5 Facts you should know about

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)

IPF is characterized by the thickening and stiffening of lung tissue, associated with the formation of scar tissue.

Risk factors include cigarette smoking, acid reflux disease (GERD) and certain viral infections.

Those in their 60s and 70s are most commonly affected.

Males are affected more often than females.

Average life expectancy following diagnosis is about four years.

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