Pinpoint These Symptoms for Respiratory Care Week

During National Respiratory Care Week (Oct. 24-30) and on Lung Health Day (Oct. 25), I challenge you to take a moment to stand still, take a deep breath, and appreciate the fresh air and oxygen your lungs take in. More often than not, moments like this are taken for granted. But for patients living with certain respiratory diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis (PF), breathing can be difficult, exhausting, and even painful.

National Respiratory Care Week and Lung Health Day mark an important time to raise awareness about little-known lung diseases like PF, as well as recognize the hard-working respiratory therapists nationwide who take the lead in helping patients cope with these devastating diseases.

Below, I answer some key questions about PF, Respiratory Care Week, and how organizations like the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) provide a framework for education, patient support, research, and awareness during National Respiratory Care Week and beyond.

What is pulmonary fibrosis?

Pulmonary fibrosis, or PF, means scarring in the lungs that, over time, can destroy the normal lung and make it hard for oxygen to get into the blood. PF is a progressive and debilitating lung disease that has no known cure, and there are over 250,000 Americans currently living with the illness. This life-threatening disease remains largely unknown, as a 2020 survey from the PFF found that nearly nine in ten Americans do not know the symptoms of PF. More awareness and education are needed to improve early detection and quality of life for patients, as well as drive research towards a cure.

What are the symptoms and risk factors of pulmonary fibrosis?

More than 50,000 people are diagnosed with PF in the U.S. each year. Because PF becomes harder to treat in its later stages, it is essential to pinpoint symptoms early and discuss them with your doctor to maximize treatment options. Early detection and treatment of diseases like PF are crucial in maintaining overall health and wellbeing.

The most common symptoms of PF include a dry, chronic cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Symptoms of PF are easy to dismiss and are often similar to those of other illnesses, making it difficult to diagnose. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, click here to download a printable checklist of PF symptoms and risk factors to discuss with your physician.

Certain populations are also at a higher risk of PF, including:

• Those over the age of 60 (In fact, one in 200 people over the age of 70 have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the most common form of PF.)

• Current or past smokers

• Those with a family history of interstitial lung disease

Are there any treatment options for pulmonary fibrosis?

As a practicing physician and member of the PFF Medical Team, I have experienced firsthand that every person diagnosed with the disease has a unique experience. Some patients remain in a stable condition for years, while others may experience acute exacerbations, but most patients find themselves fluctuating somewhere in the middle, with good and bad days. Because every patient’s experience with the disease is so unique, living with PF can be lonely. For this reason, it is critical that patients and family rally around each other as support systems to navigate this disease with hope and share education on the latest options available to help treat the disease.

There are a number of effective ways patients can manage their symptoms and help treat the disease. These may be different for every patient, so it is important that they speak with their healthcare provider. These include:

• Supportive care treatments, such as supplemental oxygen and pulmonary rehabilitation

• “Antifibrotic medications,” which can slow down disease progression compared to no treatment

• Lung transplantation, a surgical treatment for some individuals with late-stage PF

Another invaluable resource for PF patients is respiratory therapists, who help patients on their treatment journey with disease management. Respiratory therapists play a vital role in supporting patients by providing information about supplemental oxygen delivery systems and helping reduce symptoms through pulmonary rehab.

How does the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation support patients, caregivers, and family members?

The PFF empowers patients and healthcare professionals to become advocates by promoting disease awareness, sharing the latest information and research, and offering hope and inspiration to the PF community. The PFF offers countless support and disease education resources to help spread awareness about PF. The PFF’s numerous patient education resources include nationwide support groups, the PFF Care Center Network, information guides and checklists, ongoing webinars, and more. You can also view a library of educational and inspiring videos like the one below from patients, physicians, and caregivers on the PFF’s website, here. I encourage patients, caregivers, and family members alike to utilize these helpful resources, ongoing research, and support that the PFF offers such as the PFF Help Center.

I also advise the PF community, including respiratory therapists, to participate in the PFF’s sixth biennial health care conference, PFF Summit 2021, taking place virtually Nov. 8-13. PFF Summit provides an unparalleled opportunity to meet with other respiratory therapists, physicians, researchers, patients, caregivers, industry representatives, and members of the PF community, with a goal of fostering collaboration that will help enhance patient care and stimulate research that will lead to better treatments for PF.

How can I get involved in National Respiratory Care Week (Oct. 24-30)?

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) offers a toolkit of helpful resources to serve as a framework for supporting disease advocacy and awareness within your organization or personal life during National Respiratory Care Week. To get involved on social media, snap a photo and share your story with the #RCWeek21 hashtag.

In observance of Respiratory Care Week this week, I encourage you to take a moment to applaud the contributions of respiratory care professionals, who play an essential role in raising awareness about respiratory health and empowering patients with the knowledge and skills to best manage the disease, improve quality of life, and delay disease progression.

To learn more about PF visit AboutPF.org, where you’ll find a wealth of information and resources on how to find support for yourself or your loved ones.