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All About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – Symptoms and Treatment

Learn everything about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), its causes, symptoms, and treatment options to manage this progressive lung disease.
Rayomand S. Engineer
By
Rayomand S. Engineer
All About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – Symptoms and Treatment

Introduction

Imagine this: you’re minding your business, eating right, doing whatever you have to do, and then suddenly, you’re not breathing easily. That is exactly what happened to tabla legend Zakir Hussain, who reportedly died of complications due to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis at the age of 73. But what is this disease to begin with?

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is nothing but a progressive lung disease that happens when the lungs get scarred because of an unknown cause. There’s no cure. Basically, when you do get this disease, it’s a waiting game. Some people live for months; others live for a longer period of time. This condition has a terrible long-term prognosis.

Causes of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis? Smoking, amongst others. Pulmonary fibrosis gets worse over time. Some people manage to stay stable; however, the condition gets progressively worse in others. People become more and more short of breath.

Who gets this? Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis happens in middle-aged and older adults. Sometimes, infants and children get it, but that is not so common. For others, what is the option? Lung transplant.