A Chinese herbal remedy prevented healthy airway surface cells from transitioning to the type of cells seen in pulmonary fibrosis, a study reported. It did this by inhibiting the body’s production of proteins involved in fibrosis, or scarring, including HMGB1, TLR-4, and HIF-1α. The results prompted researchers to suggest that the remedy,…
How do you get liquid oxygen? Last week I shared my struggle to get my oxygen provider to bring me liquid oxygen. It took me five months, but I was finally successful. In case you missed it, last week’s column also included a video demonstrating how I…
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has teamed up with ProPatient to launch an online resource for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients and their caregivers. The program called Partnering with Your Doctor provides educational information for anyone living with the disease or wanting to find out more about IPF.
Trust me when I say that this column does not come without a lot of behind–the–scenes work to try to change my thinking so I can offer a more positive message. I still can’t say I practice what I preach. But I do want to share an…
For some chronic lung disease patients, their lung function declines so much that they need to have a lung transplant. However, it’s a complicated procedure and recovery can be slow. To ensure you have the healthiest recovery possible, you’ll need to adhere to a few basic rules, according to the…
The McDonnell Genome Institute at Washington University has received a $10 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for its part in a project that aims to uncover the genetics behind several lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, in…
If you are active on social media and have a chronic illness, you’ve probably come across the term “spoonie.” The word comes from a woman’s explanation of how she has to manage her energy levels each day.  As she was in a cafe at the time, she grabbed a bunch of spoons…
French researchers have identified 41 gene mutations in lung cancers associated with pulmonary fibrosis, a discovery that could lead to new therapy targets for both diseases. The findings applied to both non-idiopathic and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Non-idiopathic cases are those that doctors have found a cause for, while Idiopathic cases…
When I sit down to write these columns, I often reflect on something that has been difficult throughout my journey with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). I usually focus on something that has changed as a result of my disease — something I have lost, or something that…
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) can be a challenging disease for a care provider. To help provide support for IPF caregivers, Pulmonary Fibrosis MD has some useful resources. MORE: Pulmonary fibrosis caregivers encouraged to ‘take a breather’ 1. National Caregivers Library This site provides information…
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