Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis-NHP

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

● Symptoms and Causes  

The symptoms of IPF tend to develop gradually and get slowly worse over time. Symptoms can include: shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough, tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss.

IPF is a type of interstitial lung disease. It is caused by lung tissue becoming thick and stiff and eventually forming scar tissue within the lungs. The scarring, or fibrosis, seems to result from a cycle of damage and healing that occurs in the lungs. Over time, the healing process stops working correctly and scar tissue forms. What causes these changes in the first place is unknown.