As a patient living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), one of the most frustrating and difficult aspects of this disease is the chronic, uncontrolled cough. Not only can constant coughing be physically painful, it can also make for some difficult social situations for patients to navigate as well. Just recently, a friend of mine shared with me that someone sitting beside him on an airplane commented on his persistent cough, leaving him feeling terribly guilty. Not only was his cough covered by a mask, he also explained to the gentleman that he couldn’t help it due to a lung disease and confirmed he was not contagious. The man’s response was both cruel and uncalled for, and my friend was left feeling awful about a symptom of a lung disease he couldn’t control.