What is Cystic Fibrosis? Cystic Fibrosis is a life-threatening disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs and digestive system. An inherited condition, CF affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat, and digestive juices. These secreted fluids are normally thin and slippery, but in CF victims, a defective gene causes the secretions to become thick and sticky. Instead of acting as a lubricant, the secretions plug up tubes, ducts, and passageways, especially in the lungs and pancreas.
Most people with CF are able to attend school and work. With daily care, they are able to enjoy better quality of life than in previous decades. Recent improvements in screening and treatments mean most people with CF now live into their 20s and 30s, and some are living into their 40s and 50s.
There is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis, but treatment can ease symptoms and reduce complications. Treatment options include:
* Antibiotics to treat and prevent lung infections
* Mucus-thinning drugs to help cough up the mucus, which improves lung function
* Bronchodilators to help keep airways open by relaxing the muscles around the bronchial tubes
* Oral pancreatic enzymes to help the digestive tract absorb nutrients
Chest physical therapy helps loosen mucus and is usually done from one to four times a day.
The options include:
* Chest clapper, a hand-held device that mimics the effect of cupped hands clapping over the ribs
* Inflatable vest, a device worn around the chest that vibrates at high frequency
* Breathing devices, usually a tube or mask through which you exhale while performing breathing exercises
Children born with CF eventually die from it. Great strides are being made towards a cure, but research takes a lot of money. Please consider giving to help change the lives of those who suffer from CF.
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