Lung scarring usually occurs when scar tissue forms within the lungs or near the blood vessels surrounding the lungs. A previous lung infection, such as pneumonia, as well as fungal infections and certain medical conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, can result in the formation of calcified scars in the lungs, according to the website, Net Wellness. Interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis can also cause lung scarring when scar tissue accumulates in the lungs causing inflammation. Complications can arise, so it is important to know the risks.
Hypoxemia
A serious complication associated with lung scarring is hypoxemia, or low blood oxygen levels, according to the MayoClinic.com. Scarred lungs can reduce the amount of oxygen that enters the bloodstream and circulates within the body, causing lower than normal blood oxygen levels. Severely low blood oxygen levels along with rising pressures in the pulmonary arteries can cause the heart to fail. MayoClinic.com states that a person with hypoxemia may experience shortness of breath, reduced capacity for exercise, fatigue and/or confusion.
Pulmonary Hypertension
People who have scarred lungs are at risk for developing pulmonary hypertension, or an elevated pressure in their lungs, according to MayoClinic.com. Pulmonary hypertension is a serious illness that tends to worsen over time. When scar tissue blocks small blood vessels in the lungs, it can prevent blood flow to the lungs and increase the amount of pressure in the pulmonary arteries, or the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. The American Heart Association states that pressure in the arteries can prevent oxygen from circulating in the lungs resulting in fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath and in some cases, heart failure.
Cor Pulmonale
A life-threatening complication associated with lung scarring is cor pulmonale, or right-sided heart failure, according to MayoClinic.com. This is a serious condition that occurs when the heart's lower right chamber, or right ventricle, has to pump harder and faster to move blood through blocked pulmonary arteries, according to MedlinePlus. Symptoms consist of frontal chest pain, shortness of breath, swollen ankles and feet, and wheezing or coughing. When the heart is strained for a long period of time, it can lead to heart failure and possibly death.
