Medical Problems That Arise From Having Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common hereditary disease (genetic based disease) that affects the mucus producing tissues of the body. Many systems of the body rely on fully functioning mucus glands and when they do not work well, many medical complications can arise.

Cystic fibrosis symptoms are caused by heavy, thick, mucus. They include frequent coughing that brings up thick discolored mucus and frequent bouts of chest congestion that often leads to pneumonia. The skin may taste salty and sufferers are easily dehydrated.

The stools of a CF patient are thick, greasy, and smell foul. The patient may be eating well and have a good appetite, but fails to gain weight and thrive. Stomach pain, bloating and excessive gas is caused by too much gas in the intestines and is painful.

There are other medical problems caused by cystic fibrosis. Infertility in men is often caused by this disease. Sinusitis is caused when the space behind the eyes, nose, and forehead are being blocked by thick mucus. Nasal tissues under these condition become infected and cause sinusitis when the lining of the sinuses becomes blocked. This is very common in patients with CF. Nasal polyps may also develop in the sinuses and require surgery to remove.

Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs and bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes are the large airways in your lungs. Bronchiectasis is a lung disease that causes these airways to become stretched and flabby. They produce pockets where mucus collects. These pockets are a breeding ground for bacteria and infection causes more damage to the bronchial tubes. This can lead to further bronchial infections and serious illness including respiratory failure.

If your lungs are not moving enough oxygen through the body, "clubbing" can be a result. Clubbing is the widening and thickening of the toes and fingers. Clubbing is a definitive sign of CF, if the condition has not already been diagnosed.

Other serious illnesses and complications include liver disease, diabetes, gallstones, collapsed lungs, and rectal prolapse. Extensive coughing and the body having problems passing stools cause rectal prolapse. This pushes the rectal tissue outside of the body.

Another serious illness that may occur because of this genetic disease is low bone density. The body does not get enough Vitamin D and this can cause rickets. Your doctor may recommend Vitamin D supplements to prevent low bone density.

Since there is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis, medical treatment is focused on treating the various symptoms and medical problems that spring up from having CF.

Scott Harker is the publisher of several health related websites... To find out more about Cystic Fibrosis, please visit Cystic Fibrosis Articles For reviews of some of the best books about cystic fibrosis, please visit Cystic Fibrosis Books

Cystic Fibrosis Vest

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.

Cystic Fibrosis provides detailed information on Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms, Causes Of Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Treatments and more. Cystic Fibrosis is affiliated with Living With COPD.

The Hidden Truth on Cystic Fibrosis Exposed

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is caused by a genetic defect and is an inherited disease. The disease causes an interference with the body's function of carrying both salt and water to and from the body's cells. This problem will cause a buildup of very thick mucus that leads to clogging up the lungs and the digestive organs. Many people consider cystic fibrosis to be a lung disease but are they are actually unaware that the buildup of mucus can and will affect other organs as well. Cystic Fibrosis can affect: the lungs, the Pancreas, the Liver, the Intestines, the Sinuses and the Reproductive organs.

Cystic fibrosis, unfortunately, happens to be one of the most common inherited genetic disorders and about 1 in every 2500 newborns in the United States is affected. It happens to be most common in both Caucasians and Hispanics, and seldom occurs in those people of either African or Asian descent.

The symptoms of CF will vary depending on the stage of the illness and which organs have been affected.

The earliest symptoms can be: an Increased appetite, Poor growth pattern, very foul-smelling bowel movements that appear to be both very oily and bulky, Salty tasting skin, Frequent coughing attacks, Frequent respiratory infections and Difficulty breathing. As the disease progresses, more advanced symptoms or complications can develop including: an Unexplained weight loss, Diabetes, Pancreatitis, Liver disease and Infertility.

The diagnosis of Cystic fibrosis is accomplished by testing for the presence of those substances or genes found in the blood and from sweat or fetal cells.

During pregnancy, if a couple has reason to believe they might carry the CF gene, the doctor can perform either an amniocentesis or a biopsy of the chorion frondosum at 10-12 weeks of gestation to obtain fetal cells for prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities.

In 40 of the 50 states, there are newborn screening tests for Cystic Fibrosis. The test involves taking a blood sample from the heel of the baby's foot before he or she leaves from the hospital. The sample of blood is then sent to be analyzed at a state laboratory and if the results indicate the defective gene, then the infant's physician and the necessary local health agencies will be made aware.

If CF is not detected at birth, it is often diagnosed during the first year or two of the child's life when some of the typical warning signs begin to appear. The traditional test used for determining the presence of cystic fibrosis is the sweat test. In CF, the body is unable to utilize all the salt taken in and the CF patient will usually be excreting larger than the normal amounts of salt in their sweat.

