IPF is a type of progressive lung disease that causes inflammation and scarring to the air sacs of the lungs. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath and a dry, hacking cough that does not go away. Although it is not known what causes IPF, there are certain risk factors for developing it, such as cigarette smoking, exposure to environmental pollutants, and genetics.
(For more information, click Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. This eMedTV article offers more detailed information on this disease, including causes, symptoms, and treatment options.)
