Cystic Fibrosis World
Cystic fibrosis is caused by a gene mutation that is believed to have happened over fifty thousand years ago. Even though it has been around for a large portion of the time that humans have, it was not even recognized as a disease until the 1930′s. Since its recognition, there has been plenty of research done about cystic fibrosis, and many new treatments have been developed. There is still no cure on the horizon, and everything to know about the disease has not been found, but new things are cropping up from medical research labs all the time. It is important that we all keep up with the advances in the field, especially if you or somebody you know is suffering from cystic fibrosis. Even though this disease is still devastating people and families all over the world, there are some things on the horizon that everybody can be excited about. Here is what is new in the world of cystic fibrosis.
1. Gene therapy – In the late 1980′s a team of geneticists were able to pinpoint the exact gene that was causing cystic fibrosis. Now that we have this knowledge, theoretically gene therapy can be used to fix that problem. This type of procedure is still in the experimental stages and there is still a large amount of research that needs to be done before this theory can be actualized. If we find that this procedure works, this could cure cystic fibrosis once and for all, and this type of disease will become a thing of the past.
2. Physical activity – Recent studies have shown that physical activity can actually have an effect on CF patients. Exercise training is now being offered to sufferers, and it has shown that it has increased their ability to exercise, which has contributed to better health overall. The important part at this point is to get patients to not only exercise during training sessions, but also at home. Devices that monitor how much physical activity a patient is getting at home are starting to see more use.
These are just a few of the things that are being discussed. There is research being done regularly, and there is more to do in the future as well. To make sure that cystic fibrosis research continues, get involved with a charity, donate, and participate in events such as walks for the disease. The more effort we put in, the better the results will be in the end.