My dad has COPD and IPF he's still going with (very expensive) medication but it's taking a toll. It sounds great to live but living well is the goal. Lung tra

My dad has COPD and IPF he's still going with (very expensive) medication but it's taking a toll. It sounds great to live but living well is the goal. Lung transplants are great but most lung disease occur decades later after a long career especially blue collar jobs where a person is exposed to many irritants not toxic but cause cumulative damage. Although anecdotal sailors (Navy, Coast Guard) for some reason have an unusually high rates of lung disease mainly COPD and IPF. Lung transplants if possible cut certain nerves and the transplant recipient no longer has a cough reflex due to cutting vagal nerve fibers. But it seems it's possible it can recover, maybe only for younger patients. I think the recent articles about mitochondria transfer from muscle tissue to damaged tissue is more promising. It would be nice to see some studies on that involving lung tissue.