Hello, in this HealthSketch we want to talk to you about Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis or 'IPF'
The word ’Idiopathic’ means the cause of the condition is unknown,
‘pulmonary’ means lungs and ‘fibrosis’ means scarring
So IPF is a progressive, scarring lung condition, the cause of which is not known.
Though the condition is not well known,
5000 people are diagnosed per year in the UK
and it usually occurs after the age of 50.
While IPF has no known cause
it is thought that there may be certain triggers that cause the scarring process to begin
such as: viral infections, smoking, and heartburn.
It can also run in families
There is no known cure as yet, however there are things
that people with IPF can do to help themselves.
So, how does IPF affect the lungs?
First, let’s see how the lungs work.
When you breathe in, the air ends up in tiny air sacs called alveoli
where oxygen can move into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide gets taken out.
In pulmonary fibrosis, scar tissue builds up over time around these air sacs,
which makes it harder for oxygen to move into the body
This leaves you feeling more short of breath than usual.
The main symptoms of this condition are breathlessness and a persistent dry cough
which both worsen over time, making daily activities harder.
Tiredness, weakness, and weight loss may follow.
Diagnosing IPF can be difficult as its symptoms are often similar
to other more common lung conditions.
However, if your doctor suspects IPF from your symptoms,
you should be referred to a specialist for further investigations, such as breathing tests
A high resolution CT scan, which takes very detailed images of the lungs,
is used both for diagnosis and monitoring the condition
Another test involves passing a small camera through your nose or mouth
and into your lungs to see what they look like or take a sample
This is called bronchoscopy
Another test involves a small operation under general anaesthetic
to take a small sample of tissue for analysis, which is called a lung biopsy.
Unfortunately, there is not yet a treatment that can cure idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,
but there are now medications that can help to reduce the symptoms
and slow the progress of the condition
Research into new drugs is ongoing.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation has also been shown to benefit people with IPF.
This is a structured programme of gentle exercises
and education about your condition and how best to manage the symptoms.
Physiotherapists and specialist nurses can show you techniques to reduce breathlessness.
Oxygen therapy can be used if your body’s oxygen levels become too low,
perhaps needed only during physical activity
or maybe while at rest too
A lung transplant can be an option for those physically fit
enough to undergo major transplant surgery.
The progress of the condition varies widely in different people;
while some may have stable symptoms for long periods,
in others there is a gradual decline with worsening symptoms.
Coming to terms with a diagnosis of IPF is often difficult
and it is particularly hard as the cause of the condition is unclear
It is common to feel low, anxious or depressed
and it can be helpful to talk about these feelings with your doctor, a counsellor,
or at a support group where there will be others with similar questions, experiences and feelings.
Having the support of others can help to motivate people with IPF to stay as healthy as possible,
for example, by attending follow up appointments, taking medication as prescribed,
and being vaccinated against flu and pneumonia.
Stopping smoking is very important,
as smoking damages the lungs and worsens the symptoms of IPF.
It’s also good to stay physically active
and eating healthily can make a significant difference
by ensuring your body gets the energy and nutrients it needs.
In this HealthSketch we’ve talked about Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis,
the scarring process in the lungs, the resulting symptoms,
and how to cope with the diagnosis and stay as healthy as possible.
We hope this HealthSketch has been helpful to you and those around you
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