Since Diagnosis, IPF-related Anxiety Has Increased

Before my diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) nearly 18 months ago, I would have never considered myself to be an anxious person. The older I get and the more people I meet, including those who are sick and those who aren’t, I’m realizing how common it…

Clinical trial results of Patara Pharma’s inhaled therapy candidate PA101 for chronic cough caused by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) indicate the medication reduces cough in a disease-specific manner. The findings, published in the journal The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, were derived from a Phase 2 trial (NCT02412020) of…

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a relatively rare and serious condition. Although men tend to be affected more than women, anyone can get the disease.  Some risk factors for IPF are smoking, working with environmental pollutants, acid reflux, and a family history of the disease. MORE: Simple facts about idiopathic pulmonary…

If you’ve been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, it’s likely that your healthcare team has mentioned pulmonary rehabilitation. But what is it and why do you need to do it? MORE: Eight tips for protecting your lungs from unhealthy air Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program that combines education, support, and exercise. The goal of…

The American Lung Association and Three Lakes Partners are teaming up to raise awareness about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) during Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month in September. The announcement was made at the European Respiratory Society’s International Congress (ERS 2017) in Milan, Italy. “IPF is a challenging and unpredictable disease, and…

If you’ve read this column for any length of time, you know that I write about the everyday struggles as a pulmonary fibrosis patient. Congestion is a rather embarrassing topic for me to discuss, but here I go … Nasal congestion I have it a lot. I…

There is much talk in medical circles about the use of medical marijuana (or cannabis) for a variety of chronic illnesses, but could it also benefit those living with chronic lung disease? MORE: Seven common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis Medical marijuana is currently legal in 23 states in the U.S., as…

September is Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, and as I sit down to write this column, I have to admit that the topic is coming from a point of frustration … and even a little anger. As a young adult living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I…

An evaluation of 52 gene profiles in blood samples can help predict the clinical outcome of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), finds a study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. If confirmed in future studies, this gene expression profile evaluation could improve currently used outcome measures, as well as IPF patient…

A post-hoc analysis of data from Phase 3 studies shows that Esbriet (pirfenidone) can significantly reduce the incidence of disease progression events in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) — including respiratory-related hospitalizations, decline in lung function and physical capacity, and the risk of death — compared to placebo. These results…