ABOUT PULMONARY SARCOIDOSIS
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that is distinguished by collections of granuloma cells in any part of the body, but most commonly in the lungs and lymph nodes. In some cases, sarcoidosis may go away in time and most people do well without treatment or very little treatment. In certain individuals, sarcoidosis may last for years and the chronic inflammation can cause lung scarring and thickening.
CAUSES OF PULMONARY SARCOIDOSIS
The true cause of pulmonary sarcoidosis is unknown; however, the formation of granuloma cells may be the result of an overreaction of the immune system. Some patients may also have a genetic predisposition toward developing the disease and it is more common to develop the disease if a family member also has sarcoidosis.
SYMPTOMS OF PULMONARY SARCOIDOSIS
Symptoms of pulmonary sarcoidosis can vary widely with some patients exhibiting no symptoms while others may experience:
Many people will experience mild symptoms and therefore require no treatment. Sarcoidosis can also affect other organs in the body like the skin, lymph nodes, eyes and heart.
SARCOIDOSIS DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Some patients may have sarcoidosis with no symptoms and therefore not ever know they have had the disease. For other patients, sarcoidosis is a chronic condition that may result in permanent scarring of the lungs. In these cases, a pulmonologist will perform regular check ups to ensure that the disease is stable and no treatment is needed. Regular patient monitoring is important to identify when and if treatment is necessary.
Pulmonary sarcoidosis is a disease that can mimic other lung diseases and so testing is a vital part of eliminating other possible causes of symptoms. Initially, a lung specialist will collect a complete health history and perform a physical exam. Additional tests such as chest x-ray, CT Scan, pulmonary function tests, blood tests and bronchoscopy can be administered to help obtain an accurate diagnosis, rule out other causes of symptoms and guide the specialist toward the most effective course of treatment.
Patients who have recently been diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis may benefit from following good health practices:
