Oct 2, 2026 · 10 min · 7 segments
September is Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, and for more than 25 years, the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has been accelerating research, empowering our community, and transforming care for those…
What is pulmonary fibrosis and what are some of the signs and symptoms people should know?
Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease that causes scarring in the lungs, making it increasingly difficult to breathe.
The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, persistent dry coughs and fatigue.
Because these symptoms look like other common conditions, pulmonary fibrosis can sometimes be difficult to recognize.
There are more than 250,000 Americans living with pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease in the United States.
And what causes pulmonary fibrosis and how is it treated and why is it so important to get an early diagnosis?
Some forms of pulmonary fibrosis have known causes, including autoimmune diseases, occupational or environmental exposures, even radiation can sometimes lead to pulmonary fibrosis.
Unfortunately, there is no cure right now for pulmonary fibrosis, but there are some treatments and supportive care that can help manage the disease and the symptoms of the disease, which can be really debilitating.
So depending on the type and severity of pulmonary fibrosis, care could include medications, supplemental oxygen, pulmonary rehabilitation, various lifestyle changes, and for some patients, a lung transplant is needed.
An early and accurate diagnosis is really what's critical because the sooner someone is diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, the sooner it can be identified, the sooner patients and their healthcare teams can develop the appropriate care plan.
is that research is advancing rapidly right now with new therapies being studied in clinical trials.
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation actually has on our website a clinical trial finder which helps patients with PF identify trials across the United States that may be appropriate for them to participate in.
What is pulmonary fibrosis and what are some of the signs and symptoms people should know?
Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease that causes scarring in the lungs, making it increasingly difficult to breathe.
The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, persistent dry coughs and fatigue.
Because these symptoms look like other common conditions, pulmonary fibrosis can sometimes be difficult to recognize.
There are more than 250,000 Americans living with pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease in the United States.
And what causes pulmonary fibrosis and how is it treated and why is it so important to get an early diagnosis?
Some forms of pulmonary fibrosis have known causes, including autoimmune diseases, occupational or environmental exposures, even radiation can sometimes lead to pulmonary fibrosis.
Unfortunately, there is no cure right now for pulmonary fibrosis, but there are some treatments and supportive care that can help manage the disease and the symptoms of the disease, which can be really debilitating.
So depending on the type and severity of pulmonary fibrosis, care could include medications, supplemental oxygen, pulmonary rehabilitation, various lifestyle changes, and for some patients, a lung transplant is needed.
An early and accurate diagnosis is really what's critical because the sooner someone is diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, the sooner it can be identified, the sooner patients and their healthcare teams can develop the appropriate care plan.
is that research is advancing rapidly right now with new therapies being studied in clinical trials.
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation actually has on our website a clinical trial finder which helps patients with PF identify trials across the United States that may be appropriate for them to participate in.
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