Interstitial Lung Disease

Interstitial lung disease is a chronic and progressive condition that causes permanent scarring in your lungs. With the high-quality care available at Chuan Jiang Medicine PC in Flushing, New York, you can slow or stop the progressive damage and support your lung health. Pulmonary specialist Chuan Jiang, MD, creates a personalized care plan that meets your unique health care needs. To learn more about your treatment options for interstitial lung disease, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.

What is interstitial lung disease?

Interstitial lung disease refers to a large group of disorders that cause inflammation and scarring in the interstitium. The interstitium is the space where oxygen leaves your lungs and enters your blood, and where carbon dioxide leaves your blood and enters your lungs so it can be exhaled.

When scarring occurs in the interstitium, this gas exchange doesn’t occur. That means your body doesn’t get enough oxygen and dangerous carbon dioxide stays in your bloodstream.

What are some examples of interstitial lung disease?

Dr. Jiang treats the full range of interstitial lung diseases. A few of the most common include:

• Sarcoidosis 
• Pneumoconiosis
• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• COVID-19-related interstitial lung disease
• Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia
• Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia 
• Drug-induced interstitial lung disease
• Pulmonary fibrosis from autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases that cause interstitial fibrosis include rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, and polymyositis.

What are the symptoms of interstitial lung disease?

As the disease progresses and scarring worsens, you experience symptoms, such as:

• Dry cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chest discomfort
• Fatigue

You could also develop high blood pressure in your lungs, a condition called pulmonary hypertension.

How is interstitial lung disease treated?

The scarring you already have can’t be reversed, but Dr. Jiang can create a treatment plan that slows or stops the condition from causing progressive lung damage. Your treatment plan may include one or more of the following:

Lifestyle modifications

If substances in your environment, like fumes or asbestos, contribute to your interstitial lung disease, you’ll need a plan to avoid them. It’s also critical to stop smoking because the chemicals in nicotine add to the damage.

Medication

Dr. Jiang may prescribe bronchodilators (medicine to open your airways), corticosteroids (to reduce inflammation), or antifibrotics (medicines that slow scarring).

Oxygen therapy

This treatment boosts blood oxygen levels, helping to prevent organ damage, improve your sleep, and make it easier to breathe.

Pulmonary rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation includes exercise training and breathing techniques that help you stay healthy and active.

Lung transplant

If you have advanced scarring and your symptoms don’t improve with other treatments, you may need to replace the diseased lung with a new, healthy lung.

To learn more about interstitial lung disease or receive ongoing treatment that supports your optimal health, call Chuan Jiang Medicine PC or schedule an appointment online today.