Photo by Kim Fredrickson I recently completed a pulmonary function test at my local hospital. This test was ordered by my doctor to measure how well my lungs take in and exhale air, and how efficiently my lungs transfer oxygen into my bloodstream. It is…
As we grow up and go through life, we adopt many different roles or identities that help shape who we are as a person, and in relation to others. Some of these identities are by choice and make us proud, while other identities happen involuntarily. Often, it can…
Doctors may be able to use six energy-storing substances known as lipids to diagnose and track the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a Chinese study reports. The research, “Identification of the lipid biomarkers from plasma in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by Lipidomics,” appeared in the journal BMC Pulmonary…
A real-world study in Britain confirms that Ofev (nintedanib) is a safe and effective treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF. The research, “Early clinical experiences with nintedanib in three UK tertiary interstitial lung disease centres,” was published in the journal Clinical and Translational…
For animal lovers out there, it won’t come as a surprise that having a dog has been a blessing since being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in early 2016. I often reflect on the timeline of when my dog “accidentally” became part of my life, shortly before…
Some of the most successful campaigns, be it fundraising initiatives or trying to raise awareness, capture the attention of donors through personal stories. These personal stories are used in a way that is meaningful for the patient, while also highlighting the importance for others who may be less familiar with…
British regulators have paved the way for people with severe cases of pulmonary fibrosis to gain access to Prometic Life Sciences’ tissue-scarring therapy PBI-4050 before it is approved. The step the regulators took was to designate PBI-4050 a Promising Innovative Medicine for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The next step would be…
This animated video from Demystifying Medicine explains the complication of pulmonary fibrosis in scleroderma patients. It begins by sharing that 80 percent of Asian scleroderma patients suffer from some form of pulmonary disease and that it’s the leading cause…
Last week, I visited my pulmonologist at the University of California, San Francisco. I was a little nervous, because my last appointment six months ago was very discouraging. I had worsened significantly. This time, I got better news: no change since the last visit, which was encouraging. My…
By definition, a rhetorical question refers to one that seeks to make a point as opposed to seeking an answer. Lately, I have been asking myself rhetorical questions, and I am not expecting answers. But I am finding myself frustrated there are no answers. Most of these are…
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