Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
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is a chronic and ultimately fatal disease characterized by a progressive decline in lung function. The term pulmonary fibrosis means scarring of lung tissue and is the cause of worsening dyspnea (shortness of breath). Fibrosis is usually associated with a poor prognosis.
IPF belongs to a large group of more than 200 lung diseases known as interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), characterized by the involvement of lung interstitium. The interstitium, the tissue between the air sacs in the lung, is the primary site of injury in ILDs. However, these disorders frequently affect not only the interstitium, but also the airspaces, peripheral airways, and vessels.
Lung tissue from people with IPF shows a characteristic histopathologic pattern known as usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). UIP is therefore the pathologic counterpart of IPF. The term 'idiopathic' is used because the cause of pulmonary fibrosis is still unknown. IPF usually occurs in adult individuals of between 50 and 70 years of age, particularly those with a history of cigarette smoking, and affects more men than women. The diagnosis of IPF requires exclusion of other known causes of ILDs and the presence of a typical radiological pattern identified through high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). In the right clinical setting, it is possible to make the diagnosis of IPF by HRCT alone, obviating the need for surgical lung biopsy.
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiopathic_pulmonary_fibrosis
Medical Marijuana and Pulmonary Fibrosis
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What Is Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Human lungs are actually large organs that are designed to move oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air we breath and our lungs. Your body requires oxygen to keep a wide variety of cells throughout the body healthy and functioning properly. When human cells are starved of oxygen, they eventually die. Conversely, the lungs also help your body eliminate carbon dioxide from your body. If carbon dioxide builds up within your blood stream, you will suffer from headaches, drowsiness, and eventually lapse into a coma and die.
Pulmonary Fibrosis is a progressive disease that, over a period of time, causes the tissue inside the lungs to become thickened, scarred, stiff and damaged. The medical term used to describe the scar tissue is fibrosis. Although there are other diseases or conditions that can cause fibrosis within the lungs, when there is no other known cause it is called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, or IPF.
As the Pulmonary Fibrosis progresses, the thickening and scarring of the lung tissue gets worse, making it difficult for the lungs to transfer oxygen into the blood stream. When this happens, the cells within your body begin to suffer from oxygen starvation. The rate of progression of the disease varies widely among sufferers. For some, the disease progresses rapidly while in others it may take years to cause serious symptoms. Symptoms of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis include chest pain, dry cough, aching joints or muscles, fatigue, weight loss and a shortness of breath during activities.
The damage caused by Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis cannot be repaired and there is no known cure for the disease. Conventional treatment for IPF is aimed at reducing the effect of symptoms, making the patient more comfortable, and slowing the progression of the disease. Common treatment options include steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs, oxygen therapy, counseling, and lung transplant in some cases.
* SOURCE >> www.marijuanadoctors.com/content/ailments/view/168?ailment=pulmonary-fibrosis
Symptoms include
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
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Definition:
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is scarring or thickening of the lungs without a known cause.
Alternative Names:
Idiopathic diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis; IPF; Pulmonary fibrosis; Cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis; CFA; Fibrosing alveolitis; Usual interstitial pneumonitis; UIP
Causes:
No one knows what causes idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or why some people get it. It causes the lungs to become scarred and stiffened. This stiffening may make it increasingly difficult to breathe. In some people the disease gets worse quickly (over months to a few years), but other people have little worsening of the disease over time.
The condition is believed to be due to an inflammatory response to an unknown substance or injury. "Idiopathic" means no cause can be found. The disease occurs most often in people between 50 and 70 years old.
Symptoms:
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Chest pain (occasionally)
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Cough (usually dry)
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Decreased tolerance for activity
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Shortness of breath during activity (this symptom lasts for months or years, and over time may also occur when at rest)
Exams and Tests:
The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history. Your doctor will ask whether you have been exposed to asbestos and if you have been a smoker.
Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have abnormal breath sounds called crackles. Patients with advanced disease may have blue-colored skin (cyanosis) around the mouth or in the fingernails due to low oxygen.
Examination of the fingers and toes may show abnormal enlargement of the fingernail bases (clubbing).
