About CF
Looking for early signs of CF and talking to a doctor can mean an earlier diagnosis of CF. You can find more here about CF, how it may affect the body, and signs to look for.
About CF
Cystic fibrosis (CF) affects more than 30,000 children and adults in the United States. Worldwide it affects 70,000 people. This, of course, does not take into account family and friends, whose lives are also deeply affected by this disease. CF is a hereditary disease, which means it runs in families. It’s an ongoing, progressive disease, which means it continues to get worse over time. CF is a genetic disorder that mainly impacts the lungs and the digestive system.
How CF may affect the body
Everybody has mucus in their airways. But people with cystic fibrosis have mucus that is abnormally thick and sticky that can build up and block airways. This unhealthy mucus mainly affects the digestive tract and lungs. In the lungs this can result in permanent lung disease and loss of function over time. In the digestive tract, mucus clogs inside the pancreas, which leads to the malabsorption of food and nutrients in the intestine.
People with CF also have more salt in their sweat, and this is a common way of diagnosing CF.
Signs to look for
Only a doctor can diagnose CF. If you think you or someone you love may have CF, visiting a doctor is a top priority.
Here are a few signs and symptoms to look for:
Coughing
Salty skin
Poor weight gain
Diarrhea or bulky, foul-smelling, greasy stools
Constipation
Wheezing
Crackles
-
Treatment Tip
If CF is diagnosed, sticking with a prescribed treatment schedule is critical. Click here to get tips.
