Advances being made in CF research have the potential to make dreams come true for people with CF that were impossible just decades ago. The CF Foundation asked some of the many extraordinary people affected by this disease to share their dreams for the future. Caution: Contains sensitive and emotional dialogue from parents who have lost their children to CF.

My identical twin sister and I have Cystic Fibrosis but we seem to have two different severity levels of it, I get sick really often and have had to spend lots of time in the hospital with infections, but she doesn’t get sick as often and her lung function is currently a lot higher than mine, whereas I am going to have to have a lung transplant soon and we’re only 16. Of course we’ve always lived in the same environment. What would be the cause this difference?

i need more details about it. =)

Breathing Deeply A day in the life of CF

Cystic fibrosis vest is a device used in the physical therapy treatment of cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis causes mucus secretions that are very thick. The secretions in the lungs may lead to chronic pulmonary complications such as mucus plugging, persistent infection and tissue damage. Cystic fibrosis patients require daily airway clearance therapy to reduce these complications. Cystic fibrosis vest is an airway clearance system used to reduce pulmonary complications. Physicians prescribe 10-40 minutes for vest therapy per day.

The system includes an air pulse generator, a vest, connecting tubes, power cord and a remote control. The vest is inflatable and is connected by two tubes to a small air pulse generator. The air pulse generator inflates and deflates the vest. It gently compresses and releases the chest wall up to 20 times per second. This process is called high frequency chest wall oscillation. The frequency creates airflow within the lungs. This process loosens the mucus and the thin mucus moves toward the larger airways. It can be cleared by coughing or suctioning.

The cystic fibrosis vest system can be easily used by children and adults. It does not require positioning or breathing techniques. The vest system has an adjustable frequency setting from 5 to 20Hz. The pressure used in the vest is adjustable. The pressure is moderately stable according to frequencies but sometimes varies depending on the vest size. The usage meter in the vest system records the length of each treatment. A typical treatment using the vest system takes 15 to 20 minutes.

Vest therapy is the basic element of standard cystic fibrosis treatment program at major health centers. The vest system is appropriate for patients with excessive mucus production and difficulty in clearing secretions. It provides a consistent and high quality airway clearance. The vest system does not require positioning or postural drainage. It is not technique dependent and most users can manage the vest system without any help.

By: Kent Pinkerton

About the Author:

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An older women who has no genetic disease has a sister with the recessive disease cystic fibrosis. How likely is it that she is a carrier (she is heterozygous) for cystic fibrosis?

I have Cystic Fibrosis and have never talked to other who have it. Anyone out there have cf?

I had an amnio done to see if my baby has Cystic Fibrosis. Well, when the lady called with the results she said that he didn’t have either one of our mutations, but isn’t there like over 1,000 different mutation. How do I know for sure that he is not going to have it? Does anyone have a CF child that has CF and doesn’t have either one of the parents mutations?

Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for dry mouth. Sugar-free candy or gum stimulates saliva flow, and moisture can be replaced by using artificial saliva and oral rinses. Among them are antihistamines, decongestants, painkillers, high blood pressure medications, muscle relaxants, drugs for urinary incontinence, Parkinson’s disease medications, antidepressants and many others. Without the cleansing effects of saliva, tooth decay and other oral health problems become more common. Patients using oral inhalers for asthma often develop oral candidiasis, an oral fungal infection, and are encouraged to rinse their mouths with water after using the inhaler.

Causes of Dry Mouth

Common Causes of Dry Mouth:

Dry mouth can be a result of nerve damage to the head and neck area from an injury or surgery.

Conditions that lead to dehydration, such as fever, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss, and burns can cause dry mouth.

Surgical removal of the salivary glands.

Damage to the salivary glands, the glands that produce saliva, for example, from radiation to the head and neck and chemotherapy treatments for cancer, can reduce the amount of saliva produced.

Dry mouth can be a side effect of medical conditions, including Sj

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