Dave says after developing a cough and chest discomfort, his doctor gave him devastating news: He has Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. IPF, a scarring lung disease that causes shortness of breath and a dry, persistent cough, affects 132,000 people in the United States.

When Dave received the news, he says he decided to not let the disease take over his life. Working with his doctors and family, he says he is conquering his new life.

“I exercise constantly and I have gotten tremendously better. I am able to do everything that I did,” he says proudly.

On Friday’s episode of Dr. Phil, Dave and Dr. Gregory Cosgrove, Chief Medical Officer with the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation and a pulmonologist at National Jewish Health, bring awareness to this rare disease which often starts as a progressive cough that lasts for months and can mimic the signs of COPD and asthma.

“I partnered with Boerhringer Ingelheim on their national Breathless campaign so that we can raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of IPF and educate patients and people about the importance of early diagnosis and treatment,” Dr. Cosgrove tells Dr. Phil.

“If you or a loved one is diagnosed with IPF, you really need to empower yourself with a disease management plan,” Dr. Phil adds. He suggests people learn about the disease, educate themselves about treatment options, find a support network, and have a strong relationship with their healthcare team.