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Pulmonary Fibrosis Disease Progression
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IPF affects each person differently and progresses at varying rates. Generally, the patient's breathlessness becomes worse over time. Daily activities (such as walking or climbing stairs) become more difficult.
In addition:
- The patient may require supplemental oxygen to meet the needs of the body.
- Advanced IPF may make it difficult for a person to fight infection.
- IPF causes a lack of oxygen in the blood. This condition (called hypoxemia) may lead to high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) and put a strain on the heart that might lead to heart dysfunction (called right heart failure, or cor pulmonale).
- IPF has also been associated with these potentially life-threatening conditions: heart attack, respiratory failure, stroke, blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), or lung infection.
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