Queen Latifah Stars in “Beyond Breathless”

Boehringer Ingelheim announced that “Beyond Breathless,” a new documentary featuring award-winning actress, musician and TV producer Queen Latifah will premiere on A&E December 5 at 12 p.m. ET. “Beyond Breathless” is the first documentary to spotlight the journey of those impacted by ILD through the real experiences of people living with this rare lung disease, their loved ones and healthcare professionals.

“My mom struggled with scleroderma especially after it progressed to her lungs and that made it difficult for her to breathe,” said Queen Latifah. “Anything my mom could do to help someone else have an easier journey with their disease, she wanted to be a part of – so it’s important for me to carry on my mom’s mission. My hope is that for those living with this disease or caring for someone they love that they know they’re not alone in this fight.”

ILD encompass more than 200 lung disorders that can lead to pulmonary fibrosis – an irreversible scarring of lung tissue that negatively impacts lung function. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and scleroderma-associated ILD, also known as systemic sclerosis-associated ILD (SSc-ILD), are two common types of ILD. Symptoms include breathlessness and a dry, persistent cough. To learn more about ILD, visit LungsandYou.com.

Because the symptoms of ILD are similar to those of other, more common respiratory conditions, it can can be confused with COPD and asthma. For example, over 50 percent of IPF cases are initially misdiagnosed.

“Our hope is that through ‘Beyond Breathless’ we can educate people about interstitial lung disease and encourage those experiencing symptoms to get an earlier and accurate diagnosis,” said Al Masucci, vice president, ILD Business Unit, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “We are proud to have worked with so many inspiring individuals in the ILD community to bring this powerful documentary to life.”

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