"We're Not Going to Give Up": Living Well With Pulmonary Fibrosis

When Fred Haley was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, there were limited treatments and no hope. But Fred chose Cone Health for his care and was soon enrolled in clinical trials. Today, Fred has beaten the odds, thanks in part to the treatments he helped pioneer.

Haley has idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, also known as IPF. IPF is one of the most common and deadliest forms of pulmonary fibrosis. It causes scaring in lung tissue that worsens over time, leading to cough, shortness of breath and ultimately dependence on oxygen. The disease is chronic can be fatal, with death usually occurring within 2 years of diagnosis.

Despite this, Haley is blowing away the odds.

Murali Ramaswamy, MD, the director of the pulmonary fibrosis program at LeBauer and at Cone Health, says that Haley has accomplished the "pillars" of treating IPF: quitting smoking, losing weight and taking care of his health.

Haley is also an activist for IPF. He is the co-founder of a pulmonary fibrosis support group at Cone Health, and he also helps continue research by participating in multiple clinical trials. "He is not only making a difference for others, but also for himself," says Ramaswamy.

While there is no cure for IPF, researchers like Ramaswamy and patients like Haley aren't giving up. "I end all of our support groups by saying, 'Remember guys, we fight,'" says Haley. "That's really what you have to say. 'We fight. We're not going to give up. We fight.'"

Managing Asthma: Signs, Symptoms and Triggers

Joel Gallagher, MD, continues the discussion on lung health by sharing tips for managing one of the most common breathing disorders: asthma.