Lung Diseases and Care

Pulmonary Fibrosis and Cystic Fibrosis

Pulmonary Fibrosis is a disease is marked with a scar in the lungs. Tissue deep in the lungs becomes thick, stiff and scarred. Scarring is called fibrosis. As the lung tissue becomes scarred, it interferes with a person's ability to exhale or inhale. In some cases, the cause of pulmonary fibrosis can be found. But most cases of fibrosis have no known cause. This case is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis is a serious disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs and system. An inherited condition, cystic fibrosis affects the cells that manufacture secretion, sweat and digestive juices. These secreted fluids area unit normally skinny and slippery. However in fibrocystic disease of the pancreas, a defective citron causes the secretions to become thick and sticky. Rather than acting as a material, the secretions plug up tubes, ducts and passageways, especially in the lungs and pancreas. The key difference between Cystic Fibrosis and Pulmonary Fibrosis is that Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder where multiple organs including lungs, gastrointestinal system, pancreas as well as the genital system are affected while lung fibrosis is a condition characterized by gradual fibrosis of the lung parenchyma causing defects in the gas diffusion leading to respiratory failure at later stages.