An immensely frustrating aspect of living with a health condition, and particularly a rare one such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is that other people might know nothing about the very disease that changes your life.
For example, according to Pulmonary Fibrosis News, most people have not heard of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This, the article states, is why raising awareness is ever needed and ever-important.
In the article, you will find a video by the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association that includes basic facts about the condition. Here are a few:
- IPF causes the lungs to scar and harden
- There is no known cause
- Symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue, and coughing
You can read more facts here.
Awareness is all the more critical as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis does not yet have a cure and the length of life following a diagnosis is only around three to five years. Research requires funding, and funding necessitates support and awareness.
If you’re living with IPF, I urge you to speak up and speak out, if you haven’t already! And if you’re not familiar with the disease, consider learning more. This video about living with IPF is a good place to start.
Also, be thinking of ways to raise awareness of IPF throughout the year, and especially in September. Why? September is Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, and it’ll be here before you know it.
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has some fantastic resources to help as you plan ways to raise awareness, including this toolkit. The foundation can also help you bring various events and activities into your community.