Tests that help diagnose idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis include the following:
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Bronchoscopy with transbronchial lung biopsy
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Chest CT scan
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Chest x-ray
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Measurements of blood oxygen level
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Pulmonary function tests
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Six-minute walk test
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Surgical lung biopsy
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Tests for connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma
Treatment
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No known cure exists for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Unfortunately, no medication has been shown to improve the outcome of patients with this condition.
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For some people, medications such as corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs may help reduce swelling (inflammation). However, these drugs might also increase the risk of death.
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Other new treatments that have been shown to help some people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are being studied.
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Patients with low blood oxygen levels may need oxygen.
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Lung rehabilitation will not cure the disease, but it can help maintain exercise capacity (the ability to exercise without breathing difficulty).
You can make home and lifestyle changes to manage breathing symptoms. Anyone who smokes should stop right away.
Some patients with advanced pulmonary fibrosis may need a lung transplant.
Support Groups
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You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems.
The following organizations are good resources for information on lung disease:
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American Lung Association - www.lungusa.org
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - www.nhlbi.nih.gov
Outlook (Prognosis)
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Some patients may improve or stay stable for a long time when they are treated with corticosteroids or cytotoxic drugs. However, in most people the disease can get worse even with treatment. This worsening can happen quickly, or very slowly.
When breathing symptoms become more severe, discuss treatments that prolong life, health care agents, and advanced care directives with your health care provider.
Possible Complications
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if your breathing is:
Also call your health care provider if:
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You need to lean forward when sitting to breathe comfortably.
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You are using muscles around your ribs to help you breathe.
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You are having headaches more often.
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You feel sleepy or confused.
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You have a fever.
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You are coughing up dark mucus.
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Your fingertips, or the skin around your fingernails is blue.
>> http://www.mhs.net/library/hie%20multimedia/1/000069.html
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
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Idiopathic diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis; IPF; Pulmonary fibrosis; Cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis; CFA; Fibrosing alveolitis; Usual interstitial pneumonitis; UIP.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is scarring or thickening of the lungs without a known cause.
Causes
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Doctors do not know what causes idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or why some people get it. Idiopathic means the cause is not known. The condition may be due to the lungs responding to an unknown substance or injury. Genes may play a role in developing IPF. The disease occurs most often in people between 50 and 70 years old.
When you have IPF, your lungs become scarred and stiffened. This makes it hard for you to breathe. In some people, IPF gets worse quickly over months or a few years. In others, IPF worsens over a much longer time.
Symptoms
|
-
Chest pain (occasionally)
-
Cough (usually dry)
-
Decreased tolerance for activity
-
Shortness of breath during activity (this symptom lasts for months or years, and over time may also occur when at rest)
Exams and Tests
|
The health care provider will do a physical exam and ask about your medical history. You will be asked whether you have been exposed to asbestos or other toxins and if you have been a smoker.
The physical exam may find that you have:
-
Abnormal breath sounds called crackles
-
Blue-colored skin (cyanosis) around the mouth or fingernails due to low oxygen (with advanced disease)
-
Enlargement of the fingernail bases, called clubbing (with advanced disease)
Tests that help diagnose idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis include the following:
-
Bronchoscopy
-
Chest CT scan
-
Chest x-ray
-
Echocardiogram
-
Measurements of blood oxygen level (arterial blood gases)
Pulmonary function tests
-
Six-minute walk test
-
Tests for connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma
-
Open lung (surgical) lung biopsy
Treatment
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There is no known cure for IPF.
Treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms:
-
Medicines such as corticosteroids may help reduce swelling (inflammation) inside the lungs.
-
Patients with low blood oxygen levels may need oxygen support at home.
-
Lung rehabilitation will not cure the disease, but it can help people exercise without difficulty breathing.
Making home and lifestyle changes can help manage breathing symptoms. If you or any family members smoke, now is the time to stop.
Some patients with advanced pulmonary fibrosis may need a lung transplant.
Medicines are now being tested to see if they can slow the disease.
Support Groups
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You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.
