Mexico City. /
he National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER) Ismael Cosío Villegas,pass Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic, Diagnose and provide care to patients fibrotic diseases Moisés Selman Lama, director of research at the institute, reports that in addition to studies conducted with the Lung Aging and Fibrotic Lung Diseases Project, there are multiple groups of patients participating in aging research.
Emeritus Research Fellow explains that the Interstitial Disease Clinic Provides 400 to 500 consultations per year; There, chest tomography and lung function tests (spirometry and carbon monoxide diffusion) are performed to find out whether the patient has obstructive lung diseases such as COPD, chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis, or any restrictive lung disease, Among them is encountered idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
He explained that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive, highly disabling and fatal disease characterized by scarring of the lungs, causing them to become stiff.
He pointed out A large number of patients arrive with significantly advanced disease, averaging a year or more from symptom onset. The opportunity to initiate treatment to reduce readmissions to the hospital for lung infections, which are common among these patients, is lost, as is the opportunity to control the disease, prevent exacerbations, and more.
There are currently two antifibrotic drugs that can reduce the rate of progression and prevent the risk of exacerbations, Extend life span by five to seven years, he explained.
Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis are associated with a tendency to develop pulmonary fibrosis; if it is not diagnosed promptly and treated, it may develop like progressive pulmonary fibrosis at some point in its development. However, the exact prevalence of this condition in Mexico is unknown because there are not enough studies on this issue.
Selman Lama emphasized Pulmonary rehabilitation For people with pulmonary fibrosis, vaccinations against all flu, covid-19, pneumococcal, etc., as well as psychological support, are extremely important, as is the use of oxygen.
In this regard, he explained that INER’s area of pulmonary rehabilitation includes pulmonary physiotherapy and physical conditioning as part of the interdisciplinary management of patients with disability-related respiratory diseases.
Likewise, patient and family support programs provide Free psychological care Work with psychology, psychiatry, and thanatology personnel as patients experience anxiety, depression, sleep problems, irritability, excessive worry, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death due to disability caused by the disease.
Regarding the investigation, he pointed out INER’s Lung Aging and Fibrotic Lung Diseases Project in collaboration with the National Laboratory for Bionic Diagnostic and Therapeutic Solutions (LaNSBioDyT) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Senescence studies of alveolar epithelial cells in pulmonary fibrosis have been conducted, managing to significantly reduce growth rates and increase senescence markers.
He added that there are currently 107 researchers in the INER Research Directorate, among whom About 60% hold a PhD and 90% belong to the National System of Researchers (SNII), They conduct experimental clinical studies on patient populations with various opportunities for inclusion in research.
In this context, Selman Lama stated that federal funds have been independently administered for specific projects, such as the National Institute of Genomic Medicine (Inmegen) Care of Women in the Area of Pulmonary Fibrosis, which allows INER to propose projects such as: research to health authorities, and follow up on ongoing clinical trials to support patients with research, accurate diagnosis and specific treatment within a short period of time.
Given the need for a health system focused on prompt recognition and diagnosis of this deadly disease, researcher Moisés Selman recommends that people over 60 years of age should also see a specialist if they have difficulty breathing (shortness of breath) for more than two months. Avoid keeping birds in your home as inhalation of their organic particles may cause pneumonia due to allergies and may lead to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
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