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Newly Diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis? Do These Things First

People who are newly diagnosed often turn to the Web for information. There is a lot of information on the internet and the Web is full of opinions. But not everything you find is accurate. I wish we didn’t have to say it, but don’t believe everything you read out there. You may read or you may even have been told that life expectancy for someone with pulmonary fibrosis is on average 3 to 5 years. That data was collected before anti-fibrotic drugs were available and may not apply to your type of ILD. Don’t panic.

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Articles of Interest

Living With The Terminal Lung Condition You’ve Never Heard Of

We can make real progress in finding treatments for IPF but more people need to be aware of it to hopefully donate to research.

Omega-3 fatty acids are linked to better lung health, particularly in patients with pulmonary fibrosis

Currently, there are very few treatments available for pulmonary fibrosis. Those that do exist have significant side effects. Our findings suggest that increasing omega-3 fatty acids in a patient’s diet may slow the progression of this devastating disease.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Treatment

If you were diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis or think you may have it, you're understandably worried about your future. This chronic lung disorder is complex. It's difficult to diagnose and manage.

Pulmonary fibrosis: pathogenesis, etiology and regulation

Pulmonary fibrosis and architectural remodeling of tissues can severely disrupt lung function, often with fatal consequences. The etiology of pulmonary fibrotic diseases is varied, with an array of triggers including allergens, chemicals, radiation and environmental particles. However, the cause of one of the most common pulmonary fibrotic conditions, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is still unclear.

Seeking and sharing: why the pulmonary fibrosis community engages the web 2.0 environment

Like people with other medical conditions, many patients with PF (and their loved ones) are hungry for information about the disease [3] and desperate for support from other people facing similar challenges.

The Power of Pursed-Lip Breathing

Breathing comes naturally until you are living with chronic lung disease. Unless we practiced meditation or relaxation techniques like yoga or Qi Gong, we have paid very little attention to how we breathe. Luckily, other people have been paying attention to breathing for generations. They were motivated to improve spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. In the last few decades, medical researchers have found evidence that some breathing techniques improve measures of pulmonary function temporarily. Learning pursed-lip breathing can provide a portable, easy tool for those with pulmonary fibrosis.

Why Viagra may be useful in treating lung diseases

The vasodilation caused by sildenafil can be beneficial in lung diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). People living with PAH and IPF experience progressive shortness of breath and chronic cough. In addition to lungs, PAH and IPF can affect many other organ systems.

‘Time lost is lung lost’: Early diagnosis critical in pulmonary fibrosis

Delayed diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis is an unfortunate reality for many patients, but experts are seeking to address this problem by closing knowledge gaps and increasing awareness of the disease.

Resources

5 Minutes to Help Relieve Stress that comes with Pulmonary Fibrosis

Chronic illnesses like pulmonary fibrosis always seem to bring stress and worry. We face uncertainty about the future, the danger of drug side effects, the emotions we experience, the impact on our family, the cost of treatment, and the hassle of medical appointments and tough decisions. The medical community has long recognized the benefits of meditation for better emotional health.

7 Things Everyone Should Know about Pulmonary Fibrosis

There are a number of known causes of pulmonary fibrosis as well as unknown causes, called idiopathic. Exposure to toxins like asbestos, or coal dust or silica (including workers in the coal mining and sandblasting industry) can lead to pulmonary fibrosis.

PF Warriors

PF Warriors is an international support network that provides support, education, inspiration, and hope to individuals and families affected by pulmonary fibrosis. Membership is free.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Now

Pulmonary Fibrosis NOW! (PF NOW!) is a nonprofit dedicated to using research, interactive learning and self-monitoring to educate the public about all treatments, including natural, supplemental, and alternative therapies, for treating chronic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis

APF is a national UK charity. We bring people together to drive change so more people affected by pulmonary fibrosis (or lung scarring) can live well for longer. People living with lung scarring, their loved ones and the professionals caring for them are at the heart of everything we do.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation mobilizes people and resources to provide access to high quality care and leads research for a cure so people with pulmonary fibrosis will live longer, healthier lives.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust was established in 2012 to raise awareness of pulmonary fibrosis and to support patients with the condition in the UK. The site is concerned mainly with what the trust is doing to raise funds and how those funds are being used to help people with Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Lungs & You

Here at Lungs&You®, you can find information about pulmonary fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and interstitial lung disease (ILD). ILD can be a serious condition that may cause scarring of the lungs. When ILD causes scarring of lungs, it’s often referred to as pulmonary fibrosis. There are many different types of ILD—some with known causes and some with unknown causes. IPF is one of the most common types of ILD and has an unknown cause.

Pulmonary Fibrosis MD

Pulmonary Fibrosis MD is an educational resource for patients, caregivers, friends, and family members interested in learning about Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis or IPF.