Definition

Pulmonary fibrosis is scarring in the lungs.

Description

Pulmonary fibrosis develops when the alveoli, tiny
air sacs that transfer oxygen to the blood, become damaged
and inflamed. The body tries to heal the damage
with scars, but these scars collapse the alveoli and make
the lungs less elastic. If the cycle of inflammation and
scarring continues, the lungs become increasingly unable
to deliver oxygen to the blood. Changes in the lungs can
also increase the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery.
This condition, called pulmonary hypertension, makes
the heart work harder and it may fail.

Pulmonary fibrosis can result from many different
lung diseases including sarcoidosis, drug reactions,
autoimmune diseases, environmental allergies such as
Farmer