Symptom Management

People living with pulmonary fibrosis often experience breathlessness and cough, especially as their disease progresses. Patients may also feel fatigued, anxious, and depressed. Please talk to your doctor about these symptoms— there are treatments that might help.

There are many causes of the cough that can accompany pulmonary fibrosis. Talk to your doctor to see if post-nasal drip, heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD), or another issue may be contributing to your cough.

Low oxygen levels can trigger cough in some people. People who have PF may also have an increased sensitivity to normal cough triggers like allergies and post-nasal drip.

Talk to your doctor to see if there are treatments such as cough suppressants or steroid medication that might help your cough.

Palliative care, also referred to as supportive care, is medical care focused on relieving and preventing symptoms that are bothersome or cause discomfort. Palliative care also helps you address advance care planning, which allows you and your loved ones to decide how you would like to be cared for as your disease progresses. The goal of palliative care is to improve your quality of life as you live with your disease. 

It is important to understand that while receiving palliative care, you can also receive “curative care”. Curative care refers to participating in research studies, being evaluated for lung transplantation, and considering new medications.  Palliative care is different from hospice care, which is treatment administered in the last months of life.

Palliative medicine is usually administered using a team approach, involving physicians, pharmacists, nurses, religious leaders, social workers, psychologists, and other health care professionals who work with you. Palliative care providers consider physical, psychosocial, and spiritual factors in their treatment approach. Palliative care is appropriate for anyone experiencing symptoms from their disease.