Cystic fibrosis is a disease that greatly affects the pancreas of a person. The pancreas is the one responsible for producing enzymes that are needed in order to properly and completely digest food. With cystic fibrosis, the sticky and very thick mucus blocks the passageway where the enzymes are supposed to pass so they are trapped in the pancreas without a way out. The digestive system will then lack the necessary enzymes and could result into some digestive problems like diarrhea and constipation.

Patients with cystic fibrosis are also prone to malnutrition because their bodies have no capability of absorbing nutrients like proteins and fats. To treat this, doctors give high dosage of pancreatic enzymes to their patients to help their bodies get the right nutrients that they need. These pancreatic enzymes now come in different forms such as tablets and capsules for easier consumption. There have been some tests conducted on patients with cystic fibrosis and the results were not all the same. The pancreatic enzymes worked on some people but there are also some cases where there were no changes in the condition of the patients.

Some studies show that there is really no known and proven treatment for cystic fibrosis yet but there are some things that you could do in order to achieve some improvements. And one of these things is taking enzymes that will help digest food, break it down into very tiny pieces and help the body absorb the substances that it could get from the food that you ate like fats and proteins. Doctors usually suggest taking vitamin supplements along with oral pancreatic enzymes.

These pancreatic enzymes have been studied, tried, and tested by doctors and specialist many years ago to ensure that they will not cause any kind of side effects or will not cause an existing condition to worsen. Taking these enzymes is completely safe, in fact, even small children with cystic fibrosis are allowed to take such enzymes as long as they will follow doctors’ instructions regarding the right dosage and how many times a day should the enzymes be taken. You should also consult your doctor first before taking any brand of oral pancreatic enzymes especially if you are planning to use the generic version.

Taking enzymes is just one of the many ways on how you could improve certain conditions associated with cystic fibrosis. It will also help if you will live a healthy lifestyle and avoid anything that could make your condition worse like drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes or tobacco. You should also put your self under a healthy diet that could provide you with all the essential nutrients that your body will need for the whole day. You could also take some vitamins or supplements to meet your body’s nutritional requirements. Exercise could also help a lot to make your body healthy and fit. It could make you strong and could keep some illnesses away. Also, always remember to visit your doctor regularly so he could monitor the condition of your health.

By: Didier De Coster

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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common hereditary chronic disease of the mucus and sweat glands. It largely affects the lungs, pancreas, sex organs, intestines, liver, and sinuses. The condition is due to a defective gene that produces an irregularly shaped form of a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR is a type of protein that is essential to the body.

People having cystic fibrosis do not have enough CFTR for their cells to work normally because their bodies quickly destroy the mutant CFTR. Majority of Cystic Fibrosis cases result from the lack of an essential amino acid building block in the CFTR, causing it to fold into its characteristic and functional three-dimensional structure abnormally. A protein that fails to fold into the intended shape usually produces inactive proteins with different characteristics. This is how CF affects the mucus and sweat glands.

Normally, mucus is watery, thus keeping the linings of certain organs are moist and keeps them from drying out or getting infected. But in the case of CF, the abnormally shaped CFTR causes mucus to become thick and sticky. The mucus tends to build up in your lungs and block the airways. The condition is then a potent venue for bacteria to grow causing serious lung infections, which will eventually damage the lungs. The most common cause of death of CF patients is respiratory failure.

In the same way, mucus build up can block ducts in the pancreas. With this, digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas, will not be able to reach the small intestine. These pancreatic enzymes are responsible for breaking down dietary nutrients in order for the body to efficiently absorb fats and proteins. Moreover, the abnormally shaped protein or CFTR can induce your body to withdraw large amounts of salt, upsetting the mineral balance in your body.

A specific treatment plan is required for each particular CF condition. For cystic fibrosis affecting the lungs, regular chest physiotherapy, an average of two time daily, is very important. This procedure helps clear away the thick mucus in the airways.

Exercise is also beneficial. It helps regulate blood and oxygen circulation as well as encourage muscle function in the body. Inhalers and oxygen are also helpful in this lung disease for it can open up the airways.

Antibiotics and antifungals are standard part of the treatment and are usually taken for long periods. It helps with the inflammation and pain. The dosage and type of the medications would depend on the type of bacteria infecting the body and the severity of the disease. Also, others may decide to take proteolytic enzyme supplements such as serrapeptase or treatments to help in clearing inflammation and mucus.

For people with CF that primarily affecting the digestie system, they must take enzyme supplement. People with such disease will have difficulty in absorbing certain nutrients due to the decreased digestive enzymes. Thus, taking enzyme supplements such as lipase alongside a diet high in fat and carbohydrates is a standard treatment.

By: Paul S Fitzgerald

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Cystic fibrosis, which affects 30,000 American children and adults, is a multisystem disease caused by a defective gene. Presently only symptomatic management is possible, but there are very promising gene-therapy trials under way.

In the respiratory system the thin mucus lining becomes thick and sticky. In cystic fibrosis management, the primary treatment of the system is to thin or clear this mucus. Bronco dilators like albuterol are used to clear the clogged airways. Mucus thinning drugs delivered by aerosol, like pulmozyme, are helpful. The most effective way of clearing this mucus is by mechanically dislodging it. Clapping on the chest and back, with the head tilted on the edge of a table, is quite effective. There is an electrical clapper that does the job safely. There is an electrical inflatable vest that vibrates and dislodges the mucus. Infection is an ever-present risk with cystic fibrosis patients. Regular shots for pneumonia and influenza are very important. Bacterial infection is fought with newer antibiotics like TOBY, which delivers the medicine directly into airways with aerosols.

Because of the blocked ducts of the pancreas and liver, the enzymes and bile do not reach the intestine. Though the patient eats normally or even in excess, the fats and proteins are not digested. So the cystic fibrosis patient needs to have the enzymes supplemented with oral pancreatic enzymes. There is also the need to take vitamins, especially the fat-soluble ones. If lung function is completely damaged, the only alternative would be lung transplantation. This would involve many factors, like the availability of a donor and the patient’s present health, prior to undergoing major surgery.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has 115 centers all over America, and provides guidelines and advice. They support many studies to find gene therapy to cure cystic fibrosis. The target is to add normal genes to the cells of the airways to prevent further damage. Biotech laboratories produce healthy genes, which need to be delivered to the appropriate cells. These vectors, or delivery systems, are the key areas of research to combat cystic fibrosis. One method that is actively pursued is to modify the common cold virus to carry the healthy genes into the correct cells. On another track, the DNA molecules are compacted to their minimum size and delivered directly to the relevant cells without the need for a carrier such as a virus. This technology is called PLAS min.

As this gene therapy experiments are at an advanced stage, the cystic fibrosis sufferers can hope for a permanent cure in the near future.

By: Kent Pinkerton

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