When a sweat test is conducted, small electrodes are placed on skin of the patient so the sweat glands are stimulated. The sweat produced is then collected and sent to a laboratory where they measure the salt content. The sweat test is in no way a painful test and it has been used to help diagnose cystic fibrosis for many years.

At the present time, there is no actual cure for cystic fibrosis. The treatment involves using combination of medications, special diet, exercise and other types of therapy that are designed to control the symptoms and prevent complications from developing.

Specific medications are used to: Prevent and control respiratory infections, Keep the airway open to help with breathing, Loosen and help remove the sticky mucous and Help the body to absorb nutrients from food.

The diet and nutrition plans are prescribed to: Replace essential vitamins that cannot be stored by the patient, Ensure that the calorie intake will meet the high energy demands, Ensure there is adequate nutrient intake for proper growth and development and Replace the salt that is lost through sweat.

An Exercise and therapy program to: Help Strengthen the heart and lungs, Help to Loosen and clear mucus from the lungs, Improve the patient's endurance and overall physical condition and Increase the amount of oxygen that needs to be delivered to tissues.

Cystic Fibrosis cannot be prevented because it is an inherited disease, but the disease can be detected through a simple blood test for the presence of the defective gene. Before a couple plans for a child, if either parent knows or suspect that either one or both might be carriers of the CF defective gene, they should seek out appropriate genetic counseling and determine if they have a risk of passing on CF disease.

CF is caused by a defective gene that is responsible for making a protein that controls the movement of salt and water in and out of all the cells within our bodies.

Each person has two copies of this gene that we received from each of our parents. In some cases, the gene that we receive from our parents is abnormal, but that does not always mean we will develop Cystic Fibrosis. If a person happens to inherit: 2 normal genes, He or she will not develop CF and will not be a carrier. If a person happens to inherit: 1 normal gene and 1 abnormal gene, the He or she will not develop CF but they will carry the defective gene and possibly pass it on to his or her children. If a person happens to inherit: 2 abnormal genes, then He or she will develop the disease.

Not to long any child born with cystic fibrosis, rarely lived beyond their adolescence years. With the advances in medicine, there is more known about the disease now, that was unknown in the past. The new knowledge and advancements has led to improved treatment regimens that now help people with cystic fibrosis to live more active and normal productive lives well into the adult years. People that live with cystic fibrosis have to take extra precautions against any type of infection. They may also need to take digestive system enzymes and certain types of inhaled medications for the rest of their lives.

If your child is diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, What can you do?

Your pediatrician will be the best person to provide the care along with the help of specialists, if needed. The doctor will possibly refer you to a local cystic fibrosis center. If there is no local center, you should ask for a referral to a Cystic fibrosis center as these are operated by both physicians and health care professionals, specializing in the disease. The centers are the best equipped to both monitor your child and prescribe treatment based on the most current research. At the center, your child can be seen by a team of specialists that might include both a pulmonologist (lung specialist) and nutritionist.

As a former Respiratory Therapist, I was involved with the treatment of many infants and young children with Cystic Fibrosis. It was very easy to get to know the kids and become attached to them every time they were admitted to the hospital. They always seemed to be eager to see us when we would enter their hospital room, simply because they knew we were there to help them and be their friend. It was almost like being a big brother, little brother or big brother, little sister with one big exception. There was no fighting or arguing, but just a sense of wanting to help them as per the doctor's orders and be their friend as they battled a horrible disease. In some cases, when one of these special kids passed away from the disease, we would go to the funeral, because they had become like a family member.

Mickey Lieberman uses his diverse medical background and experience to research helpful health information on numerous diseases and illnesses and provides useful resources for over 100 different medical conditions. For further information, Go to

Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms

Cystic fibrosis is a very serious disorder that is fatal if not treated properly. A defective gene causes thin body secretions, such as lung mucus, digestive juices, sweat and reproductive secretions, to become thick and sticky. Serious and life-threatening problems may arise due to this thickening. There is no permanent cure for cystic fibrosis yet, but symptomatic treatment is given.

When the lungs and airways are choked, the cystic fibrosis patient coughs and produces very thick sputum. He is short of breath and develops wheezing. Polyps may grow in the nasal passages. The frequency of sinus, chest infections, pneumonia and bronchitis increase.

As the digestive juices do not reach the intestine, due to blocked ducts from the pancreas and liver, the fats and protein are not digested. The stool is bulky, greasy and foul smelling. The cystic fibrosis patient may have excessive appetite but is undernourished and underweight, as the food is not digested properly for absorption. A trypsin test may indicate whether sufficient enzymes from the pancreas are available for digestion.