These organizations are good resources for information on lung disease:
American Lung Association | www.lungusa.org
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute | www.nhlbi.nih.gov
Outlook (Prognosis)
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Some patients may improve or stay stable for a long time with or without treatment. Most people get worse, even with treatment.
When breathing symptoms become more severe, you and your doctor should discuss treatments that prolong life, such as lung transplantation. Also discuss advance care planning.
Complications of IPF may include:
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the followinig:
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Breathing that is harder, faster, or shallower (you are unable to take a deep breath)
-
To lean forward when sitting to breathe comfortably
-
Frequent headaches
-
Sleepiness or confusion
-
Fever
-
Dark mucus when you cough
-
Blue fingertips or skin around your fingernails
SOURCE >> www.leememorial.org/HealthInformation/HIE%20Multimedia/1/000069.htm
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis cases linked with asbestos exposure
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Summary:
A proportion of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) cases may be linked with asbestos exposure, according to the results of a new study. If confirmed, the findings would mean that current treatment strategies need to be altered as people with a history of asbestos exposure are not currently able to access new treatments for IPF.
The research, which was presented at the European Respiratory Society's International Congress, provided new mortality data for IPF, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestosis is the name given to the lung disease developed by people with a known history of exposure to asbestos. The symptoms and presentation of this disease can be identical to IPF; the only difference between the two diseases is whether a patient knows about their exposure to asbestos. People with asbestosis are not currently eligible for new treatments for IPF, despite the fact that these treatments work on curing an identical disease.
Source:
European Lung Foundation
>> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140909093713.htm
Review: could Marijuana cause Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?
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Summary: there is no Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis reported by people who take Marijuana yet. We study 1,118 people who have side effects while taking Marijuana from FDA and social media. Find out below who they are, when they have Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and more.
You are not alone: join a support group for people who take Marijuana and have Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Personalized health information: on eHealthMe you can find out what patients like me (same gender, age) reported their drugs and conditions on FDA and social media since 1977. Our tools are free and anonymous. 79 million people have used us. 200+ peer-reviewed medical journals have referenced our original studies. Start now >>>
http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/marijuana/idiopathic+pulmonary+fibrosis
Review: could Marijuana cause Pulmonary fibrosis - from asbestos exposure (Asbestosis)?
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Summary: there is no Pulmonary fibrosis - from asbestos exposure reported by people who take Marijuana yet. We study 1,118 people who have side effects while taking Marijuana from FDA and social media. Find out below who they are, when they have Pulmonary fibrosis - from asbestos exposure and more.
You are not alone: join a support group for people who take Marijuana and have Pulmonary fibrosis - from asbestos exposure >>>
>> http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/marijuana/pulmonary%2Bfibrosis%2B-%2Bfrom%2Basbestos%2Bexposure
Drugs & Medications Search
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Considering taking medication to treat Pulmonary Fibrosis? Below is a list of common medications used to treat or reduce the symptoms of Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Follow the links to read common uses, side effects, dosage details and read user reviews for the drugs listed below.
>> www.webmd.com/drugs/condition-1903-Pulmonary+Fibrosis.aspx?diseaseid=1903&diseasename=Pulmonary+Fibrosis
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and cannabis or cbd oil as treatment- advice or help?
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Hello all,
My mother was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis several years ago. She was actually diagnosed while I was in college, but I knew nothing about it until I graduated. She told me that she didn't tell me anything because she wanted be to focus on my studies so that I could the degree I worked so hard to earn. She suffered in silence.....
I was wondering if anyone in the forums with lung conditions of any kind, be it IPF or COPD... or any interstitial lung disease... anything...
If you have any advice, anecdotes, or valuable info to share, please help me help my mother. I cannot keep seeing her like this.... and she deserves a better quality of life for the rest of the life she has. She's my best friend. This is such an awful disease....
keep her on the drugs prescribed, they will help slow progression. really important, you could actually add a couple. talk to your doc
yes weed can help, not just easing side effects but with the disease as well. obviously you would make edibles, a dmso topical wouldnt do any harm
And go easy on dosing, especially if she needs oxygen
...
