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Information
Pulmonary fibrosis glossary
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Here are some words and abbreviations you might hear if you're affected by pulmonary fibrosis.
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Common words relating to pulmonary fibrosis
A
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Acute
Sudden onset of symptoms or a condition.
Airway
The passage through which air moves, from your nose or mouth through your lungs. The airway is made up of tubes that split into smaller and smaller branches. The smallest branches lead to air sacs called alveoli.
Allergen
Substance that your body’s immune system sees as harmful.
Allergy
The immune system’s response to a substance it sees as harmful.
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Alveoli
Tiny sacs within the lungs at the ends of the smallest airways.
Antibiotics
Medicine given to help treat infections caused by bacteria.
Antifibrotic medication
Medicine that can reduce the rate that scar tissue forms.
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Acute respiratory infection (ARI)
An infection in the lungs which lasts for less than two weeks.
Asymptomatic
Without symptoms.
Autoimmune
When your immune system responds to healthy cells and tissues in your body.
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B
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C
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D
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Biopsy
Taking a sample of tissue within the body.
Bronchi
Two tubes that link the trachea (main airway) to the lungs. One bronchi goes to the left lung and one goes to the right lung.
Bronchioles
Smaller tubes linking the bronchi to the alveoli.
Bronchoscope
A small, long and flexible camera that is passed into the mouth or nose to view the inside of the lungs and take samples.
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Chronic condition
A long-term condition.
Contraindication
A reason not to use a medication or treatment.
Computed tomography (CT) scan
A type of scan that combines lots of X-rays to create a more detailed image.
Chest x-ray (CXR)
A common type of imagery used to look at the bones, lungs and other structures in the chest.
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Dyspnea
Shortness of breath.
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E
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F
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G
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Exacerbation
Sudden worsening of symptoms.
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Fibrosis
Scar tissue.
Familial pulmonary fibrosis (FPF)
When one or more immediate family members also have pulmonary fibrosis.
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Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
A condition where stomach acid leaks up the food pipe (oesophagus).
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H
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I
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HRCT (high-resolution computed tomography)
A type of CT scan that takes more images to produce an even more detailed image.
Hypoxia
Low levels of oxygen in the body.
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Idiopathic
Of unknown cause.
Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
A group of diseases that affect the interstitium of the lungs.
Inflammation
The body’s normal response to a substance, illness or injury. The response often includes swelling or redness.
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Intubation
A tube is passed into the lungs via the nose or mouth. The tube attaches to a machine, a ventilator, that assists with breathing.
Interstitial
The space in the lungs between the air sacs (alveoli) and the surrounding blood vessels. This is where oxygen moves between the lungs and the blood.
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M
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N
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O
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Mucus
A sticky material produced in the lungs to help keep them healthy. Sometimes called phlegm or sputum.
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Nebuliser
A device that delivers medications in a mist or spray which can be breathed in.
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Oxygen concentrator
A device that takes oxygen from the air, concentrates it then delivers it to you via a tube. This gives you more oxygen than you would get by breathing normal air.
Oxygen therapy
The use of supplemental oxygen to increase the amount of oxygen in your blood. Oxygen can be delivered via different methods and devices, and should only be used as prescribed by your healthcare team.
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P
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Palliative care
Specialist medical care aimed at improving the quality of life for people with long-term conditions.
Pneumonia
An infection of the lungs with bacteria, viruses or fungi.
Productive cough
A cough that brings up mucus or sputum.
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Progression
The worsening of a condition over time.
Pulmonary
Referring to the lungs.
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Pulmonary rehabilitation
A supervised programme of exercise and education aiming to increase fitness and lung health.
Pulse oximetry
A method to measure the amount of oxygen in your blood by placing a light sensor on your finger or ear lobe.
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S
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T
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V
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Spirometry
A method to measure how well your lungs are working by breathing into a machine. Different measurements are taken including the amount of air and how fast it moves.
Sputum
A sticky material produced in the lungs to help keep them healthy. Sometimes called phlegm or mucus.
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Trachea
The large tube at the top of the airway, between the voice box and bronchi.
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Video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS)
Using cameras to look inside the chest and lungs and carry out procedures.
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Lung function test abbreviations
Not all of these measurements may appear in your lung function test report. Some are specific to certain conditions or testing purposes and may not be necessary for every person.
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ERV (expiratory reserve volume)
The maximum amount of air that you can breathe in after fully breathing out.
FRC (functional residual capacity)
The amount of air in your lungs following a normal breath out.
IC (inspiratory capacity)
The maximum amount of air that you can breathe in after a normal breath out.
IRV (inspiratory reserve volume)
The maximum amount of air that you can breathe in after a normal breath in.
RV (residual volume)
The amount of air that remains in your lungs after fully breathing out.
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TLC (total lung capacity)
The total amount of air in your lungs after fully breathing in.
TV or VT (tidal volume)
The amount of air that you breathe in or out with each normal breath. This is measured when you are at rest.
VC (vital capacity)
The maximum amount of air that you can breathe out after fully breathing in.
DLCO (diffusing capacity of the lung)
The capacity of your lungs to transfer gases from inhaled into the blood.
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FET (forced expiratory time)
How many seconds you can forcefully breathe out for after taking a full breath in.
FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second)
The amount of air you can forcibly breathe out in one second. This is after taking a full breath in.
FEV1/FVC ratio (the ratio of FEV1 to FVC)
This number is used to help diagnose lung disease.
FVC (forced vital capacity)
The total volume that you can forcefully breathe out after taking a full breath in.
PEF (peak expiratory flow)
How fast you can breathe out after a full breath in.
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Oxygen abbreviations
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HOOF
Home oxygen order form
POC
Portable concentrator
TPOC
Transportable oxygen concentrator
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AOT/AMBOX
Ambulatory oxygen
LTOT
Long-term oxygen (this is usually for 16-24 hours per day)
LOX
Liquid oxygen
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