The sweat may taste salty. When we kiss a child with cystic fibrosis we can taste this excessive salt taste. To diagnose cystic fibrosis positively we measure this saltiness in sweat. Technicians coat an odorless chemical on a small area of the skin in the arm, and stimulate that area with electric current to produce copious sweat. This sweat should contain about 40 m mol/l in a normal person. Above 60 m mol/l of salt in a sweat test will confirm the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. With cystic fibrosis patients the duct that connects the testes and vas deferens may get blocked. Most cystic fibrosis patients are sterile.

Treatment is mainly to ease the symptoms and lead a normal life in spite of the malady. Bronchodilators and mechanical vibrators keep the lungs and airways clear. Enzyme and vitamin supplements keep the digestive system near normal. With correct lifestyle management Americans are living to their 30s and 40s with cystic fibrosis.

Causes of Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening disease caused by a defective gene and affecting about 30,000 children in America. There is no cure for it so far, but there are lots of promising experiments and clinical studies going on to find a genetic therapy to cure cystic fibrosis.

Humans transmit the genetic code to the next generation through DNA, containing 23 pairs of chromosomes. The seventh chromosome contains the defective gene that causes cystic fibrosis. There are over ten million Americans who this defective gene without having the disease. When both parents are carriers there is a 25% chance that the child will have a recessive gene; that is, the child has two copies of the defective gene from both parents. This gene signals the epithelial cells to produce cystic fibrosis trans-membrane conductance regulator (cystic fibrosisTR). It is a bad protein found in the digestive system, skin and reproductive system of cystic fibrosis patients.

When the cystic fibrosisTR is not normal, the regulation of salt through the membranes becomes defective. This results in the secretions of the lining such as mucus, digestive juices and sweat, becoming thick and sticky.

The respiratory system secretes thin and slippery mucus to clear away the foreign bodies and microorganisms that invade the system. In cystic fibrosis patients this mucus, thick and sticky, not only fails to clean the system but also blocks the lungs and airways and creates a life-threatening problem with the respiratory system. As the microorganisms are not cleared there are serious infections, like bronchitis, pneumonia and influenza. So a cystic fibrosis patient has to take care of his respiratory system constantly, with bronchodilators, electrical clappers and electrical inflatable vest vibrators. Newer antibiotics control the infections to a good extent.

In the digestive system the ducts between the pancreas and intestine and between the liver and intestine are blocked. Due to the shortage of enzymes and bile, the cystic fibrosis patient is unable to digest fats and proteins. He becomes malnourished, underweight and weak. Enzyme and vitamin supplements take care of the problem to an extent. In the reproductive system the duct between the testes and prostate get blocked, and so a majority of cystic fibrosis patients are sterile.

Fight Cystic Fibrosis With Vitamins And Over The Counter Products

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that affects the entire body, causing progressive disability and early death. Cystic fibrosis affects the entire body and impacts growth, breathing, digestion, and reproduction. Difficulty breathing and insufficient enzyme production in the pancreas are the most common symptoms.

The Pancreas of patients with Cystic Fibrosis fails to produce enough enzymes that are necessary to break down food. As a result the food eaten retains its fats and most of its nutrients as it passes through the body.

The bronchial tubes in the lungs also malfunction and produce a thick, sticky mucus. Germs multiply in this mucus and cause respiratory infection such as pneumonia, accompanied by a cough and high fever that is more severe than normal.

A multitude of other symptoms, including sinus infections, poor growth, diarrhea, and potential infertility (mostly in males) result from the effects of cystic fibrosis on other parts of the body. Patients with Cystic Fibrosis also sweat profusely and their perspirations also contains an unusually high percentage of salt.

Cystic fibrosis is the most common life-limiting recessive disease among people of European heritage. Two copies of the recessive mutated gene, one from each parent is needed by the human body to develop Cystic Fibrosis.

Because cystic fibrosis testing is expensive, testing is often performed on just one parent initially. If that parent is found to be a carrier of a CFTR gene mutation, the other parent is then tested to calculate the risk that their children will have cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis can result from more than a thousand different mutations and, as of 2006, it is not possible to test for each one. Most commercially available tests look for 32 or fewer different mutations.

Couples who are at high risk for having a child with cystic fibrosis; i.e. cystic fibrosis has developed in family members, will often opt to perform further testing before or during pregnancy. After birth cystic fibrosis may be diagnosed in newborn with sweat testing, or genetic testing.

Most states and countries do not screen for cystic fibrosis routinely at birth. Children with cystic fibrosis typically do not gain weight or height at the same rate as their peers and occasionally are not diagnosed until investigation is initiated for poor growth. Males tend to have a longer life expectancy than females but the reason is unknown.

