Restrictive Lung Function

Advanced Care at Washington Health Medical Group

There are a number of conditions known as restrictive lung diseases that serve to restrict expansion of the lungs, which causes a decrease in lung volume and insufficient ventilation / oxygenation, and forces your body to work harder to breathe. These conditions are a subset of parenchymal, extrapulmonary, or pleural respiratory diseases.

There are four basic causes of restrictive lung function: Pleural, interstitial, neuromuscular, alveolar, and thoracic cage abnormalities. Our team of pulmonary specialists at Washington Health Medical Group in Fremont is committed to providing the highest standard of care for all patients, identifying the cause of pulmonary symptoms and pursuing the best possible treatment plan.

Restrictive Lung Diseases

There are causes of restrictive lung diseases that are intrinsic to the parenchyma of the lung and others that are extrinsic. Many cases have no known case.

Examples of conditions that can cause restrictive lung diseases include the following intrinsic causes:

• Radiation fibrosis
• Tuberculosis
• Pneumoconiosis
• Infant respiratory distress syndrome
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• Complications of other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Radiation fibrosis
• Use of certain medications such as bleomycin, methotrexate, and amiodarone

The following are examples of causes of restrictive lung diseases that are extrinsic to the parenchyma of the lung:

• Non-muscular diseases that affect the upper thorax
• Pleural thickening
• Diseases that restrict volume in the lower thoracic / abdominal area, including obesity