About Pulmonary Fibrosis

A physician reviews lung xrays during the diagnosis of a woman's pulmonary fibrosis.

You may never have heard of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) or interstitial lung disease (ILD). Interstitial lung diseases are relatively rare compared to chronic pulmonary disease (COPD), a much more common breathing-related ailment.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a condition that isn’t just caused by just one disease. More than 200 different lung diseases, types of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), all can cause inflammation or scarring of the lungs. The scarring makes it harder for the lungs to extract oxygen and transfer it to the other organs in your body. Pulmonary fibrosis may be caused by exposure to harmful chemicals or environmental irritants or by other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. For some patients the cause cannot be definitely determined . In this case, the diagnosis is called ideopathic.

Man using a Volumetric Inspiratory Exerciser — Shortness of breath and persistent cough are common PF symptoms. Many times the cause is unknown.

Adult child with his father, a patient with pulmonary fibrosis. — New drug therapies for pulmonary fibrosis can extend lives.

Available Therapies Can Help

While there is no cure available for PF or ILD currently, medications and treatment are available that can significantly slow the progression of lung fibrosis. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved two drugs to treat pulmonary fibrosis. And other therapies such as pulmonary rehabilitation and other medicines to manage symptoms can slow the disease progression, maintain your overall health, and improve your quality of life.

While you may have heard or read that the average life span for patients is 3 to 5 years after diagnosis, that prediction is based on old data and is not true for many of the fibrotic lung diseases. Many patients live much longer and not all diseases progress. Patients’ disease may progress rapidly or slowly. Medical research and clinical trials may offer more effective treatments soon.

A lung transplant is an option for some pulmonary fibrosis patients who qualify. A lung transplant is a major operation with risks and must be followed by long-term medications. And, there are not enough donor lungs for all patients. For those who are able to have it, it is a life-changing option.

Learn More at these Recommended Sites

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

The American Lung Association is working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy, and research

At Lungs&You, you can find information about pulmonary fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and interstitial lung disease (ILD).