As we have learned in previous chapters, the body is made up of numerous muscles that allow people to move and create heat. However, what happens when there is a homeostatic imbalance in the muscles? A homeostatic imbalance could result in a minor, painless muscle spasm in a single muscle. However, something more serious like a type of fibrosis called pulmonary fibrosis could result.

Fibrosis is a replacement of muscle fibers by excessive amounts of connective tissue. Pulmonary fibrosis, on the other hand, is more specific. It scars and thickens the tissue around and between the alveoli of the lungs (1). It makes it more difficult for oxygen to pass through the blood stream (1). Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis vary but often include shortness of breath, coughing, and diminished exercise tolerance (2). In some people, there is no identifiable cause for the disease (2). However, in some cases, the disease is thought to be a result of trauma to lung tissue which lead to swelling and a buildup of collagen (3). People who develop this disease usually die within five years (2). Dyspnea and signs of heart failure can occur (2). As the lungs fail, the blood pressure in lungs rises which result in the increase work for the right side of the heart (2). Eventually, the side of the heart will fail as a result of overworking (2). This failure in the heart can result in fatigue and buildup of fluid in the body (2). There is no cure for this disease, but there are things people can do to help treat it such as taking medication and participating in pulmonary rehabilitation (2).

Although there is no cure for the disease at the present, it is still significant to take steps to try to prevent and treat the disease. In order to prevent the disease, people could stop smoking. In order to treat the disease, people can take medication like prednisone (1). They can do physical exercises and breathing techniques as a part of rehabilitation to treat the disease (1).

(1)Mayo Clinic Staff. “Pulmonary fibrosis.” Mayo Clinic. 15 March 2011. 5 Nov. 2012 < http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pulmonary-fibrosis/DS00927/DSECTION=causes>

(2)Stoppler, Melissa C. “Pulmonary Fibrosis (cont.).” MedicineNet.com. 2 Dec. 2010. 5 Nov. 2012 < http://www.medicinenet.com/pulmonary_fibrosis/page4.htm>

(3)Schoenstadt, Arthur. “Causes of Pulmonary Fibrosis.” MEDTV. 19 Sept. 2008. 5 Nov. 2012 < http://diseases.emedtv.com/pulmonary-fibrosis/causes-of-pulmonary-fibrosis.html>