Day 1: What is cystic fibrosis?

Today is the first day of Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, and what better way to celebrate than to have a different post about CF everyday in May! So, for Day 1, what is cystic fibrosis? If you go to cff.org, you will find a ton of resources about cystic fibrosis. This information comes straight from that site.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. An estimated 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide) have CF.

Quick Facts about CF In the United States: About 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year. More than 75 percent of people with CF are diagnosed by age 2. Nearly half of the CF population is age 18 or older.

In people with CF, 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.
• Obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down food and absorb vital nutrients.

In the 1950s, few children with CF lived to attend elementary school. Since then, tremendous progress in understanding and treating CF has led to dramatic improvements in the length and quality of life for those with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.

Symptoms of CF

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 and slow weight gain, in spite of a good appetite
• Frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements

It wouldn't be CF Awareness without me asking for a donation. Please help us continue to add tomorrows. Donate here: cffh.convio.net/goto/kaylaskrusaders