Exercising with a chronic lung disease is not for the faint of heart. Recall your most strenuous workout or physical activity: Your heart beats rapidly, you struggle to catch your breath, and sweat beads down your forehead. Now imagine doing that with lungs that feel stiff and painful upon inhalation.
Making Exercise Easier: Tips From a Pulmonary Fibrosis Patient
Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis (APF) and the U.K. Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) have created and launched a training module to help doctors provide better care for patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF). The training will cover the signs and symptoms of PF, as well as where to…
The amount of bilirubin in the blood might predict the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a recent study. If validated in larger studies, bilirubin levels in the blood — or serum bilirubin — could offer a cheaper, simpler, and more convenient blood test than other…
From lighting landmarks in blue to showcasing patient stories, supporters are finding ways to mark Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, set aside each September to call attention to the lung condition and raise funds to fight it. The monthlong campaign is spearheaded each year by the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation…
A new 3D model of lung tissue allowed the scientists who developed it to identify aspects of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) not evident in the 2D models often used in research. This new model, developed by a research team at the University of Michigan, revealed potentially important aspects of fibrosis and…
Using Cymerus mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) resulted in dramatic reductions in IPF symptoms and significant improvements in lung functionality in an animal model of the disease, Cynata Therapeutics, the company developing this stem cell therapy, reported. These…
In recognition of September being Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is working to raise awareness about the realities of this disease and how it affects people’s lives. The PFF is also conducting a social media campaign, “30 Facts in 30 Days,” to educate the public…
The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where my mom, Holly, received her double-lung transplant, has gone to great lengths to provide information at every turn on the transplant journey. The infamous blue binder contains everything you need to know about post-transplant life. UCSF’s approach to transplant…
Procalcitonin, a precursor of the calcitonin hormone, may be used as a potential biomarker of lung cancer developing in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a recent study suggests. Compared with patients with IPF alone, procalcitonin was significantly higher in IPF patients who also had lung…
It’s common for young adults in their early 30s to plan for their future. For some, this might include planning for a beautiful wedding or having a family. For others, it might mean traveling the world, buying a dream home, or landing the ideal job. My ideal future would include…
