Disease Spotlight: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Estimated to occur in as many as 18 per 100,000 persons per year, the disease I’m highlighting today is more common in men than in women and is rare in anyone under 50. In fact, the average age at diagnosis is sixty-five. Shockingly, the average time between the diagnosis of this disease and the death of the patient is only 2-5 years. Scientists are on the case to better understand this disease, figure out methods of treatment, and extend the quality and length of life for individuals with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Let me tell you a bit about what they have figured out. In Broad Strokes: The structure and cells of our lungs Our lungs are the entry point for life-giving oxygen to enter the bloodstream. From there the oxygen is sent off to be used by the rest of the body. Air enters our nose and mouth, and then goes through the trachea, or windpipe, before entering the lungs. From the trachea, several smaller tubes branch off, and from these, even smaller tube...