Increased deposits of iron in immune cells called macrophages were found to be independently correlated with pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a recent study. Findings of hemosiderin-laden (an iron-storage complex within cells) in macrophages in the lungs of IPF patients might also be…
I have a love/hate relationship with my supplemental oxygen. I use liquid oxygen at a flow of 8 litres per minute, 24/7, as well as an oxygen concentrator. I’m grateful to have it, for without it my organs would fail.
This video introduces the new online platform from Medtep IPF, designed to help patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis manage their disease. The platform keeps a record which can be directly accessed by their healthcare providers. Hear the stories of four idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients. The program can…
A very interesting situation unfolded the other day as I was purchasing something from our local music store. Typically speaking, when most people either see me with my oxygen, or learn that I am living with a terminal illness, they are not sure what to say. They may…
Winter is a perilous time if you have a compromised immune system, but you can’t stay alone inside for four months. You have to get on with your daily life, and just hope you don’t succumb to other people’s bugs and illnesses. However, there are some foods that can help you avoid catching a cold…
Measuring disease-associated factors in sputum may be a less invasive way of tracking molecular changes in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) than bronchoalveolar washing, which involves sucking material from the lungs with a syringe, according to a study. Researchers found several factors in IPF patients at higher levels than in healthy people…
In this film by the British Lung Foundation shared by Magneto Films, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patient, Colin, describes what it’s like living with the disease. Find out about the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis. Colin, who’s from the U.K., first noticed symptoms on holiday when he began to experience…
A secreted factor from bone marrow stem cells (BMSC-cm) improves the function of alveolar epithelial cells in repair and regeneration. These results support a potential therapeutic role for BMSC-cm released factors in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other lung diseases. The study “Hepatocyte growth factor secreted by bone marrow…
Please accept my apologies if this post is a little bit of a downer. One of the things I promised myself when I started writing this column was that IÂ would be honest and include the good, the bad, and the ugly about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF.) There…
Invisible illnesses are conditions patients have that are not obvious when looking at them. Often people with an invisible illness face a lot of prejudice; others accuse them of faking, lying or exaggerating their illness. People just don’t fully understand what patients with invisible illnesses are going through.
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