Slowing Lung Disease

Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease. The damaged and scarred lung tissue impairs lung function, making it harder to breathe over time. Up to 40,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. The condition's cause is unknown in many cases, but it can result from environmental pollutants, some medicines, connective tissue diseases and interstitial lung disease.

While this type of lung damage can't be repaired, your doctor can treat the symptoms.

LYCAT, a protein found in the human bloodstream, could help patients with pulmonary fibrosis live longer. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine found that patients with pulmonary fibrosis who had higher levels of LYCAT in their bloodstream had significantly better lung function and higher chances of living three years or longer after being diagnosed. Since pulmonary fibrosis doesn't present with symptoms until its advanced stages, patients typically only survive three to five years after diagnosis.

A postdoctoral research assistant surmised that LYCAT has the potential to slow the disease over time, a potential breakthrough considering that many current treatments for pulmonary fibrosis only work in a small number of patients. Treatments range from chemotherapy, radiation and antibiotics to heart medications.

Lung disease can affect anyone, but some people are at higher risk. Individuals who may need a lung screening include those regularly exposed to chemicals and smokers. Working with asbestos, silica and/or beryllium, coal dust, and hard metal dust can damage the lungs and lead to pulmonary fibrosis. If you smoked one pack a day for 30 years or the pack-years equivalent, you could be at higher risk for lung cancer.

Your lungs deserve to be treated well throughout your lifetime. To reduce disease and damage:

• Breathe deeply. Try adding five or 10 minutes of deep breathing exercises before you go to bed each night. This can help work the diaphragm, which allows your lungs to expand and have greater capacity. According to the American Lung Association, the average human takes 20,000 breaths a day.
• Prepare for cold and flu season. Get the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available, wash your hands frequently and stay away from crowds to reduce your risk of infection.
• Steer clear of tobacco and other chemicals. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you want to quit or have failed in the past, talk with your physician about what could help you quit for good.
• Work your lungs with a walk. Walking just 20 minutes a day can boost circulation and push out any toxins you've been exposed to throughout the day.

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