>> http://www.rollitup.org/t/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-and-cannabis-or-cbd-oil-as-treatment-advice-or-help.882311/
Medicinal cannabis presents unique issues in managed care
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Medicinal cannabis, despite its emerging popularity, presents unique issues to managed care and hospital decision-makers. Exactly how does a quasi-legal substance, which has existed outside the sphere of mainstream medicine, become integrated into a traditional hospital and managed care setting?
Cultural Emergence of Medical Cannabis
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Suddenly, medical cannabis is pervasive in certain areas of the United States. While it is far outside the scope of this article, some background on recent developments is necessary to understand how the plant’s medical components are used.
There are different varieties of cannabis (popularly called “strains”) that are developed by cannabis growers to feature various characteristics. Hybrid and new strains are constantly emerging, touted as helpful to a particular ailment by the grower.
Conclusion
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The emergence of medical cannabis as an alternative to mainstream medicine cannot be denied. Yet, a hospital or managed care facility may place itself at risk of legal prosecution, or possibly even federal intervention, for obtaining the medicine and administering or dispensing it to a patient.
The inconsistent patchwork of state laws cannot succeed without cooperation from the federal government by way of a stand-down of prosecuting medical cannabis use by those abiding by state and local laws.
>> http://formularyjournal.modernmedicine.com/formulary-journal/content/tags/medical-marijuana/medicinal-cannabis-presents-unique-issues-managed-c?page=full
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FDA approved the first two drugs for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) on the same day—October 15.
These new therapies for IPF are pirfenidone (Esbriet, Roche) and nintedanib (Ofev, Boehringer Ingelheim). Both drugs were granted fast track, priority review, orphan product, and breakthrough therapy designations by FDA, and have been approved ahead of their prescription drug user fee goal dates.
IPF, a progressive scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs, is an irreversible and fatal lung disease. It is estimated to affect approximately 128,000 persons in the United States, many of whom die from it in 3 to 5 years. Symptoms including shortness of breath and cough develop in most individuals with IPF between the ages of 50 and 70 years. IPF occurs slightly more frequently in men than women.
The new drugs pirfenidone and nintedanib are orally administered and will help slow the progression of IPF, that is, the decrease in lung function that IPF causes. The consequence of the affliction is breathing difficulties and oxygen deprivation to the heart, muscles, and vital organs that makes them unable to work correctly. With IPF, which can progress slowly or rapidly, the lungs ultimately stop working.
>> http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drug-topics/RC/new-therapies-approved-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
natural medicine for PF disease. (cannabis oil high CBD)
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Hello, I will start this treatment with mother. I wil believe in God and miracle do exist. Whoever mentioned that will try prroduct to help your love one it is awesome.
Never star searching and trying anything you can to keep them alive. Dont allow any negative thoughts going to your positive mind.
>> https://www.inspire.com/groups/pulmonary-fibrosis-foundation-patients/discussion/cannabis-oil-pure-cbd/
InterMune, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITMN) recently announced that top-line data from ASCEND, a Phase 3 trial evaluating pirfenidone in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), demonstrated that pirfenidone significantly reduced IPF disease progression as measured by change in percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) from Baseline to Week 52. "We are pleased to report these top-line ASCEND Phase 3 results," said Dan Welch, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of InterMune.
"Based on the strength of the ASCEND results, InterMune is preparing a resubmission of our New Drug Application for pirfenidone to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which we expect to submit by early third quarter of this year. We would like to thank our collaborators, patients and their families for their participation in ASCEND and their contributions to IPF research."
>> http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cannabis--biotech-advancers-forging-ahead---company-contracts-with-one-of-the-oldest-marijuana-dispensaries-in-california-249271061.html
Re: Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis
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Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Angie's story is MY story also! I was diagnosed with Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis a year ago.
The "idiopathic" just means they are unable to diagnose how I got...
>> https://www.420magazine.com/forums/search.php?searchid=4590413
Natural Remedies for Lung Scars (Scarring), Pulmonary Fibrosis, Sarcoidosis – Cod Liver Oil, Hemp Oil and Fish Oil
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Natural Remedies:
How to treat Lung scars (scarring) and pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis? It is said that cod liver oil, hemp oil and fish oil can be used to help the treatment.
