A common problem with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is the slow development of leg swelling or edema. This process is a maladaptive response to progressive lung disease. The heart, lungs, kidneys and brain all talk to each other through hormones. In health, the heart pumps adequate amounts of blood to the kidneys. Fluid and salt in your body are meticulously regulated. If … [Read more...]
Salute to the IPF Caregivers
Idiopathic Pulmonary fibrosis is a rare progressive disease. Patients may initially have mild symptoms of shortness of breath and cough. But over time as the disease progresses, symptoms become more severe and more onerous. Every day activities become a chore if not impossible. Navigating the day-to-day challenges of IPF is almost impossible without a caregiver or a team of … [Read more...]
3 Resources for IPF Caregivers
Providing care for a patient with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis can be difficult and challenging. And the challenge can go on for many years. It's important to prevent caregiver burnout and to maintain your own health as well. Here are three fantastic resources for caregivers to find support themselves. 1. National Caregivers Library (www.nationalcaregiverslibrary.org) This … [Read more...]
Pulmonary Fibrosis and Weight Loss
Several readers recently inquired about why patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis often lose weight. Early in the course of IPF, patients have no problem maintaining their normal weight. However with advancing severity of IPF, many patients gradually lose weight. There are several contributing factors. Decreased appetite There are a few potential contributing … [Read more...]
Sex and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Patients ask their doctors many questions. However, most patients are quite shy when it comes to asking their lung doctor about sex. This does not mean that patients are not interested in learning more about sex and their lung disease. Unfortunately, Playboy has yet to publish on this topic. Chronic lung disease requires patients to make many compromises. They have to … [Read more...]