I always have been fairly independent. When I was little I played outside alone in a small town where the “scary stories” of a big city just didn’t happen. I was lucky enough to buy my first car very early in my teenage years, which gave me…
We breathe every day. For some of us, this process is simple and we don’t think too much about it. For others, it’s a constant struggle that requires a lot of concentration and effort. For all of us, it’s important we’re aware that there’s a right—and wrong—way to breathe. If you…
Lung cells of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have higher than normal levels of two cytokines, small proteins crucial to the functioning of the immune system, according to a study. The researchers also discovered higher than normal levels of the cytokines interleukin 33 (IL-33) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)…
People with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who have low levels of oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia) might be closer to having a new treatment option with the launch of a Phase 1 trial evaluating GBT440 in healthy volunteers, and two Phase 2 tests in select IPF patients. Global Blood…
Traveling with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) can be very challenging if you require oxygen. You need to be sure you have enough oxygen for your journey, plus extra in case of any hold-ups or unforeseen circumstances. Usually, traveling short distances doesn’t really pose many problems but long distance car travel or traveling by…
I’m not big on hope, even though I have a sign that says “hope” on my porch year-round. Are you thinking “Wait! How can she say that? I want to be encouraged here!” I’m not big on attaching hope to:…
Learning that a loved one has a chronic illness is devastating, and even more so if that illness is likely to cut their life short. Everyone deals with the death of loved ones different, the grieving process is varied and there is no wrong or right way to go about…
I have tried countless times to describe the feeling of breathlessness to the people in my life who love me and want to understand what I am going through. It doesn’t seem to matter, though, how many times I try to describe what being short of breath feels…
It can sometimes be a challenge to look on the bright side when you have a chronic illness, but spending time doing things that make you happy will help keep depression at bay, help you come to terms with your illness better and begin enjoying life again. To help you feel happier,…
Spanish patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) saw their hospital and follow-up care improve from 2004 to 2013, according to a new report. The study, “Retrospective observational study of trends in hospital admissions for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Spain (2004–2013) using administrative data,” appeared in the journal BMJ Open. It…
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