Pulmonary fibrosis

2 min read

Living with

Living with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) might change some things for you and your family. But working with your healthcare team, friends, and family, and by staying healthy, will help you live your life to the fullest.

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To make the most of your treatment and care, here’s how to look after your mind and body. This can help you manage your symptoms and stay healthy.

Looking after your mind

Finding out you have PF can bring up many feelings. It’s normal to feel lots of different emotions at the start. So, it’s important to stay in touch with your healthcare team and ask for help when you need it. This could be from your family, friends, or someone like your doctor or a counsellor.

Looking after your body

Stay up to date with vaccinations

Vaccinations help your body fight off sickness. Talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated. This includes a flu shot each year, COVID-19 vaccinations, and the pneumococcal vaccination. Your healthcare team might also suggest getting vaccinations for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), shingles or whooping cough (pertussis).

Eating well

Try to enjoy a wide range of healthy foods. This includes fruits and vegetables, lean meats or other proteins, and foods rich in calcium like dairy. Make sure you eat what’s right for you and any special dietary needs. If you need more help with planning what to eat, you can ask your GP or healthcare team to refer you to a dietitian.

You might find your appetite may change with some PF medications. You might feel hungrier than usual when taking a corticosteroid like prednisolone, or less hungry with anti-fibrotic medications. Try to eat regular meals and drink enough fluids. If you’re not sure how much fluid you should be drinking, ask your specialist doctor.

Exercise and rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are a great way to start exercising in your daily life. Talk to your healthcare team about how to get started. A physiotherapist or exercise physiologist can also set an exercise plan that’s right for you. Find physical activities you enjoy so you can stay motivated! You can learn more about exercise and PF with our fact sheet.

Plan ahead to treat chest infections

Ask your specialist doctor about making a plan for what to do if you get a chest infection. Tell your specialist doctor or GP about any changes in your breathing as soon as you can. Learn more about preventing and managing respiratory infections with our guide.

Travelling with PF

Many people with PF can still enjoy travelling, whether it’s around Australia or overseas. It’s important to talk first with your specialist doctor about your travel plans, because not all types of travel are suitable. You might need to plan things a bit differently, but it’s important to keep doing the things you love. Find out more about how to get ready for travel with our fact sheet.

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Last updated on June 19th, 2025 at 08:58 pm

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