In a recent column, I wrote about how I felt and acted much differently than normal. I mentioned that I was grumpy, irritable, quiet, and mad, and I referenced a few things and reasons that left me feeling this way. What I neglected to mention is another…
Dealing with the Repercussions of Steroids
Pulmatrix, which develops inhaled therapies for lung diseases, has licensed the kinase inhibitor compounds that RespiVert has created to inhibit enzymes involved in inflammation. “These new compounds will significantly expand what we believe is already an impressive pipeline of [Pulmatrix’s] drug candidates,” Dr. Robert Clarke, Pulmatrix’s CEO, said in a…
If you have a friend or family member who has recently been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) or is living with the condition, you’re probably wondering what you can do to support them. As our columnist Charleen Marshall explains, there will be times when your loved one doesn’t need any help.
An arm of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is donating equipment that allows for animal-free testing of the effects of inhaled particles on the lungs to select laboratories across the United States and Europe. Valued at more than $400,000, the Vitrocell Systems inhalation device exposes human lung cells to tested materials…
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…
Last week, I shared how common it is for patients and loved ones to struggle with the severity of our PF diagnosis. We are all equipped differently to handle emotional pain and face the reality of what we are dealing with. Our faith can be a…
There is no single test that will deliver a positive (or negative)Â pulmonary fibrosis (PF) diagnosis. Patients who present symptoms which doctors believe could be PF, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, and a persistent cough will have to undergo a series of tests to establish what the problem…
As one of my beloved healthcare providers always tells me, “There is no rule book for living with pulmonary fibrosis.” She says this when we talk about my constant frustration of living with a life-threatening illness, and the unpredictability, anxiety and emotional turmoil that comes with it.
As a person living with pulmonary fibrosis, it’s important to fully understand your disease. Take the time to learn about the condition and how it’s treated, so that you can play a proactive role in your treatment and get the most out of your healthcare team. We’ve put together a list of six…
Esbriet (pirfenidone) stops the lung scarring in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by improving the functioning of mitochondria, cell components that convert food to energy and regulate cell death, according to a study. The therapy centers on mitophagy, the process by which the body purges defective mitochondria. Mitophagy is a mitochondria quality…
