CF is an inherited genetic disorder, and it mainly affects the digestive system and lungs.  The inheritance is passed by an autosomal recessive trait.  It is caused by a defective gene and the protein of that gene which causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus. The mucus can clog the lungs and sometimes obstruct the pancreas, which causes it to stop enzymes from breaking down food and absorb it.

Some symptoms of CF include:

·         Salty tasting skin

·         Persistent coughing, sometimes with phlegm

·         Frequent lung infections

·         Wheezing and shortness of breath

·         Sometimes you do not grow or gain weight well even if you have a good appetite

·         Frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements.

If you are a victim of CF:

·         You might cough a lot

·         Your growth may be stunted

·         Your puberty may be delayed

·         You will make frequent visits to the hospital

·         You must do breathing exercises and physiotherapy because of the mucus in the lungs

·         You have to take special enzymes with your meal because CF affects the digestive system

·         You may also have to take many vitamin supplements and antibiotics (some end up taking up to 20 pills each meal!)

Cystic Fibrosis is most common if you are of European origin. It is life threatening, and most victims die at a young age.  Although, with more research done lately, many victims have made it to live until their 30’s or 40’s.  There is no cure for this disease, but treatments are getting better and better.  They are not cures, but there are ways to help them live longer and improve the life-style of those affected by CF.  

Treatments for Cystic Fibrosis:

·          Physiotherapy- this helps loosen the sticky mucus.

·         Enzyme therapy- this supplies the pancreatic enzymes that are needed for proper digestion.

Research done with gene therapy may lead to a cure for CF in the future. 

If you have Cystic Fibrosis you are more likely to have a few things related to this disorder.  You may have small growths on your nose.  You might also have diabetes. You are more likely to have diabetes because CF can sometimes cause damage to the pancreas.  There is a great risk that you may be infertile.  Men may be infertile because the tube that carries sperm may become blocked.  Women may have fertility problems because Cystic Fibrosis can often cause nutrition problems.

Many people who suffer from CF are diagnosed at birth.  They will notice at birth that the baby’s gut is blocked by meconium. Others are usually are diagnosed as a baby because they are not gaining weight as they should be.

If you have a history of this disorder in your family, you can test to see if you carry the gene. If the mother and father of a baby are either carriers or they already have one child with this disorder you can test the baby inside the womb to see if the baby will have it. One way to do it is an amniocentesis test.  In this test they sample amniotic fluid and test it.  They can also do chorionic villus sampling where they sample tissue from the placenta.

Now that you know about CF and how it affects other people's lives, please take a moment to donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  This will go toward research to help victim of this disorder.