A common type of lung scars is pulmonary fibrosis, in which, the air sacs of the lungs are replaced by fibrotic tissue. The tissue becomes thicker and forms scars, causing an irreversible loss of the ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream.
Lung scarring or pulmonary fibrosis is a fibrotic disease, which is usually the result of inflammation, such as TB disease, lung cancer, asthma, and wounding.
The lung scarring associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) greatly reduces the ability of the lungs to absorb oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide.
Hemp oil and fish oil also contains vitamin D, thus they also can help treat the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.
>> http://www.naturalremediescenter.com/4968/natural-remedies-for-lung-scars-scarring-pulmonary-fibrosis-sarcoidosis-cod-liver-oil-hemp-oil-and-fish-oil/
Pulmonary Fibrosis - Prevention & Curing Protocol
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This Pulmonary Fibrosis Prevention and/or Curing Protocol is for people who are ready to take the full responsibility for their own health.
The protocol incorporates lifestyle change, and implements healthy diet, body cleansing, exercises and different traditional and natural therapies.
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Cause
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To understand The Pulmonary Fibrosis Prevention and Curing Protocol, you should first get familiar with The Pulmonary Fibrosis Cause
Pulmonary Fibrosis Diet
Let's start with most simple part of this program: Pulmonary Fibrosis diet. When it comes to diet, it is very important to avoid eating Toxins and Foods that Kill.
Physical Activity (Pulmonary Fibrosis)
| Physical Activity helps cleansing, it brings balance and relieves stress.
Psycho-physical activities will help you balance your body and will help you relief accumulated stress. You will have to find a form of exercise that suit you.
There is no such a thing as a single cause of any health problem. We can only talk about cofactors, causative agents and life situations that like pieces of puzzle interact with each other, and together promote a chain of events ending with a named set of symptoms and health problems & with Pulmonary Fibrosis.
All disorders and health problems that happen to humans are multidimensional, because we, humans are multidimensional.
Modern medical science is manly interested in physical and tangible world. It blames too many problems on bad genes, bad viruses, bad bacteria, ...
Genes are always a factor of our health, but that is the only factor we can't do anything about. Genes only represent our predisposition & potential to encounter certain problem or disease. It is our life and our lifestyle as whole that makes the final decision on whether we are going to experience certain problem or not. The truth is, no illness and no disorder or any health problem is caused by a single factor!
There are virtually hundreds of cofactors / hundreds of causative agents that each have casual relationship to poor immunity, poor health, accumulation of toxins inside body, poor thoughts, and that promotes illness!
>> http://www.curezone.org/dis/read.asp?C0=853
Clubbing of the Nails
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Since Hippocrates first described digital clubbing in patients with empyema, digital clubbing has been associated with various underlying pulmonary, cardiovascular, neoplastic, infectious, hepatobiliary, mediastinal, endocrine, and gastrointestinal diseases. Finger clubbing also may occur, without evident underlying disease, as an idiopathic form or as a Mendelian dominant trait. Clubbing is a clinically descriptive term, referring to the bulbous uniform swelling of the soft tissue of the terminal phalanx of a digit with subsequent loss of the normal angle between the nail and the nail bed.
Digital clubbing is classified into primary (ie, idiopathic, hereditary) and secondary forms. Digital clubbing may be symmetric bilaterally, or it may be unilateral or involve a single digit. Anatomic considerations, such as the classic measurement of the Lovibond angle or the more recently derived index of nail curvature by Goyal et al[1] , usually can be identified on simple physical examination and can be used to identify digital clubbing and to monitor this dynamic process objectively. Various imaging modalities have been used not only to evaluate clubbing but also to help identify possible clues to its development.
>> http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1105946-overview
SOURCEs:
(1) MarijuanaMedicine.com (ORG) |
Information On Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Medical Cannabis; click -> http://marijuanamedicine.com/Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).html <- for more.
Diseases & Conditions - Lee Memorial Health System
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Idiopathic pulmonary pneumonitis ... marijuana (cannabis) Intoxication
... did you find it? | medical staff ...
>> http://www.leememorial.org/HealthInformation/HIE%20Multimedia/diseidxi.htm
Marijuana ("pot") intoxication is the euphoria, relaxation, and sometimes undesirable side effects that can occur when people use marijuana.
