`
`What is Pulmonary Fibrosis?
`Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition characterized by scar tissue growth inside the lungs.
`When you breathe, oxygen usually moves through air sacs within the bloodstream and
`travels to the organs in your body. People who suffer from pulmonary fibrosis develop
`a thick scar tissue that slows down oxygen that flows from their lungs to their blood,
`which prevents the body from being able to work as well as it should.
`
`Stiff scar tissue and low oxygen levels make breathing difficult and uncomfortable.
`While there are a few treatments that can help the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis,
`there is no cure and symptoms don’t usually get better. For some people, pulmonary
`fibrosis worsens quickly, while others can live for a decade or more after their
`diagnosis. Some therapies make breathing easier and can help patients manage
`symptoms.
`
`Exposure to environmental factors like pollution, medications and some infections can
`cause pulmonary fibrosis (PF), but most of the time the cause is unknown. People at a
`higher risk of developing PF are those who smoke, breathe in metal or wood dust and
`those who have acid reflux disease. People who suffer from PF experience symptoms
`like a dry, hacking cough that won’t go away, shortness of breath, feeling tired, aching
`Singapore Exhibit 2013
`joints and muscles and the clubbing of fingers and toes. PF can be difficult to tell apart
`Lassen v. Singapore et al.
`PGR2019-00053
`
`https://pulmonaryfibrosisnow.org/2018/09/16/can-asthma-cause-pulmonary-fibrosis/[11/14/2019 9:29:21 AM]
`
`
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`What You Need to Know About Pulmonary Fibrosis and Asthma – PulmonaryFibrosisNow.org | PulmonaryFibrosisNow.org
`
`What is Pulmonary Fibrosis?
`Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition characterized by scar tissue growth inside the lungs.
`When you breathe, oxygen usually moves through air sacs within the bloodstream and
`travels to the organs in your body. People who suffer from pulmonary fibrosis develop
`a thick scar tissue that slows down oxygen that flows from their lungs to their blood,
`which prevents the body from being able to work as well as it should.
`
`Stiff scar tissue and low oxygen levels make breathing difficult and uncomfortable.
`While there are a few treatments that can help the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis,
`there is no cure and symptoms don’t usually get better. For some people, pulmonary
`fibrosis worsens quickly, while others can live for a decade or more after their
`diagnosis. Some therapies make breathing easier and can help patients manage
`symptoms.
`
`Exposure to environmental factors like pollution, medications and some infections can
`cause pulmonary fibrosis (PF), but most of the time the cause is unknown. People at a
`higher risk of developing PF are those who smoke, breathe in metal or wood dust and
`those who have acid reflux disease. People who suffer from PF experience symptoms
`like a dry, hacking cough that won’t go away, shortness of breath, feeling tired, aching
`joints and muscles and the clubbing of fingers and toes. PF can be difficult to tell apart
`
`https://pulmonaryfibrosisnow.org/2018/09/16/can-asthma-cause-pulmonary-fibrosis/[11/14/2019 9:29:21 AM]
`
`
`
`What You Need to Know About Pulmonary Fibrosis and Asthma – PulmonaryFibrosisNow.org | PulmonaryFibrosisNow.org
`from other lung diseases like asthma because it shares many of the same symptoms.
`
`What is Asthma?
`Asthma is a disease that is characterized by inflamed bronchial tubes and the
`increased production of secretion inside the tubes. People who suffer from asthma
`experience symptoms of airway tightening which can include coughing, wheezing,
`shortness of breath, chest pain and tightness. People experience symptoms of asthma
`in what are known as “asthma attacks.” Attacks are episodes where the muscles that
`surround the airways tighten suddenly, called bronchospasms. During an attack, the
`airway lining becomes inflamed and produces more thick mucus than usual. Not
`everyone with asthma will experience the same symptoms, and they vary from one
`asthma attack to another, ranging in severity.
`
`The exact cause of asthma is unknown, but it can to be hereditary. People who have a
`mother or father with asthma are more likely to develop the diseases themselves.
`Children who develop certain respiratory infections can experience damage to the lung
`tissue that can result in asthma. Environmental factors like allergens, irritants or
`exposure to viruses in infancy or childhood when the immune system is still
`developing, have been linked to asthma development. Those who work near certain
`chemicals and dusts have been known to develop adult-onset asthma.
`
`While each person’s asthma is different, a healthcare provider will prescribe
`medication to control asthma symptoms and breathe easier. They usually prescribe a
`
`https://pulmonaryfibrosisnow.org/2018/09/16/can-asthma-cause-pulmonary-fibrosis/[11/14/2019 9:29:21 AM]
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`
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`What You Need to Know About Pulmonary Fibrosis and Asthma – PulmonaryFibrosisNow.org | PulmonaryFibrosisNow.org
`
`combination of quick-relief medication and long-term control medicine.
`Are Asthma and Pulmonary Fibrosis Connected?
`While there is no direct link to pulmonary fibrosis and asthma, they are both diseases
`that affect the lungs and a person’s ability to breathe. Diagnosing idiopathic pulmonary
`fibrosis is difficult since the cause is unknown, but asthma itself is not a known cause
`of pulmonary fibrosis. However, early symptoms of asthma that are related to known
`environmental triggers can be associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which can
`be a precursor to pulmonary fibrosis.
`
`A connection between asthma and pulmonary fibrosis comes about because PF is
`sometimes misdiagnosed as asthma due to the similarity in some of the symptoms.
`Pulmonary fibrosis has symptoms similar to other lung-related diseases as well, such
`as congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
`
`Since the environmental factors that contribute to asthma can also contribute to
`pulmonary fibrosis, both of these diseases can exist at the same time in the same
`patient. Both asthma and pulmonary fibrosis can lead to lung damage, but scarring is
`more extensive in PF and can eventually lead to lung injuries, destroyed lung tissue
`and respiratory failure. While pulmonary fibrosis often progresses to other conditions
`like respiratory heart failure, asthma does not.
`
`https://pulmonaryfibrosisnow.org/2018/09/16/can-asthma-cause-pulmonary-fibrosis/[11/14/2019 9:29:21 AM]
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`What You Need to Know About Pulmonary Fibrosis and Asthma – PulmonaryFibrosisNow.org | PulmonaryFibrosisNow.org
`
`Final Thoughts
`Pulmonary fibrosis and asthma are two different lung diseases that often share the
`same symptoms, like difficulty breathing and shortness of breath. Asthma does not
`cause pulmonary fibrosis, but PF can be difficult to pin down and is sometimes
`misdiagnosed. Asthma is a bronchial disease which causes the bronchial muscles to
`tighten and restrict, leading to shortness of breath. Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease of
`the tissue inside the lungs and is characterized by scarring that prevents oxygen from
`reaching the blood.
`
`Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of any information received from
`us.
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