Restrictive Lung Problems

Interstitial lung disease, also known as restrictive lung disease, refers to a group of lung problems. Restrictive lung problems can occur gradually or appear suddenly. Eventually, interstitial lung disease will hinder your ability to obtain enough oxygen into your bloodstream and to breathe. In some cases, restrictive lung problems are not reversible. However, there are treatments that can help you breathe better.

• Restrictive lung problems can be sudden.

Lung Functions

• When you inhale, air travels in and out of your lungs via the bronchioles (airways). Oxygen travels through the interstitium, or tissue, then passes from the alveoli to the blood vessels. The blood vessels take the oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body. Carbon dioxide then travels from the blood vessels to the alveoli, at which point you exhale.

Damaged Lungs

• Restrictive lung problems begin in stages. In the first stage, your alveoli are injured. As a result, your lungs become inflamed. After the inflammation, scarring will appear on your lungs. Then your lungs may stiffen. In the last step of interstitial lung disease, oxygen won't be able to flow through the interstitium as easy as normal. This occurs from the scarring damage and not the inflammation.

Symptoms

• In the beginning, you may feel dyspnea or breathlessness during or after physical activity. Additional, symptoms include chest pain, wheezing and dry cough. Although these symptoms seem vague and may mimic asthma, it's not asthma. Your doctor will also rule out other causes like being overweight, smoking and age. The symptoms will progressively worsen. You can experience breathlessness as you talk, dress or eat. Other symptoms include fingernails that curve over the tops of your fingertips, also called clubbing.

Types of Causes

• Causes of restrictive lung problems can include lung infections, radiation therapy, such as chemotherapy, and connective tissue disease like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus or scleroderma. Other causes are dust from asbestos, silica, gases, poisons or fumes. Medications to treat cardiovascular problems, psychiatric problems or arrhythmias can damage the lining of your lungs.

Treatments

• If medications you are taking are causing your restrictive lung problems, your doctors can treat your problem by stopping the medications. As a result, the interstitial lung disease can be reversed, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, if that is not the case, there are other treatment options. These include stress management, breathing techniques, exercise, oxygen therapy or lung transplant.