I am sure if you researched
IPF, that you know idiopathic means cause unknown. Yes, it is a terminal and deadly
lung disease. Life expectancy between 5-6 years. Sometimes, medication may slow it down. But, in my mother's case, the medications did not. I am afraid that yes, it can be hereditary. But, not in all cases. Lung disease is running in our family. My mother's father died with lung cancer. My mother's brother with COPD.