Marijuana
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Drug abuse is the recurrent use of illegal drugs, or the misuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs with negative consequences.
Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. The drug is usually smoked, but is sometimes eaten.
Symptoms
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The intoxicating effects of marijuana include relaxation, sleepiness, and mild euphoria (getting high).
Smoking marijuana leads to fast and predictable signs and symptoms. Eating marijuana can cause slower, and sometimes less predictable effects.
Marijuana can cause undesirable side effects, which increase with higher doses.
>> http://www.leememorial.org/HealthInformation/HIE%20Multimedia/1/000952.htm
Is injesting marijuana during idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis safe?
| Is it okay to injest marijuana via a vaporizer if you have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis? ...
marijuana via vaporizer than smoking the weed.
Well it can not be stated that its completely safe as it could have indirect effects via respiratory centre in the brain , cardiac effects and vascular effects.
The danger is more with the smoke which do contain harmful carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke.Also can aggravate the condition you have by causing frequent irritation , direct chemical injury and infection in the lung tissue.
...
From your response, the vaporizer would be preferable to smoking. However, could you elucidate a bit more on the "respiratory center in the brain," vascular and cardiac effects?
Also, have you read anything that would indicate using marijuana via the vaporizer has any beneficial effects re idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis? Thank you.
...
The Marijuana(Tetrahydrocannabinol THC) has inhibitory effects on some parts of the brain .There is a centre which maintains and supervises the rate and depth of respiration any effect on that centre by THC will have undesired effects on respiration and the IPF (Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) you have, can aggravate the malfunctioning.
Due to the effects of THC on the heart and the blood vessels the commonest consequence expected is Hypo-tension ( low BP) and altered heart rate.
Since the heart is closely connected to the heart ( impure/de-oxygenated blood is received from heart oxygenated and sent back to the heart ) during this process the pressure and the rate of the heart will surely affect the perfusion( entry of blood into lung tissue) and thus oxygenation of blood in lungs resulting in malfunctioning the same aggravated by IPF.
No , I have not gone through any literature which mentions about the beneficial effects in IPF.
...
>> http://www.healthcaremagic.com/premiumquestions/Is-injesting-marijuana-during-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-safe/298
In our pulmonology textbooks, it is clearly written as "No role of medical cannabis (marijuana) for pulmonary fibrosis".
So it is not used for fibrosis,neither it is recommended nor it is US FDA approved for use in pulmonary fibrosis.
Recently PERFINODONE (anti TNF alpha ) has been approved by US FDA for early fibrosis. So you can use this drug instead of marijuana.
You can also start N-Acetyl Cysteine. It is anti inflammatory, anti oxidant and mucolytic in nature.
Continue oxygen at home.
>> http://www.healthcaremagic.com/premiumquestions/Can-medical-marijuana-help-pulmonary-fibrosis-patient/139107
Pulmonary Effects of Marijuana Inhalation
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FVC, FEV1/FVC or diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) compared with nonsmokers. These spirometry findings were similar in a number of other studies, both cross-sectional and longitudinal.
Interestingly, however, there was a modest but statistically significant increase in airway resistance and reduction in specific airway conductance in smokers of marijuana compared with both nonsmokers and tobacco smokers. The findings of Aldington et al. were similar in their study of a convenience sample of 339 subjects in the Greater Wellington region of New Zealand.
Overall, the majority of studies suggest that marijuana smoking may be associated with elevated lung volumes and slightly greater airway resistance but no change, or an increase, in spirometry values. This all suggests that hyperinflation may be one of the primary physiological abnormalities in marijuana smokers. The increased airway resistance and reduced conductance is consistent with mucosal edema and inflammation, which has been observed in the large airways of marijuana smokers.
It is not clear whether this large airway pathology contributes to the observed effect of hyperinflation with marijuana smoking. Measures of small airway dysfunction (mid-expiratory flows) in a small number of studies again had varying results, with one showing a reduction in mean midexpiratory flow in tobacco but not marijuana smokers, and the other indicating a drop in small airway function more apparent with marijuana than with tobacco use.[19]
>> http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/738255_4
Lung bullae and pulmonary fibrosis associated with marijuana smoking.
