among other things, causes, symptoms, and your condition as well.
Due to this holistic treatment, you see an overall improvement in your health gradually.
Also, homeopathy aims to treat both physical symptoms and emotional well-being. This personalized approach is effective in managing acute conditions like pulmonary fibrosis and promoting recovery.
Some common homeopathic medicines for lung fibrosis are safe and effective. Your homeopathic doctor will provide you with these medicines after looking at the symptoms and condition of pulmonary fibrosis.
Medico Experts can help you connect with homeopathic specialists who can help you boost your recovery from pulmonary fibrosis with personalized care.
Allopathic treatment aims to slow lung fibrosis progression or improve symptoms and your overall health.
Allopathic treatment will completely depend on the cause and severity of your condition. Your doctors may prescribe medicines that help slow disease progression but may have side effects like nausea or liver issues for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Oxygen therapy is another treatment option for PF. This therapy can ease your breathing, improve sleep, and support heart health. But at the same time, you need to know that it doesn’t stop lung damage.
Another treatment option for you is pulmonary rehabilitation. It includes exercise, breathing techniques, and counselling to help you manage symptoms.
Stem cell therapy for the treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis is one of the latest treatment options. In this therapy, your mesenchymal cells will be used to promote cell regeneration in the affected area. Post Covid Lung Fibrosis treatment using this therapy has given good results in several cases where the extent of lung damage was not much.
Stem cells are special cells that can turn into different types of cells in your body. Scientists have studied different types of them including the ones that are found in your lungs. They have also done extensive research on delivering these cells through injections, inhalation, or directly into the lungs.
MedicoExperts will help you gain access to personalized consultations and help you connect with the best stem cell specialist in India.
What is the life expectancy of people with Lung Fibrosis?
If you are suffering from PF, you may be worried about your life expectancy with this disease.
There is no doubt that pulmonary fibrosis is a serious condition, but ongoing research is helping people live longer with better health.
No doctor can predict how long you can live with PF because it depends completely on factors like your age, health, lifestyle, and disease severity.
The best approach for you is to work closely with your doctor and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Apart from that you should also discuss treatment options with them.
What are the differences between PF and COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosis (PF) are two different diseases.
COPD causes several complications among which are emphysema and chronic bronchitis, a disease that affects alveoli, which can be described as tiny air sacs of the lungs. Chronic bronchitis involves inflamed airways and excessive amounts of mucus, and it creates a cough. Emphysema literally damages lung tissue and brings about breathlessness. In general, most suffer from both diseases.
The symptoms of COPD are cough, breathlessness, swelling in legs, tiredness, and fatigue. Now, let’s check the differences between PF and COPD:
- In COPD, your airway gets obstructed due to chronic bronchitis and emphysema. But pulmonary fibrosis (PF) results from scarring in the lung tissue, stiffens the lungs, and reduces oxygen exchange.
- Doctors use inhalers to open airways in COPD. In the case of PF, the treatment is aimed at trying to slow down the scarring process with anti-fibrotic drugs. Although they both lead to breathlessness, they differ, for the following reasons: their causes are different, and so their treatment differences range from the intake of inhalation types used in the treatment to operation in one of them.
Takeaway
We understand all the doubts you have regarding your treatment for lung fibrosis. We have tried to answer all your questions related to this disease and the treatment options you will get in India.
Lung fibrosis treatment in India will not only give you various treatment options but also help you get them at an affordable cost. Along with that, you will get the options of different combination therapy.
MedicoExperts can guide you throughout your treatment procedure. We can assist you connect with the best doctors and hospitals in India keeping in mind your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1. What is the best treatment for pulmonary fibrosis?
A. Stem cell therapy has shown some remarkable results in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Using this therapy can slow down or halt the scarring process of the tissues by calming your immune system.
Q2. How to regenerate lung tissue naturally?
A. Your lung tissue can heal and replace lost cells after an injury. But it’s not the same for adults. Nevertheless, stem cell therapy can help regenerate the lung tissues naturally.
Q3. Why does cystic fibrosis cause lung infections?
A. Cystic fibrosis causes lung infections because the thick and sticky mucus that builds up in your lungs creates an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. This excess mucus clogs your airways and makes it difficult to clear out bacteria and other germs.
As a result, the trapped bacteria can multiply and this leads to frequent lung infections. These infections cause inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) in your lungs over time and worsen your respiratory function.
Q4. How to know if you have lung fibrosis?
A. If you experience any of the symptoms, you should reach out to a doctor. The doctor will conduct some tests, which may include blood tests, oxygen desaturation study, HRCT scan, and biopsy to find whether you have lung fibrosis.
Q5. What is the new treatment for lung fibrosis?
A. Cell-based therapy is one of the new treatments for lung fibrosis.
Best Hospitals for Lung Fibrosis Treatment In India
MedicoExperts is a Global virtual hospital which is established to offer quality healthcare services at affordable pricing without compromising the success rates of the treatment.
MedicoExperts is having a network of highly experienced super specialist doctors and well equipped hospitals across the globe and offering second opinion through online video consultation and surgical interventions through its empanelled super specialist doctors at its network hospitals in 17 countries from 3 continents.
By the virtue of its approach and model, MedicoExperts is successfully achieve to deliver
- Latest and most advanced treatments with success rates of international benchmarks.
- Multiple cost options depending upon the hospital facilities, with the same doctor.
- Treatment option in multiple cities/state/countries.
- Trust and peace of mind.
Most suitable for patients who are looking for:-
- Planned Surgeries and treatment from most experienced doctors and at multiple cost options as per hospital facilities with best possible outcomes.
- Second Opinion from expert doctors.
- Complex cases involving multi specialities
- International patients looking for treatment from Indian doctors
Relevant Articles For You
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10590845/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8212400/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1230/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353690
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7794751/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6310083/
- https://jpc.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jpc/article/view/538/368
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Author Bio:
Dr. Ashita Nandgaonkar – BHMS, MS in psychological counseling
Dr. Ashita Nandgaonkar is a highly esteemed homeopathic doctor with a passion for holistic healing and patient-centered care. Dr. Nandgaonkar remains dedicated to raising awareness about the benefits of homeopathy and promoting its integration into mainstream healthcare. Her mission is to empower individuals on their journey to health and wellness, embracing the holistic approach that homeopathy offers. She has a special interest in researching Homeopathic solutions for diseases that are difficult to treat with conventional medicines and therapies.
Content Medically Reviewed By MedicoExperts Editorial & Clinically Review Board
