Pneumonitis

Pneumonitis (noo-MOHN-eye-tus) is general inflammation in your lungs that can affect how well you breathe and cause other bodily symptoms. It occurs when a foreign substance (irritant) inflames the small air sacs in your lungs (alveoli).

There are different types of pneumonitis inflammation. They include:

Acute. Inflammation develops suddenly and only lasts a little while.
Subacute. Inflammation progresses gradually and steadily.
Chronic. Inflammation unfolds over a long period and becomes ongoing.

Is pneumonitis serious?

Yes, pneumonitis is serious. Long-term exposure to irritants that cause pneumonitis may cause permanent lung damage.

What are the types of pneumonitis?

There are different types of pneumonitis according to their cause. These include:

Acute interstitial pneumonitis. Acute interstitial pneumonitis develops suddenly, and your symptoms quickly get worse. Healthcare providers aren’t sure what causes it.
Chemical pneumonitis. Chemical pneumonitis develops after inhaling chemicals that appear in household or workplace products (inhalants), such as chemicals in imaging tests, chlorine gas, pesticides, gasoline and smoke.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a type of allergy that develops when you breathe in (inhale) antigens, including bacteria, dust, molds or tiny scales from animal skin, hair or feathers (dander).
Radiation pneumonitis. Radiation pneumonitis may occur after radiation therapy to treat cancer.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

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