Top tips from other people living with pulmonary fibrosis (PF)
- keep as active as you can, at a level that’s right for you – but always pace yourself and rest if you need to
- give yourself time to adjust and find different ways of doing things
- stay positive and keep doing the things you enjoy as much as you can
- share experiences and get support from others, either online on HealthUnlocked, or try the Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis telephone befriending service
- socialise with friends and family when you can, join a support group, or ask your palliative care team about wellness cafes or groups
- try relaxation therapies like meditation and mindfulness
- eat a healthy diet and stay hydrated
- find ways to make everyday tasks easier and ask for help when you need it.
Your physical health and wellbeing
Living with pulmonary fibrosis can bring challenges and there may be times when symptoms affect what you're able to do. Many people tell us it helps to focus on the things that matter most to them and to find ways to keep doing the activities they enjoy."
Dr Matt Swallow, GP and Clinical Lead at Asthma + Lung UK.
Keeping active
Keeping active is good for us all. Even short sessions of activity can make a difference to how you feel, physically and mentally.
If you have pulmonary fibrosis, keeping fit and active can help you to:
- manage breathlessness
- improve stamina for doing everyday tasks
- keep muscles strong, including your breathing muscles
- boost your mood and help with your emotional wellbeing
- increase your confidence in what you can do.
Try to keep active regularly at a level that’s right for you, building up gradually when you can. You could try setting yourself small goals to keep motivated.
Ask your GP or specialist team about ways you can be more active every day. They may also be able to refer you to pulmonary rehabilitation classes. You can also ask them about the NHS exercise referral scheme. This is where your GP or other healthcare professional can refer you to a programme of exercise in your area.
Pulmonary rehabilitation includes an exercise programme alongside education and advice about how to manage your lung condition and stay active. You can also meet other people living with a lung condition. This can help you feel part of a community and less isolated..
If your symptoms are much worse than usual, stop exercising and ask your specialist team for advice about when it’s safe to start again.
Planning and pacing everyday tasks
It can be hard to know how you’re going to feel each day when you have pulmonary fibrosis. Symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness and coughing can sometimes make everyday activities like washing, cooking a meal, or taking a short walk feel difficult.
Try pacing, planning and prioritising to avoid getting too exhausted.
For example, it may help to:
- plan your tasks around your most important thing to do each day
- break bigger tasks down into smaller ones, spread across the day
- balance easier tasks in between some harder tasks or activities.
Remember that it’s OK to ask for help with some tasks if you need to,.
Eating healthily
Eating well and staying hydrated can help you feel stronger and have more energy. It also helps you keep to a healthy weight.
A healthy weight is important because:
- carrying extra weight can make breathing and physical activity more difficult
- losing too much weight can reduce your muscle strength and energy, which makes everyday activities more difficult.
If it’s hard to eat a big meal, try smaller portions, or eating little and often. Soft foods may be easier for you to eat and swallow. It can also help to sit up while you eat.
Feeling breathless or tired can make preparing and eating meals difficult, and tiring. Or you may feel full, or have less appetite, and not feel like eating. Eating smaller meals more often, taking your time when eating and resting before meals may help.”
Leanne Hale, Respiratory Nurse Specialist, Asthma + Lung UK.
Non-urgent advice: Talk to your specialist team if:
- you’re losing weight without trying or struggling to maintain your weight, or are concerned about gaining weight
- you feel full quickly, or have less of an appetite
- you regularly feel sick, or have diarrhoea or other digestive problems
- you feel too tired or breathless to prepare meals
- it’s hard to eat because of breathlessness.
Your specialist team can review the medicines you’re taking to see if any side effects are making it difficult for you to eat or drink. Or if medicines like corticosteroids are making you gain weight.
They may also refer you to a dietitian who can help you get enough energy, protein and nutrients to stay well. Always talk to your healthcare professionals before making any big changes to your diet yourself.
Find out more about healthy eating and drinking when you have a lung condition.
Stop smoking
If you smoke, there’s lots of support to help you quit. Quitting smoking can make a difference to your overall health, and the health of your lungs.
Non-urgent advice: Smoking and oxygen therapy
Oxygen is highly flammable and there is a serious risk of fire if you smoke while using oxygen therapy, or near oxygen equipment.
Do not smoke, or let anyone smoke near you, when using oxygen therapy.
Smoking also means you will not get the full benefits of your oxygen therapy.
Your emotional health and wellbeing
Living with a condition like pulmonary fibrosis can affect lots of different parts of your life, including activities you like to do. Some days may feel easier than others. Talking about how you're feeling, asking for support and connecting with other people who understand what you're going through can really help.
Leanne Hale, Respiratory Nurse Specialist
Living with pulmonary fibrosis may mean you feel worried, anxious, low or overwhelmed at times, particularly when you're newly diagnosed or if your symptoms or circumstances change. You may be focused on looking after your physical health. But don’t forget to look after your mental wellbeing too.
You could:
- try relaxation therapies like mindfulness
- join our singing for lung health or harmonica for lung health which can help you connect with others and support your emotional wellbeing
- set goals around things that are important to you, whether that’s staying active, enjoying a hobby, or spending time with family and friends.
- connect with other people, like friends and family, other people living with pulmonary fibrosis, or people with another lung condition. Ask your specialist team about local wellbeing groups, support groups or other services in your area.
Non-urgent advice: Talk to your GP or specialist team
If anxiety, low mood or other difficult feelings are affecting your everyday life, talk to your GP or specialist team.
They can discuss the support and treatments available, which may include talking therapies or other mental health support.
More resources and support
Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis has information and support for people diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, their families, friends and carers.
You can find more information about support for carers, family and friends, and hear from others living with PF
They also have webinars about pulmonary fibrosis and a support line, and a telephone befriending service for peer support.
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust supports anyone living with pulmonary fibrosis, with practical support, research and the chance to connect with others living with the condition.
How we develop our health information
About our health information
All our information is reviewed and updated by Asthma + Lung UK’s experienced Health Advice Team. People living with lung conditions, qualified healthcare professionals and specialists also review our content.
This information has been clinically reviewed and approved by Asthma + Lung UK’s Clinical Leads, Dr Matthew Swallow, a practising GP, and Nazir Hussain, a specialist pharmacist, who both share a passion for improving respiratory care.
Our information is based on the latest, trustworthy evidence and guidelines. Below is a sample list of the sources referenced in our pulmonary fibrosis (Living well with pulmonary fibrosis) information.
- European Lung Foundation, Pulmonary fibrosis, a supportive guide, September 2023
- European Respiratory Society (ERS) News, Specialised singing programmes can improve the symptoms and quality of life of people with lung disease, 2025
- NHS, Live well, Exercise, August 2024
If you'd like a full list of the sources we've used to produce our health information, you can email us at healthadvicequeries@asthmaandlung.org.uk.
Get support
Call or email our helpline for support with any aspect of living with a lung condition – whether you need practical advice, emotional support, or answers to health-related questions. You can also find support through our groups.
