How do you prepare yourself?

Before your appointment with your doctor, you might want to write a list that answers the following questions:

• What are your symptoms and when did they start?
• Are you receiving treatment for any other medical conditions?
• What medications and supplements have you taken in the past five years, including over-the-counter medications or illicit drugs?
• What are all the occupations you’ve ever had, even if only for a few months?
• Do any members of your family have a chronic lung disease of any kind?
• Have you ever received chemotherapy or radiation treatments for cancer?
• Do you have any other medical conditions, especially inflammatory or autoimmune diseases?
• Did you have any blood work done looking for inflammatory or autoimmune diseases?
• Did you undergo a tissue sampling from your lungs?

At the appointment, your doctor may ask some of the following questions:

• How long have you been short of breath?
• Do you get short of breath easily?
• Has the breathlessness worsened rapidly?

Read about what doctors look for