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…
Could Cannabis Help People With Lung Diseases?
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…
This is another column in which I hope others living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) will have some helpful tips for me. I don’t know if it is my diagnosis or the medications, or maybe a combination of the two. Today, I became really aware of how…
There is no single test that will deliver a positive (or negative) pulmonary fibrosis (PF) diagnosis. Patients who present symptoms that doctors believe could be PF — shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, and a persistent cough — will have to undergo a series of tests to establish what the problem is. MORE:…
PMD Healthcare is among the companies and groups marking Pulmonary Fibrosis Month, and supporting efforts to raise awareness of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and improve the care of people with this disease. PF Month, which runs through September, stems from an initiative created by the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) to  educate the…
A recent study found that around half of the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients surveyed had not been fully informed about their treatment by their healthcare team, yet 93 percent of respondents said they wanted to learn about treatments and therapies directly from their doctor rather than other sources. MORE: Only half…
Boehringer Ingelheim has joined idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis experts and patient advocacy groups to raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of the disease. To help mark IPF World Week from Sept. 16 to 24, the company has created several educational tools to help doctors identify the characteristics of IPF…
I have a new appreciation for PF patients who live on their own or don’t have much help at home. I also feel gratitude for my husband, who helps me handle the tasks of daily life. My husband, Dave, has been away for five days at a…
