• Understanding the Stages of Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Guide for Caregivers

    What is Pulmonary Fibrosis? By Brenda Kimble Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a respiratory disease where the lungs slowly lose the ability to function due to scarring. This scarring causes the passageways to become thick and hard, which inhibits the lung’s ability to move oxygen through the walls of the alveoli and into the bloodstream.  Patients with pulmonary fibrosis find themselves unable to catch their breath due to improper oxygenation of the blood. Pulmonary fibrosis is treatable, but there is currently no cure for the disease. Treatments that are offered to PF patients will not reverse the damage that has already been done to the lungs, nor will it make the…