Cystic Fibrosis on the Lungs

Many different parts of the body can be affected by a disease such as cystic fibrosis. The reason it is so far reaching is because cystic fibrosis is caused by a genetic mutation that makes glands throughout the body to function irregularly. This illness has very serious effects on the lungs and there are several problems that a sufferer must deal with. Cases of cystic fibrosis may be originally diagnosed after initial lung issues surface. Here are some specific symptoms and issues that directly affect the lungs due to cystic fibrosis.

1. Mucus – There will be large amounts of mucus buildup in the lungs if somebody is suffering from cystic fibrosis. Phlegm production will increase at alarming rates and this can cause inflammation of the lungs which could possibly lead to infection. The inflammation and infection may actually lead to negative changes within the lungs themselves, making it difficult for the patient to breathe at times. They will also be coughing very frequently and may have difficulty exercising.
2. Pneumonia – The mucus that is being created in the lungs all carry bacteria. When that bacteria filled mucus starts filling the lungs, pneumonia can develop. This development will cause a fever, difficulty breathing, and chest pain, adding to the previous systems. All of these symptoms together will generate severe discomfort and pain for sufferers of cystic fibrosis.
3. Hemoptysis – This occurs in patients after some time. Hemoptysis happens during cystic fibrosis when the mucus has been causing inflammation for a long period to the point where it makes the patient start to cough up blood.
4. Pulmonary hypertension – Hypertension is basically high blood pressure. This is something that frequently causes heart disease or heart attacks. When pulmonary hypertension develops in cystic fibrosis patients, there is a chance that heart failure may occur in the future.
5. Respiratory failure – After infection, inflammation, bleeding, and hypertension, the lungs can have difficulty operating normally. Cystic fibrosis patients that experience respiratory failure will have to be assisted when breathing, usually with an oxygen tank and breathing mask.
6. Polyps – When a sufferer of CF is experiencing chronic sinus infections, it can cause the skin inside the nasal cavities to grow uncontrollably. These growths are called polyps, and they can actually block the nasal cavity, causing further obstruction and even more difficulty breathing.

Cystic fibrosis is an awful disease and causes sufferers a lot of pain. Regimens of antibiotics are used to treat CF for lung disease, but sometimes lung transplants may be necessary. The effects listed here are strictly for the lungs, and there are many other body parts affected by CF, as mentioned before. This is a genetic disease, so there is no cure available. If found early, treatments are available to help manage this illness, so responding to symptoms is essential. Find out if you or somebody you know has the symptoms for CF.

How Parents Can Deal With Cystic Fibrosis

A disease such as cystic fibrosis is very difficult for the people that suffer from it, that is a fact. It affects the entire body from birth until death, causing several complications along the way. But cystic fibrosis does not only affect the patient, it also affects everyone around them, everyone that loves them, and especially their parents. It can be very frightening to have a child who is afflicted with this illness, and at times knowing the right choices to make can seem confusing, but there are many other parents out there just like you. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts for dealing with a child that has cystic fibrosis.

DO: Take your child to a physician regularly. With this type of illness, it is important that you always know what is going on inside of your child’s body. Changes in their health can occur in the blink of an eye, and you want to make sure that you are fully prepared for any of those changes. Cystic fibrosis is a devastating disease and waiting too long to catch a complication can multiply the effects.

DO NOT: Keep your child locked in their room. As a good parent, you want to reduce the risks of infection due to cystic fibrosis as much as possible, that is completely understandable. But you also want your child to live a fulfilling life as well. Find some safe and fun activities that you can do together. Allow your child to have friends, just make sure they are supervised at all times and that their safety is not in question in any way. A life should not end with a cystic fibrosis diagnosis.

DO: Find support groups. You do not have to go through this alone. There are many cystic fibrosis organizations that bring parents together so that they may deal with their issues and speak about problems. This is also a great way to get advice, ideas, and maybe even make some new friends. Pretty soon you will find the entire situation easier to deal with, and you will have other people behind you every step of the way.

DO NOT: Be afraid to ask your doctor questions, do research on your own, and find out everything there is to know about cystic fibrosis. The best way to defend yourself and your child is through the use of knowledge. Knowing the ins and outs of the illness will make you prepared for any situation that may arise, and you will never regret increasing your knowledge base.

