Interstitial lung disease encompasses over 200 conditions that inflame or scar lung tissue. While origins vary—from autoimmune triggers to environmental exposures—the risk of progressive scarring remains a shared threat. Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, emphasizes that identifying these shifts in respiratory health is critical for patients to secure specialized care before lung function declines further.

Progressive pulmonary fibrosis is identified through a combination of worsening symptoms, reduced lung function test results, and increased scarring visible on high-resolution CT scans. To bridge the current education gap, the organization is offering its Lung Health Navigator program, connecting patients with registered nurses and respiratory therapists for one-on-one guidance. Participants also receive the 50-page "Learning to Live with PF" workbook, which covers medical management, nutrition, and strategies for communicating with healthcare teams. These resources are currently available in both English and Spanish, with support provided by Boehringer Ingelheim.