What Is Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
6. Dyspnea
Pulmonary fibrosis makes it harder for the patient to absorb oxygen, so the main symptom of the condition is dyspnea. This is the medical term for having a shortness of breath. It is likely to be barely noticeable to begin with, but patients can have severe breathing difficulties if the condition progresses significantly.
Pulmonary fibrosis can also cause the patient to develop a dry cough as the hardened tissue irritates the lungs. It can also cause fatigue, which is prolonged tiredness and lack of energy regardless of rest. This is partly because the body has less of the oxygen it needs to generate its own energy.
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