The 16th-22nd of September is IPF week.
Pulmonary Fibrosis describes a condition in which the lung tissue becomes thickened, stiff, and scarred. Idiopathic describes a condition which has no specific cause – that’s right PF isn’t just caused by smoking and exposure to toxins like asbestos it can occur without knowing why. It is often a surprise to many people to find out that the idiopathic type is the most common type of pulmonary fibrosis.
There isn’t accurate data on epidemiology but recent estimates say that around 35,000 people in Europe are diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) each year. A study in The Americas describes the incidence of IPF was estimated at 10.7 cases per 100,000 per year for men and 7.4 cases per 100,000 per year for women. Both describe the incidence is on the rise.
This week why don’t you take some time to check out our awesome Physiopedia pages on IPF?