The worsening of a disease/condition over time
A formal documentation when someone else is given the responsibility to manage your affairs and make certain decisions on your behalf
Refers to the lungs
A group of tests used to check how well the lungs take in and release air and how well they supply oxygen to the rest of the body14
A type of high blood pressure that affects the blood vessels to the lungs and the right side of the heart15
Therapy that provides relief from symptoms to help patients live more comfortably with their disease13
Administration of oxygen as a medical intervention11
A small plastic tube or prongs that fit in the nostrils to deliver supplementary oxygen11
Listening to and playing music as a therapy which aims to ease the symptoms of those living with IPF
A sleep disorder characterised by breathing that repeatedly stops and starts during sleep12
A specialist who helps someone recover or live with their symptoms more easily
A machine that removes other gases from the air to provide oxygen for oxygen therapy11
An education and exercise program designed to improve the quality of life for people with lung conditions16
A physician specialised in lung problems (also known as a respirologist)
A product that gives protection against a specific infection
A test used to monitor oxygen levels in a patient’s blood, usually with a non-invasive sensor11
A breathing technique to help control breathlessness and reduce anxiety17
A disease that affects only a small percentage of the population
Something that is associated with an increased risk of disease or infection
A technique that helps to reduce stress and anxiety by helping to understand and manage your emotions
Therapies used alongside conventional treatments that help treat symptoms and may improve overall physical and mental wellbeing
A medical study that investigates how safe and effective a new therapy or technique is for treating a certain disease
A disease or condition that occurs at the same time as another disease or condition
A device to deliver compressed air to improve sleep in people with obstructive sleep apnoea6
A disease where a waxy substance (plaque) builds up inside the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle7
A type of chronic disease that typically worsens over time and is characterized by long-term breathing problems and poor airflow. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are older terms used for COPD5
Refers to the heart, and blood vessels
A type of medication that aims to slow the scarring and stiffening of lungs to slow disease progression2
Tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the blood takes place
A test that shows how well the lungs are working by measuring how much oxygen and carbon dioxide is in the blood. This test requires that a small volume of blood be drawn from the patient3
Techniques that involve breathing in a certain way to control breathlessness and strengthen your lungs
A procedure in which a bronchoscope (a medical instrument like a tube) is passed through the mouth or nose into the lung and fluid is squirted into a small part of the lung and then collected for examination4
A lung condition where the air sacs within the lungs (alveoli) become damaged5
Extreme weariness resulting from exertion or illness
Of unknown cause
Rapid and uncontrolled breathing
A disease where there is progressive scarring or thickening of the lungs without a known cause4
The surgical removal of cells or tissue samples from the lung for examination by a pathologist10
The lung tissue becomes thickened and stiff
A test that uses a type of X-ray that produces multiple, detailed images of areas inside the body4
A burning sensation in the chest, which can spread to the throat, along with a sour taste in the mouth
Where inflamed tissue is replaced with scar tissue, making it thicken and become stiffer4
A symptom where the ends of the fingers become wider and rounder8
A digestive disease where stomach acid moves up out of the stomach and irritates the lining of the food pipe (oesophagus)9
A physician specializing in the management of diseases of the digestive system
An event characterized by sudden, severe worsening of symptoms or an increase in disease severity1
Smoking is one of the biggest influences on your health when you have a lung condition.
If you have been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis it is important to quit smoking. Many people find quitting difficult, however there are lots of resources to help you quit. Although you may have tried to quit in the past, the modern resources available are very useful to help you in stopping smoking.
Talk to your treatment team if you want advice to help you quit smoking. They will provide expert advice to help you through the process.1
Are there any practical tips to help me quit smoking?
Quitting smoking can be challenging. It can be helpful if you set out your reasons for quitting and use them as reminder to keep you on track.
These reasons might be the obvious ones such as protecting the health of your lungs. However, other reasons could also include saving money, protecting the health of people around you and prolonging the time you have to spend with family and friends. These can all be powerful motivating reasons for sticking to a quit-smoking plan.
Talk to your treatment team
Your treatment team will be able to help you quit smoking. They can help you enrol in a "stop smoking" clinic and can offer other services such as prescribing nicotine replacement or other measures and medications.1
Join your local stop smoking service
Many areas have local stop smoking services. A stop smoking service can help you quit smoking and stay smoke-free. You may have one-to-one or group meetings where you can discuss your challenges with other people who are quitting smoking.1
Speak to your treatment team about local stop-smoking services.
Be mindful of high-risk times and triggers
Smoking isn’t just a physical addiction, it is also linked to the way your brain works and every day routines and triggers. You may have different reasons for smoking such as having a chance to break from stress, or an opportunity to relax or reward yourself (e.g. while driving, after a meal or while on the phone).
