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Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary Fibrosis



what is the end stages of this diease ? Does severe cough go to the end ?


Pulmonary Fibrosis affects each person differently and progresses at different rates for each person.  As a person's fibrosis worsens, they have more shortness of breath with everyday activities such as walking or climbing stairs.  They also require more oxygen over time and continue to have low oxygen levels despite using oxygen at rest and with very small amounts of exertion.  The symptoms of cough can also progress in some patients.   

The low oxygen levels can put a strain on the heart and on the blood vessels in the lungs and may lead to high blood pressure in the lungs (called pulmonary hypertension).

Patients with pulmonary fibrosis can also develop other medical conditions just as patients without pulmonary fibrosis, such as heart attack, stroke, blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), lung infection, and lung cancer.

When a patient develops worsening symptoms, hospice can be helpful in using medications to manage the symptoms of shortness of breath and cough. 

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Response by:

Nitin Y Bhatt, MD Nitin Y Bhatt, MD
Clinical Assisstant Professor of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep
College of Medicine
The Ohio State University