Being a parent of a child with cystic fibrosis is going to be difficult, but taking steps to make it easier for yourself will be a help to everyone involved. The most important thing of all to remember is that you should never blame yourselves for your child’s genetic disorder. Doing so will only provide you with needless problems and worries. You and your family will get through this.

Support to Someone With Cystic Fibrosis

People that suffer from cystic fibrosis have many things to worry about every day. They have to take at least one antibiotic at all times whether they are healthy or not, not only to treat infections but to prevent them from occurring in the first place as well. Cystic fibrosis sufferers have to keep in mind that complications can be right around the corner, and they could be spending a large portion of the next few weeks in the hospital. This is why it is important that they have friends and family that they can talk to about their problems. Not only is physical health important for a cystic fibrosis patient, but mental health can be just as important as well. Here are some things that you can do to offer support to a friend or family that is suffering from cystic fibrosis.

1. Talk – If somebody that has CF ever needs to talk, be there for them. There are an array of physical and medical issues that arise from this disease, and sometimes people just need to air their feelings. Having a friend that they can tell about their ups and downs is very valuable, and they will be very appreciative of it, even if those exact words do not come out of their mouths. Cystic fibrosis can often make patients feel a sense of hopelessness, but all it takes is a good friend to bring spirits back up.

2. Know limitations – Your friend with cystic fibrosis is not going to be able to do everything that you are. They need to worry about infections constantly, and may not be able to be as active as other people. Being aware of this and not making this person feel as if they are holding you back are vital. People with cystic fibrosis are often sheltered by overprotective parents trying to keep them healthy, so being kept away from friends is something that occurs from childhood. You want to make sure that you do not give off a vibe that you do not want your friend with cystic fibrosis around.

3. Act normal – Be there to talk or help if your friend needs it, but otherwise, do not treat a CF patient too much differently. They are still normal human beings, they just happen to have an illness. Cystic fibrosis patients have people to care for them if they are sick, they do not need someone else to be overprotective of them. Unless your friend is doing something that is potentially dangerous to their health, do not try to be their parent.

It is not easy to live with cystic fibrosis, and sufferers need all the support they can get. Having people that care around them will do a large part in keeping them mentally stable and healthy, and even happy. If you truly care about this person, you will always find a way to make some time for them if they need it.

Cystic Fibrosis

Awareness of the physical challenges that cystic fibrosis sufferers go through has gone up over the past twenty years, and many steps have been taken to try to increase their quality of life. Medical research has found ways to treat the different ailments that arise because of cystic fibrosis. Antibiotics are used to prevent and treat the many infections that this disease can cause, genetic research has pinpointed the actual mutated gene that causes cystic fibrosis, and physiotherapy is now used to loosen fluid buildups inside the lungs. The health complications associated with this disease are numerous, but a side of cystic fibrosis that is not so apparent is the psychological effects that patients face. Here are some of the psychological issues that sufferers of cystic fibrosis have to deal with.

1. Loneliness – When you can’t do the same things that your friends are, go to the same places, and you have overprotective parents, it can take a toll on somebody. Many parents, in an attempt to protect their children from the outside world, keep their children inside the house and in their direct supervision at all times. While doing this is understandable and the parents are just trying to keep their kids healthy, it can make the cystic fibrosis sufferer feel alone. Parents should make sure that their children have fun but safe activities to do with their friends. You can’t keep them locked up forever.
2. Growth – Children that have cystic fibrosis are not going to grow as fast as their peers, and that can make them feel inadequate. While everybody else begins to grow in height during puberty, for a CF patient the growth spurt can come several years later, if at all. Many children will feel embarrassed about this, and the other kids at school are not going to make things any easier. Classmates that are unaware that somebody has this disease can often be cruel, and teasing and bullying may occur.

3. Hospital – Cystic fibrosis can often force children to spend several weeks in the hospital if complications occur. When this happens, the patient will be missing a good portion of schoolwork and time with their friends. Luckily, sometimes there are teachers that go to hospitals to teach those that are missing time from school, but that does not always happen. Not being able to live a normal life can cause cystic fibrosis patients to worry about their futures and wonder how they are going to be able to hold down a job.

These are not the only factors that affect the psyche of a cystic fibrosis sufferer. Most of us will never be able to understand exactly what they go through, but we do know that their lives are not easy. We need to get the word out about cystic fibrosis so that more research can be done, more donations can fund hospital care and medication for patients, and so that people understand this disease.