Introduction

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has an impact on the lungs causing scarring and making breathing challenging. The cause remains unknown, but IPF affects individuals around 70 to 75 years old and occurs in people under 50. The disease gets worse over time. People often develop a constant dry cough that won't go away. They find it hard to catch their breath and feel tired all the time. Additionally, they are unable to engage in as much physical activity as they once did. Various treatments can help slow down the progression of IPF, but no treatment can stop or reverse the lung scarring.

Symptoms of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

IPF symptoms tend to develop and worsen over time. Symptoms may include:

• Trouble breathing
• A long-lasting dry cough
• Feeling worn out
• Eating less and losing weight
• Rounded and puffy fingertips (clubbed fingers)
• Most folks brush off their breathing problems at first blaming age or poor fitness.
• But soon even simple tasks like getting dressed can leave you gasping for air.

When to See a Doctor

Visit your doctor if you've had breathing issues for a while or a cough that won't go away after 3 weeks. These signs aren't normal and need attention.

What Causes Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

• People with IPF have damage and increasing scarring in the tiny air sacs in their lungs (alveoli).
• This makes the lungs stiff and creates difficulties for oxygen to enter the blood.
• The reason for this remains unclear. Idiopathic means we don't know the cause. IPF has connections to:
• Breathing in certain types of dust, like metal or wood dust
• Catching viral infections
• Having IPF in the family – about 1 in 20 people with IPF has a relative with the same condition.
• Suffering from acid reflux
• Smoking

Diagnosis

Your doctor recommend the following tests to diagnose IPF:

• Lung function tests: Check how your lungs move air and get oxygen into your blood.
• Blood tests: Help exclude other conditions that look like IPF.
• Chest X-ray: Reveals lung scarring, but might not catch early changes.
• CT scan: Gives detailed pictures to confirm fibrosis and see how far it has spread.
• Lung biopsy: Doctors remove a small piece of lung tissue during keyhole surgery to analyse it

How to Treat Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Doctors haven't found a cure for IPF yet, but several treatments can help ease the symptoms and slow down how fast it gets worse. These treatments include:

• Take care of yourself by quitting smoking, eating well, and working out often
• Drugs to slow down scarring
• Breathe oxygen through a mask – you can do this at home or when you're out
• Workouts and tips to help you breathe better (pulmonary rehab)
• Lung transplant – this works for some people, but donor lungs are hard to find

What to Expect with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

• IPF gets worse as time goes on, but how fast this happens varies a lot from person to person.
• Some people react well to treatment and stay symptom-free for years, while others might worsen or find it hard to breathe.
• Other issues can also arise like chest infections, high blood pressure in the lungs, and heart problems.