Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, is a disease that causes scarring in the lungs. The cause of lung scarring is unknown (“idiopathic”), but the scars are permanent.
IPF is a disease that causes lung fibrosis (scarring). This thickened, stiff scar tissue makes it more difficult for the lungs to work properly.
IPF can be hard to talk about, but it’s important to have conversations with your doctor about the disease and your management plan.
When IPF first occurs, there is normal tissue next to scarred tissue. As the disease progresses, fibrosis becomes more widespread.
It’s important to keep these points about IPF in mind:
There is currently no treatment to repair the damage IPF causes to lung tissue. However, it’s important to consider an IPF management plan now—before additional damage to your lungs occurs. You can discover some common IPF management options here.
IPF is considered a rare disease. However, improvements in diagnosis techniques and increased awareness about IPF may be helping doctors diagnose more people who have the disease.
IPF can feel isolating, but you’re not alone.
There may be more you can do to manage your IPF and IPF symptoms.
See some suggestions that may help day-to-day life with IPF.
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