The Balancing Act of Living with IPF

I have read many articles on young adults living with a chronic illness since being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Some I can relate to, while others don’t resonate with me at all. The articles I find most beneficial are ones that suggest tangible tools to help people cope…

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disease caused by scarred tissue in the lungs. The thickening of this tissue makes it difficult to transport oxygen from the lungs, resulting in shortness of breath. Below is a list of informative books about the disease, compiled with help from alibris and Friesen…

A University of Southern California researcher has received a $6.9 million U.S. government grant to continue her work on lung cell regeneration as a way of treating such diseases as pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Dr. Zea Borok of the university’s Keck School of Medicine received the seven-year grant under the National Heart, Lung, and…

While living with a chronic illness can be challenging, there are ways that you can make life easier and live a happy and fulfilling life. Establishing good habits and routines takes time, but as Gunnar Esiason points out in his blog Own It, there are some “common sense…

Being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis is an overwhelming experience In a moment, our lives are changed forever when receiving this diagnosis. How do we absorb being diagnosed with a terminal illness? Where do we get answers to our many questions? How do we get support from others who…

Managing lung cancer in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients is difficult, largely because standard lung cancer treatments create a risk of IPF exacerbations and patients dying early. An Italian study that covered four patients suggests that Boehringer Ingelheim’s Ofev (nintedanib) could be an answer. The research, “Lung Cancer in Patients with…

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has a list of the all of the medical centers in the U.S. that have the expertise to treat patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF), along with links to the centers’ websites so they can be contacted easily. The list can be searched by…

As much as I desperately want to be involved in my friends’ social lives and participate in work events, charity fundraisers, and milestone celebrations such as weddings, stag and does, and baby showers, I find that lately, I have been feeling the stress of obligations. What is…

Managing a chronic illness can be difficult. There are many different medications to take (often at different times), appointments to remember, symptoms to keep track of, and lots of information to absorb. Thankfully, living in a digital age means that there are numerous mobile apps that can help you manage…

Combining genetic analysis and machine learning can improve the identification value of biopsies used to detect pneumonia that progressively scars lungs — a classic marker of pulmonary fibrosis — without doctors having to resort to surgery, according to a study. The findings apply to the transbronchial biopsies, or TBBs, that doctors…