This Saturday, Canadians living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) will be participating in a “six minute marathon” to raise awareness of this rare, fatal lung disease. The event, named for the six-minute walking test that respirologists sometimes use to help assess and monitor IPF, will take place along the Toronto Waterfront.
Pulmonary fibrosis causes irreversible and damaging scarring of the lungs, depriving the body of oxygen. As the disease progresses, everyday tasks become impossible—for people living with IPF, something as simple as a six-minute walk can feel like a marathon.
Jim Gillies has been living with IPF for more than three years and knows first-hand the impact this disease has on quality of life. Jim has learned the importance of managing the disease, and understands that working closely with his doctor on a treatment plan and keeping fit by swimming, cycling and golfing can help him to maintain lung function. To help raise awareness for IPF, Jim will be participating in this Saturday’s event, and is hoping the community will come out to learn more.
This disease affects an estimated 30,000 Canadians and is responsible for 5,000 deaths each year. Every year, 6,000 people are diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, and this number is expected to increase as the population ages.There is no known cause of IPF—the most common form of pulmonary fibrosis—and by the time symptoms appear, the lungs have already been damaged.
Typical symptoms include shortness of breath; a dry, hacking cough; loss of appetite; rapid weight loss; extreme tiredness and loss of energy; chest discomfort; coldness in the hands and feet; and memory loss. Early diagnosis and treatment can help slow progression of the disease.
