Site Map

Interstitial lung disease - adults - discharge

Diffuse parenchymal lung disease - discharge; Alveolitis - discharge; Idiopathic pulmonary pneumonitis - discharge; IPP - discharge; Chronic interstitial lung - discharge; Chronic respiratory interstitial lung - discharge; Hypoxia - interstitial lung - discharge

You were in the hospital to treat your breathing problems that are caused by interstitial lung disease. This disease scars your lungs, which makes it hard for your body to get enough oxygen.

When You're in the Hospital

In the hospital, you received oxygen treatment. After you go home, you may need to keep using oxygen. Your health care provider may have given you a new medicine to treat your lungs.

What to Expect at Home

After you go home, follow instructions on taking care of yourself. Use the information below as a reminder.

Keep Active

To build strength:

Build your strength even when you are sitting.

Ask your provider whether you need to use oxygen during your activities, and if so, how much. You may be told to keep your oxygen above 90%. You can measure this with an oximeter. This is a small device that measures your body's oxygen level.

Talk to your provider about whether you should do an exercise and conditioning program such as pulmonary rehabilitation.

Self-care

Eat smaller meals more often. It might be easier to breathe when your stomach is not full. Try to eat 6 small meals a day. Do not drink a lot of liquid before eating or with your meals.

Ask your provider what foods to eat to get more energy.

Keep your lungs from becoming more damaged.

Take all the medicines that your provider prescribed for you.

Talk to your provider if you feel depressed or anxious.

Stay Away From Infections

Get a flu shot every year. Ask your provider if you should get a pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine and a COVID-19 vaccine.

Wash your hands often. Always wash after you go to the bathroom and when you are around people who are sick.

Stay away from crowds. Ask visitors who have colds to wear masks or to visit after they are all better.

Make it Easy for Yourself at Home

Place items you use often in spots where you do not have to reach or bend over to get them.

Use a cart with wheels to move things around the house and kitchen. Use an electric can opener, dishwasher, and other things that will make your chores easier to do. Use cooking tools (knives, peelers, and pans) that are not heavy.

To save energy:

Going Home With Oxygen

Never change how much oxygen is flowing in your oxygen setup without asking your provider.

Always have a back-up supply of oxygen in the home or with you when you go out. Keep the phone number of your oxygen supplier with you at all times. Learn how to use oxygen safely at home.

Follow-up

Your hospital provider may ask you to make a follow-up visit with:

When to Call the Doctor

Contact your provider if your breathing is:

Also contact your provider if:

Related Information

Sarcoidosis
Drug-induced pulmonary disease
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Rheumatoid lung disease
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
Asbestosis
Interstitial lung disease
Coal worker's pneumoconiosis
Breathing difficulty
Eating extra calories when sick - adults
Using oxygen at home
Oxygen safety
How to breathe when you are short of breath
Using oxygen at home - what to ask your doctor

References

Bartels MN, Bach JR. Rehabilitation of the patient with respiratory dysfunction. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 150.

Graney BA, Lee JS, King TE. Nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis and other idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 90.

Raghu G, Martinez FJ. Interstitial lung disease. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 80.

BACK TO TOP

Review Date: 5/3/2024  

Reviewed By: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Clinical Assistant Professor, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

ADAM Quality Logo
Health Content Provider
06/01/2025

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, for Health Content Provider (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics. This site complied with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information from 1995 to 2022, after which HON (Health On the Net, a not-for-profit organization that promoted transparent and reliable health information online) was discontinued.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2024 A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.