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Abstract:
A 26-year-old man with a history of heavy marijuana and minimal tobacco use was found to have extensive bilateral lung bullae and interstitial fibrosis, heavily infiltrated by pigmented macrophages.
These features can be associated with marijuana smoking. The differential diagnoses in this patient are also discussed.
>> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16174182
Effects of Smoking Cannabis on Lung Function: Emphysema & Bullous Disease
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Emphysema & Bullous Disease:
There are now at least 36 case reports of bullous lung disease attributable to heavy cannabis smoking in English literature. These cases consistently report upper lobe predominance with relatively preserved lower lung parenchyma (Table 2). Despite the presence of bullae on high resolution CT scans, lung function tests and chest x-ray appearances have largely been unremarkable in these patients. Most of these cases have been reported in young adults under the age of 45 years.
This age distribution may reflect the fact that older generations may not have smoked much cannabis or may be owing to a reporting bias. How cannabis might cause such severe lung damage is not clear. It has been postulated that the methods of inhalation of cannabis smoke may cause significant barotrauma. Cannabis smokers tend to hold their breath for up to four-times longer than cigarette smokers, with a nearly 70% increase in inspiratory volume.[22] This high lung volume and breath holding results in the prolonged exposure to inhaled particulates at very high temperatures, which in turn may be responsible for epithelial injury and inflammation.
Currently, the evidence that smoking cannabis causes emphysema and bullae is limited to these case reports and therefore remains anecdotal. Although Tashkin et al. demonstrated modest short-term decreases in gas transfer (DLco) among 30 men allowed to smoke cannabis ad libitum for 94 days,[15] none of the population-based studies have been able to confirm that cannabis consumption is associated with persistent impairment of DLco.
This is in stark contrast to tobacco smoking, for which a reduction in DLco is probably the most sensitive indicator of parenchymal lung damage. In Aldington’s cross-sectional study, exclusive smokers of cannabis were much less likely to show evidence of emphysema on high-resolution CT scans than tobacco smokers, suggesting that macroscopic emphysema is not a common consequence of cannabis use.
>> http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/747982_4
Cannabis, pneumothorax and lung bullae
Anthony Gill
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In a recent review (February 2006 JRSM1), the relationship between pneumothorax and cannabis was questioned (or at least not highlighted). There are too many reports describing pneumothorax, pneumediastinum and even pneumoarachis associated with cannabis for this to be a coincidence particularly as many reports describe the onset of symptoms whilst actually smoking drugs.
In one series 13 of 15 consecutive patients with `spontaneous' pneumomediastinum or subcutaneous emphysema admitted to `using marijuana extensively before coming to hospital' and the remaining two performed the Valsalva manoeuvre during heroin injection. The link between cannabis and pneumothorax/pneumomediastinum may or may not be due to barotrauma but it is quite definite. It is recognized by users and frequently discussed on their Internet message boards.
The authors of the review were in error to use a mucosal biopsy study of drug smokers which does not mention bullae as evidence against a causative link with this disease.3 Mucosal biopsies do not include alveolar lung tissue and cannot assess bullous disease. When I studied lung pathology in cannabis smokers I examined wedge resections of lung with blebs and bullae performed for recurrent pneumothorax.
Ten of 108 patients of all ages undergoing this procedure had definite regular cannabis use recorded in their medical records. However, most patients' records did not record whether or not drugs were used and many patients whose smoking status was unrecorded showed histopathological features suggestive of cannabis use. In fact, controls for this study had to be recruited prospectively with repeated reassurance of confidentiality.
>> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1420800/
Marijuana |
Cannabis Drug Interactions,
Interactions,
Professiona,
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Drug Interactions (558)Alcohol/Food Interactions (2);
A total of 558 drugs (3558 brand and generic names) are known to interact with cannabis.
7 major drug interactions (30 brand and generic names);
551 moderate drug interactions (3528 brand and generic names);
Show all medications in the database that may interact with cannabis.
>> http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/cannabis.html
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