What does pulmonary fibrosis mean?

In general, pulmonary fibrosis refers to a lung disease caused by fibroblast proliferation and destruction of lung tissue structure. A detailed analysis is as follows:

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive, fibrotic interstitial pneumonia that commonly affects the elderly. The interstitial tissues of the lungs are composed of collagen, elastin, and glycoproteins. When fibroblasts are damaged by chemical or physical injury, they secrete excessive collagen, leading to abnormal repair of lung interstitial tissue and ultimately resulting in pulmonary fibrosis. The main symptom is shortness of breath. After irreversible damage occurs in the lung interstitial tissue, the maximum air volume within the lungs is directly affected. Therefore, patients often experience symptoms such as rapid breathing and increased respiratory rate, which become particularly evident during physical activity or stress. As the disease progresses, patients develop worsening dyspnea, may have a dry cough or produce small amounts of mucous sputum, occasionally with blood-tinged sputum, and are prone to secondary infections.

Treatment of pulmonary fibrosis should focus on controlling infection and slowing the progression of fibrosis, along with symptomatic management. It is important to maintain healthy lifestyle habits and avoid consuming spicy or irritating foods such as pepper, chili, and garlic, as these may impair recovery.