Cystic Fibrosis Life Expectancy

Cystic fibrosis is a serious genetic disorder with reduced life expectancy. A common genetic disorder among Caucasian people, this disease occurs in one of every 3,200 Caucasian births. The mutation in the gene varies according to the geographical background. Cystic fibrosis occurs in one out of every 15,000 African-American births. The life expectancy of cystic fibrosis patients has been increasing over the past 40 years. In the 1980s life expectancy of people with cystic fibrosis was 14 years.

10 years back, the life expectancy of a person with cystic fibrosis was around 18 years. Today it is 35 years. The median life expectancy of a newborn with cystic fibrosis has increased from 4 years to 32 years. It has been estimated that there has been more than 10 year increase in the average life expectancy of affected people in North America. Over 90% of the affected infants now survive beyond one year. Studies show that life expectancy of children will exceed 40 years. Life expectancy of individuals with adequate pancreatic function can be more than 50 years.

In the United States, approximately 30,000 people have cystic fibrosis. Around 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year. One child of every 3,500 is born with cystic fibrosis. In Canada, the overall cystic fibrosis birth rate from 1971-1970 was stable. From 1988, cystic fibrosis birth rate increased to a rate of 1 in 3,608. Cystic fibrosis birth rate is stable for the last few years. In the UK, cystic fibrosis birth is about 1 in 2400 and 4% of the people are cystic fibrosis carriers.

80% of patients are diagnosed by the age of three. 10% of patients are diagnosed at the age of 18 and 3% patients are diagnosed in adulthood. Vast improvements in treatment have increased the life expectancy of cystic fibrosis patients.

Cystic Fibrosis Treatments

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.

Chromosome 7 and Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common genetic disorders. The genes on each chromosome control specific functions of the human body. The gene on chromosome 7 produces a protein called cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator. Mutation in the DNA level of chromosome 7 leads to the absence of this protein which leads to cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a recessive disease. It means that both copies of the gene must be defective. An affected person will have abnormal cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene on each chromosome 7. Therefore both biological parents must have an abnormal gene. One abnormal copy is inherited from each parent. A person with one normal gene and one abnormal gene is called a cystic fibrosis carrier. Cystic fibrosis carriers do not show any symptoms but they may pass the abnormal gene to their children. Therefore the parents can be either cystic fibrosis carriers or affected themselves.

Cystic fibrosis affects the production and function of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator. This disturbs the chloride transfer across cell membranes. As a result, chloride irons build up in the cells of the lungs and other organs. Water stays inside the cells to dilute the chloride and the normal secretions of the organs become thick. Mucus in the exocrine glands becomes thick and sticky. This results in blocks in the pancreas, lungs, liver and other glands. This block leads to cyst formation in glands. This results in cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis causes frequent respiratory infections.

Diagnosis of cystic fibrosis is confirmed by a sweat test or DNA testing. Cystic fibrosis causes the sweat glands to secrete excessive salt. The most common symptoms of cystic fibrosis are coughing and chronic breathing difficulties. This causes repeated lung infections. The lungs and the digestive system are more affected by cystic fibrosis. The symptoms of cystic fibrosis include chronic cough, chest infection, small growth in nose, diabetes, weight loss, pancreatitis, and diarrhea. The treatment of cystic fibrosis includes oral or inhaled antibiotics, corticosteroid tablets, dietary vitamins, anti-asthma therapy and medication.

The Hidden Truth on Cystic Fibrosis Exposed

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is caused by a genetic defect and is an inherited disease. The disease causes an interference with the body's function of carrying both salt and water to and from the body's cells. This problem will cause a buildup of very thick mucus that leads to clogging up the lungs and the digestive organs. Many people consider cystic fibrosis to be a lung disease but are they are actually unaware that the buildup of mucus can and will affect other organs as well. Cystic Fibrosis can affect: the lungs, the Pancreas, the Liver, the Intestines, the Sinuses and the Reproductive organs.

Cystic fibrosis, unfortunately, happens to be one of the most common inherited genetic disorders and about 1 in every 2500 newborns in the United States is affected. It happens to be most common in both Caucasians and Hispanics, and seldom occurs in those people of either African or Asian descent.

The symptoms of CF will vary depending on the stage of the illness and which organs have been affected.

The earliest symptoms can be: an Increased appetite, Poor growth pattern, very foul-smelling bowel movements that appear to be both very oily and bulky, Salty tasting skin, Frequent coughing attacks, Frequent respiratory infections and Difficulty breathing. As the disease progresses, more advanced symptoms or complications can develop including: an Unexplained weight loss, Diabetes, Pancreatitis, Liver disease and Infertility.

