Understanding pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis, also known as lung fibrosis or lung scarring, is a rare condition that can affect a person’s ability to breathe.1
Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis
There are a variety of symptoms you may experience with pulmonary fibrosis. Symptoms can vary from one person to another, so your symptoms may not be the same as somebody else who has pulmonary fibrosis.1,2
Possible symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis1:
Other symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis:
Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis can progress over time, so make sure you're monitoring your symptoms and tell your doctor about any changes immediately. You can track your symptom history using our simple pulmonary fibrosis symptom tracker.
Be sure to tell your treatment team about any worsening symptoms, as that may be a sign that your pulmonary fibrosis is getting worse too. This worsening of symptoms over time may indicate disease progression, and it is important to give your treatment team as much information as possible about what you are feeling so they can respond appropriately.
Quick tip
Your family, friends, and caregivers can play an important role in tracking changes in your symptoms. Let them know about any change in the way you are feeling.
Abbreviations: ILD, interstitial lung disease; IPF, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; PF, pulmonary fibrosis; RA-ILD, rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.
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Meltzer EB, Noble PW. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2008;3:8.
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis symptoms. Updated March 24, 2022. Accessed October 2, 2024. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms