Famous tabla player and Padma Vibhushan Ustad Zakir Hussain Sahab passed away on Monday. His family confirmed that he suffered from a rare lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
He has been admitted to a hospital in San Francisco, United States, for the past two weeks. When his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to intensive care. He breathed his last there.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease. In this, such scars and injuries occur in the lungs, which cannot be cured. Apart from this, in this disease, the tissues of the lungs become hard, making it difficult to breathe. In such a situation, respiratory failure may occur and death may also occur. According to a study published in “Science Direct”, 3 to 5 million people are affected by IPF worldwide.
That’s why today in “Sehatnama” we will talk about Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. You will also learn that-
What are the symptoms of IPF? What are its risk factors? What is the treatment for IPF and how to manage it?
What is REIT? IPF is a chronic lung disease. In this disease, the tissues around the alveoli of the lungs become thick and hard. If you’ve ever seen a photo of a lung, you’ll notice that it has many branches that grow like a tree. There are many clusters in between, like balloons. These are the alveoli. These help with breathing.
When the tissues around them become thick, the lungs have to exert a lot of force to breathe, leading to injury. In this, respiratory problems increase over time.
The word idiopathic in this disease means that the cause of the health problem is unknown. Pulmonologist Dr Vivek Gundappa says the exact cause of IPF is yet to be determined. However, some doctors believe there could be genetic and environmental reasons. It is also difficult to diagnose this disease.
What are the symptoms of IPF? Dr. Vivek Gundappa says IPF symptoms usually develop gradually. So it’s a little difficult to detect it quickly. Despite this, if we pay attention, our body gives off signals such as difficulty breathing, restlessness and weakness. What are its other symptoms, see in the graph:
Risk Factors for IPF No exact cause of IPF has yet been identified. Despite this, there are certain conditions under which the risk may increase. In this, smoking and family history are considered major risk factors. Apart from this, there are many other risk factors, see the chart:
What is the treatment for IPF? Dr. Vivek Gundappa says there is no cure for this disease. Despite this, administering treatment can make it easier for the patient to breathe. If the lungs deteriorate rapidly due to illness, this can be reduced.
When doctors treat IPF, they try to control the symptoms rather than cure the condition. For this, certain medications, oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation can be administered.
Some Common Questions and Answers Related to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Question: How is IPF diagnosed? Answer: IPF symptoms develop slowly over time. It is therefore difficult to diagnose it immediately. The lung damage caused by IPF is similar to that caused by other diseases. It is therefore difficult to detect it. To confirm this, most of the following tests may need to be performed:
Chest
Question: How long do people live with IPF? Answer: According to the American Heart Association, IPF typically affects people between the ages of 50 and 70. At this age, people’s bodies are no longer able to cope with any illness. Therefore, after IPF diagnosis, people only live 3 to 5 years.
However, the lifespan of a person with IPF also depends on the following factors:
How old is the person. What is his general health? How quickly the disease progresses.
Question: If someone suffers from IPF, what should they avoid in food? Answer: If a person suffers from IPF, they should eat very little salt and sugar in their diet. Saturated and trans fats should also be avoided. Overall, fried and processed foods should not be consumed.
Question: Does the effect of IPF differ from person to person? Answer: Yes, FPI is considered unpredictable. Its symptoms may vary from patient to patient.
In some people with IPF, lung damage develops slowly, while in others it can develop very quickly. If symptoms worsen quickly, it can be fatal.
Question: If someone has IPF, what lifestyle changes should they make for management? Answer: Usually, after being diagnosed with IPF, a person only survives 3 to 4 years. Despite this, to make life easier and increase life expectancy, we should make the following changes in our lifestyle:
If you smoke, stop immediately to slow or reduce lung damage. Continue to exercise regularly as fitness is very important for overall well-being. Follow a balanced diet to strengthen the immune system. Get vaccinated on time to prevent infections like pneumonia and. flu that causes damage to the body. If a person has a respiratory infection, keep your distance from him.
Apart from this, continue to take the medicines, vitamins and supplements given by the doctor on time.
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