Can Anyone Tell Me Some Facts on Cystic Fibrosis?
Thursday, July 8th, 2010 at
7:58 pm
Anniie (H) asked:
I heared that my friend (I’ve never met her – we speak over the internet) has cystic fibrosis. I looked it up, and found some common facts on it, but I was wondering if anyone could tell me some more imformation about the condition? Thanks 
Tagged with: Condition Thanks • Cystic Fibrosis
Filed under: Cystic Fibrosis
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
It’s basically this condition where the protein that is in charge of regulating salt levels in the lungs doesn’t exist. This means that the lining surrounding the lungs from the inside gets filled with salt, and mucus surrounds it to try to protect it. Basically, the lung gets too much salt. Your body produces these proteins depending on the information your DNA gives you, and in your friend’s case, she doesn’t have the correct information to be able to produce that protein. Cystic Fibrosis is usually diagnosed when the person is less than a year old (as soon as the person is born.) It is also an autosomal recessive disease, which basically means that it isn’t dominant, so both parents must be carriers and by bad luck, your friend inherited the gene from both of them (which is unusual.) The usual life spam of a person with cystic fibrosis is 30. The most common symptoms are chronic lung infections, high level of salt in sweat, congestion and other respiratory problems. Hope this helps
…I saw a video on this at school, and this is all I remember… the video was from the human genome project and it told the story of a baby..I think his name was Riley (in case you want to look it up).. sorry, but i couldn’t find it…
basically Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic condition. A person with CF can lead a normal long life. CF causes the mucus that is in our lungs to be thick making it hard for the body to remove it so people with CF have to have phsyo to help remove it. Also people with CF have an increase in having chest infection. CF also effects the digestive system as mucus lines the instestines making it harder to absorbe neutrients. People who take medication for CF also have to take lots (and i mean lost) of tables a day.
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and
obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.
People with CF can have a variety of symptoms, including:
very salty-tasting skin;
persistent coughing, at times with phlegm;
frequent lung infections;
wheezing or shortness of breath;
poor growth/weight gain in spite of a good appetite; and
frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements.
Statistics
About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year.
More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two.
More than 40% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older.
The predicted median age of survival for a person with CF is more than 37 years. Most people with cystic fibrosis can lead active lives—depending upon the severity of their disease—with routine therapies and regular visits to a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited care center.
Staff at CF Foundation-accredited care centers partner with people with CF to develop individual treatment plans. These plans typically include high-calorie, high-fat diets, therapies to loosen the clogged mucus from their airways, and mucus-thinning drugs and antibiotics when needed.
By following a treatment plan developed with their CF care center team, many people with CF can slow down the progression of their disease. A healthier body is better able to deal with bacteria and chronic lung infection.
CF Diet – In CF, a high-calorie, high-fat diet is vital for normal growth and development in children, and offers adults a way to maintain optimal health. The dietitians at CF Foundation-accredited care centers work with patients and their families to map out the best diet for each person.
Nutrition and general lung health are closely linked. People with cystic fibrosis may need extra calories to compensate for the malabsorption of nutrients. These extra calories also help to meet the greater energy needed for breathing. In fact, for children with CF, extra fat calories are good for fueling normal growth and development.
Pancreatic Enzyme Supplements – Almost everyone with cystic fibrosis needs to take pancreatic enzyme supplements with meals and snacks. Taken by mouth, the enzymes go to work in the intestines to help digest food so it can be absorbed by the body. Patients should always check with their doctor or dietitian to know the exact amount of enzymes to take.
Vitamins and Minerals – Most people with cystic fibrosis do not absorb fats properly, so certain vitamins, or “fat-soluble” vitamins, are not absorbed. These vitamins are Vitamins A, D, E and K. People with CF usually take these vitamins daily. Minerals, like calcium, iron, sodium chloride and zinc, are also essential to maintaining good health through nutrition. Certain foods are good sources of these minerals and they are also available as supplements.
Nebulizers – Clearing the Airways
Since inhaled drugs more easily reach the airways, they are common in cystic fibrosis care. Inhaled treatments can be given by aerosol, a mist treatment made from liquid medicines. In this case, the drug goes into a cup (nebulizer) and is attached to a small air compressor. The compressor blows air through the cup and makes a mist. Cystic fibrosis patients inhale the small particles in the mist through a mask or mouthpiece for several minutes to help clear the mucus.