Do your best to avoid these triggers and look for ways to occupy your mind during these situations, such as exercising, using a stress ball, or spending time with family and friends.2
Don’t punish yourself if you slip up
Many people who have tried to quit smoking find themselves falling into old habits. Don’t be too harsh on yourself if this happens. You're not a failure if you slip up.
Throw out the rest of the pack and try to think about the reasons why you started smoking again, so you can stop it from happening again in the future.
Celebrate your victories
Try not to focus on the difficult parts of quitting smoking and recognize your success. Plan celebratory events ahead of time for important milestones (e.g. one week, one month or six months smoke free).
Never underestimate how far you have come and the hard work and effort you’ve put in. Celebrating small victories will help strengthen your reasons for quitting.
The worsening of a disease/condition over time
A formal documentation when someone else is given the responsibility to manage your affairs and make certain decisions on your behalf
Refers to the lungs
A group of tests used to check how well the lungs take in and release air and how well they supply oxygen to the rest of the body14
A type of high blood pressure that affects the blood vessels to the lungs and the right side of the heart15
Therapy that provides relief from symptoms to help patients live more comfortably with their disease13
Administration of oxygen as a medical intervention11
A small plastic tube or prongs that fit in the nostrils to deliver supplementary oxygen11
Listening to and playing music as a therapy which aims to ease the symptoms of those living with IPF
A sleep disorder characterised by breathing that repeatedly stops and starts during sleep12
A specialist who helps someone recover or live with their symptoms more easily
A machine that removes other gases from the air to provide oxygen for oxygen therapy11
An education and exercise program designed to improve the quality of life for people with lung conditions16
A physician specialised in lung problems (also known as a respirologist)
A product that gives protection against a specific infection
A test used to monitor oxygen levels in a patient’s blood, usually with a non-invasive sensor11
A breathing technique to help control breathlessness and reduce anxiety17
A disease that affects only a small percentage of the population
Something that is associated with an increased risk of disease or infection
A technique that helps to reduce stress and anxiety by helping to understand and manage your emotions
Therapies used alongside conventional treatments that help treat symptoms and may improve overall physical and mental wellbeing
A medical study that investigates how safe and effective a new therapy or technique is for treating a certain disease
A disease or condition that occurs at the same time as another disease or condition
A device to deliver compressed air to improve sleep in people with obstructive sleep apnoea6
A disease where a waxy substance (plaque) builds up inside the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle7
A type of chronic disease that typically worsens over time and is characterized by long-term breathing problems and poor airflow. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are older terms used for COPD5
Refers to the heart, and blood vessels
A type of medication that aims to slow the scarring and stiffening of lungs to slow disease progression2
Tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the blood takes place
A test that shows how well the lungs are working by measuring how much oxygen and carbon dioxide is in the blood. This test requires that a small volume of blood be drawn from the patient3
Techniques that involve breathing in a certain way to control breathlessness and strengthen your lungs
A procedure in which a bronchoscope (a medical instrument like a tube) is passed through the mouth or nose into the lung and fluid is squirted into a small part of the lung and then collected for examination4
A lung condition where the air sacs within the lungs (alveoli) become damaged5
Extreme weariness resulting from exertion or illness
Of unknown cause
Rapid and uncontrolled breathing
A disease where there is progressive scarring or thickening of the lungs without a known cause4
The surgical removal of cells or tissue samples from the lung for examination by a pathologist10
The lung tissue becomes thickened and stiff
A test that uses a type of X-ray that produces multiple, detailed images of areas inside the body4
A burning sensation in the chest, which can spread to the throat, along with a sour taste in the mouth
Where inflamed tissue is replaced with scar tissue, making it thicken and become stiffer4
A symptom where the ends of the fingers become wider and rounder8
A digestive disease where stomach acid moves up out of the stomach and irritates the lining of the food pipe (oesophagus)9
A physician specializing in the management of diseases of the digestive system
An event characterized by sudden, severe worsening of symptoms or an increase in disease severity1
Don’t give up if you happen to stumble along the way. Try to learn from the experience and think about what you could have done differently. The more times you quit, the greater your chance of success
Key Takeaways
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Smoking has a major impact on your lung health
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Stopping smoking is one of the best ways to protect and improve your lung health
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Your treatment team can help and support you to stop smoking
Show references
Hide references
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1.
NHS Choices. Take steps NOW to stop smoking. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/take-steps-now-to-stop-smoking/. [Accessed April 2019].
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2.
NHS Choices. 10 self-help tips to stop smoking. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/10-self-help-tips-to-stop-smoking/#make-a-plan-to-quit-smoking/. [Accessed April 2019].
Also in this section
Exercise
Gentle exercise can help you stay healthy for longer and improve your overall wellbeing
Sleep
Living with pulmonary fibrosis can be tiring, so it is important you get the right amount of sleep
Managing your cough
Although a persistent cough is a common symptom in pulmonary fibrosis, it can be managed
Join a support group, if somebody puts out a hand for help, somebody will always hold it