What is Cystic Fibrosis? Well, lets see, where do I start? How about this; much online information and books you read are accurate, but, what better is that of a true person living with CF.For starters, let me say that as with anything, common sense is necessary. I live a pretty much full life. I am a full-time college student, part-time employee. CF is a genetic disease (the gene must be inheirited from both parents in order to have the disease) which causes the mucus in a person w/ CF to be much thicker than one w/o it making it harder to chunk up. It is necessary to take an inhaled medicine which dilates the bronc tubes to make them wider to allow the mucus more space to come up since they are lined with it.When eating, I take enzymes to help digest the food. The pancrease is usually clogged w/ mucus as well which limits its ability to produce the stuff necessary to break down food, so you have to help that food out.CF individuals may at times have to be hospitalized for lung infections caused by the build up of mucus, which is common. Although if caught early enough, they can usually be treated with oral and inhaled antibiotics.That's CF in a nutshell. Anything else, don't hesitate to ask.Exercise is crucial to the health of CF folks.
