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The word “pulmonary” is used to refer to things that involve your lungs. The word “fibrosis” means scarring.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease that develops when the tissue of your lungs is scarred and damaged. Pulmonary fibrosis causes your lung tissue to become thickened and stiff. As a result, your lungs have a harder time working like they should. As time goes by, you become more and more short of breath.

There are several forms of pulmonary fibrosis. Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis is a type of this illness in which the meshwork of your lung tissue (alveolar septa) are involved rather than your air spaces (alveoli).

The damage that interstitial pulmonary fibrosis does to your lungs is irreversible. There are some cases, however, where medications and therapies may give you some relief from your signs and symptoms and improve the quality of your life. A lung transplant may be an option to consider in some instances.

There are several things that can cause the damage to your lungs that results in interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Airborne toxins in your workplace, certain kinds of medical treatments and certain lung diseases are some of the possible causes of this ailment.

Long-term exposure to several toxins and pollutants can result in interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Some of these include:

• Grain dust
• Asbestos fibers
• Silica dust
• Animal and bird droppings.

There are risk factors that may increase your likelihood of developing interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Some of these are:

• Working in construction, mining or farming where you are exposed to pollutants
• Using certain chemotherapy medications or having cancer radiation treatments to your chest
• Being middle-aged or older
• Genetic factors because some forms of pulmonary fibrosis seem to run in families
• Being a smoker.

The severity of the signs and symptoms that you experience with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and how the illness progresses varies greatly from person to person. You may have moderate signs and symptoms that slowly worsen over a period of months and years, or you may become ill quickly with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Signs and symptoms include:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Aching muscles and joints
• A dry cough
• Fatigue

• Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Malaise (general sick feeling).

You or a loved one may have interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and/or complications that have been caused by it or other ailments that you have in addition to this illness may have brought about you or your loved one’s disability and not being able to work.

You or your loved one may need assistance. You may need financial help.

Have you or your loved one applied for Social Security disability benefits from the Social Security Administration because of the disability caused by asbestosis and/or complications resulting from it? Were you or your loved one denied?

You or your loved one may be thinking about appealing the denial by the Social Security Administration. If you do, you need to be aware of this.

You or your loved one will need a disability lawyer like the one at socialsecurityhome.com to help you in this process. The reason for this is because people who are represented by a disability attorney are approved more often than those people who do not have a lawyer.

Here is some information about Asbestosis and its cause.

Asbestos is a natural mineral product. The fact that it shows great resistance to corrosion and heat has made it extremely valuable in manufacturing. In the past, it was widely used in products like cement, fire-retardant materials, insulation and some vinyl floor tiles.

In the middle of the 70s, the United States government began to regulate the use of asbestos and asbestos products. The handling of asbestos is strictly regulated, today.

Before this government regulation many people who, in their work, had long-term, heavy exposure to asbestos developed a breathing disorder called asbestosis. It is regarded as an occupational lung disease. This condition affects the parenchymal tissue of your lungs. Asbestosis is characterized by scarring of your lung tissue and shortness of breath.

Asbestosis is also called other things. It is also referred to as pulmonary fibrosis – from asbestos exposure and interstitial pneumonitis – from asbestos exposure.

The effects of asbestosis do not usually show up until 5-10 years after the exposure to asbestos. However, there have been documented cases within 1-3 months of exposure to asbestos.

The signs and symptoms that you may experience can range anywhere from mild to severe. Some of these are:

• Tightness in your chest
• Chest pain
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath with exertion, but later even while resting
• Decrease in tolerance for doing physical activity
• Nail abnormalities
• Clubbing of your fingers.

Most of the effects caused by asbestosis are like those of other breathing disorders, such as asthma. However, the way they develop is much different. The indications of asbestosis come over a period of months and years.

There can be serious complications with asbestosis. Some of the things this disease can result in are:

• Heart problems
• Lung cancer
• Other cancers
• Other lung damage
• High blood pressure in your lungs.

If you are suffering with asbestosis, you may need the assistance of a disability attorney to get the Social Security disability benefits you are entitled to. Contact a disability lawyer here for a free evaluation of your case.