The two main symptoms of IPF are:
- Breathlessness (also known as shortness of breath or dyspnea): Usually the breathlessness of IPF first appears during exercise. Breathlessness can affect day-to-day activities such as showering, climbing stairs, getting dressed and eating. As scarring in the lungs gets worse, breathlessness may prevent all activities.
- Chronic cough: About 85% of people with IPF have a chronic cough that has lasts longer than 8 weeks. This is often a dry cough, but some people may also cough up sputum or phlegm.
Other symptoms may include:
- chest pain or tightness
- unexplained weight loss
- loss of appetite
- tiredness and loss of energy
- change of finger shape called "clubbing"