The diagnosis of Cystic fibrosis is accomplished by testing for the presence of those substances or genes found in the blood and from sweat or fetal cells.

During pregnancy, if a couple has reason to believe they might carry the CF gene, the doctor can perform either an amniocentesis or a biopsy of the chorion frondosum at 10-12 weeks of gestation to obtain fetal cells for prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities.

In 40 of the 50 states, there are newborn screening tests for Cystic Fibrosis. The test involves taking a blood sample from the heel of the baby's foot before he or she leaves from the hospital. The sample of blood is then sent to be analyzed at a state laboratory and if the results indicate the defective gene, then the infant's physician and the necessary local health agencies will be made aware.

If CF is not detected at birth, it is often diagnosed during the first year or two of the child's life when some of the typical warning signs begin to appear. The traditional test used for determining the presence of cystic fibrosis is the sweat test. In CF, the body is unable to utilize all the salt taken in and the CF patient will usually be excreting larger than the normal amounts of salt in their sweat.

When a sweat test is conducted, small electrodes are placed on skin of the patient so the sweat glands are stimulated. The sweat produced is then collected and sent to a laboratory where they measure the salt content. The sweat test is in no way a painful test and it has been used to help diagnose cystic fibrosis for many years.

At the present time, there is no actual cure for cystic fibrosis. The treatment involves using combination of medications, special diet, exercise and other types of therapy that are designed to control the symptoms and prevent complications from developing.

Specific medications are used to: Prevent and control respiratory infections, Keep the airway open to help with breathing, Loosen and help remove the sticky mucous and Help the body to absorb nutrients from food.

The diet and nutrition plans are prescribed to: Replace essential vitamins that cannot be stored by the patient, Ensure that the calorie intake will meet the high energy demands, Ensure there is adequate nutrient intake for proper growth and development and Replace the salt that is lost through sweat.

An Exercise and therapy program to: Help Strengthen the heart and lungs, Help to Loosen and clear mucus from the lungs, Improve the patient's endurance and overall physical condition and Increase the amount of oxygen that needs to be delivered to tissues.

Cystic Fibrosis cannot be prevented because it is an inherited disease, but the disease can be detected through a simple blood test for the presence of the defective gene. Before a couple plans for a child, if either parent knows or suspect that either one or both might be carriers of the CF defective gene, they should seek out appropriate genetic counseling and determine if they have a risk of passing on CF disease.

CF is caused by a defective gene that is responsible for making a protein that controls the movement of salt and water in and out of all the cells within our bodies.

Each person has two copies of this gene that we received from each of our parents. In some cases, the gene that we receive from our parents is abnormal, but that does not always mean we will develop Cystic Fibrosis. If a person happens to inherit: 2 normal genes, He or she will not develop CF and will not be a carrier. If a person happens to inherit: 1 normal gene and 1 abnormal gene, the He or she will not develop CF but they will carry the defective gene and possibly pass it on to his or her children. If a person happens to inherit: 2 abnormal genes, then He or she will develop the disease.

Not to long any child born with cystic fibrosis, rarely lived beyond their adolescence years. With the advances in medicine, there is more known about the disease now, that was unknown in the past. The new knowledge and advancements has led to improved treatment regimens that now help people with cystic fibrosis to live more active and normal productive lives well into the adult years. People that live with cystic fibrosis have to take extra precautions against any type of infection. They may also need to take digestive system enzymes and certain types of inhaled medications for the rest of their lives.

If your child is diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, What can you do?

Your pediatrician will be the best person to provide the care along with the help of specialists, if needed. The doctor will possibly refer you to a local cystic fibrosis center. If there is no local center, you should ask for a referral to a Cystic fibrosis center as these are operated by both physicians and health care professionals, specializing in the disease. The centers are the best equipped to both monitor your child and prescribe treatment based on the most current research. At the center, your child can be seen by a team of specialists that might include both a pulmonologist (lung specialist) and nutritionist.

As a former Respiratory Therapist, I was involved with the treatment of many infants and young children with Cystic Fibrosis. It was very easy to get to know the kids and become attached to them every time they were admitted to the hospital. They always seemed to be eager to see us when we would enter their hospital room, simply because they knew we were there to help them and be their friend. It was almost like being a big brother, little brother or big brother, little sister with one big exception. There was no fighting or arguing, but just a sense of wanting to help them as per the doctor's orders and be their friend as they battled a horrible disease. In some cases, when one of these special kids passed away from the disease, we would go to the funeral, because they had become like a family member.