Over time, the effects of these diseases can limit your breathing and lead torespiratory failureand even death.
Although ILD can take many forms, most of these conditions are rare.
These include genetic mutations, environmental exposures, certain medications, and other systemic health conditions.
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For example,idiopathic pulmonary fibrosisis lung inflammation and scarring without a known cause.
The section that follows includes categories of causes and the most common types of ILD associated with each cause.
Autoimmune Conditions
When you have an autoimmune disease, your body starts to attack its own tissues.
There are many forms of autoimmune disease, including types that affect the lungs.
Exposure to Toxic Substances or Irritants
Toxic environmental exposures are also linked to lung diseases.
Irritating chemicals, air pollution, and extreme climate changes can contribute to breathing problems.
This includes working with paints, asbestos, construction materials, or smoking cigarettes.
Chemotherapy and radiation are prime examples.
Then, they will assess your overall health and body functions.
Beyond that, treatments will vary depending on your throw in of ILD and the underlying cause.
Regular, ongoing monitoring and care can also help you maximize your quality of life with ILD.
It’s important to understand the full nature of your disease and what a worsening condition might look like.
Even with treatment, ILD can lead to death in as little as three to five years.
Those who survive longer may have been able to receive alung transplant.
When ILD does become fatal, flare-ups and pneumonia are the most common causes.
Healthy lifestyle choices can help you avoid preventable causes, though.
Even with treatment, many forms of ILD are fatal within a few years of diagnosis.
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