Healthy
Cystic fibrosis is a devastating disease that affects people from their birth until they die. Every single aspect of their lives needs to be planned meticulously. It is not possible to prevent cystic fibrosis at this point because it is a recessive genetic disease. People that are affected by it can manage the illness, but there is no cure. It is possible to manage with drugs, but that is the best that is available to sufferers for now. There are many steps that can be taken to stay healthy for anybody with cystic fibrosis, and physicians will usually provide them with that information. For those of you out there that are unfamiliar with this disease, it is never a bad idea to gain some familiarity with a disease that is affecting millions of people in the world. Here are some ways that people with cystic fibrosis stay healthy.
1. Medication – Everybody with cystic fibrosis is on at least one antibiotic at all times. CF causes frequent infections in sufferers due to irregularity in the glands, so antibiotics are necessary even if the patient is healthy. Antibiotics will not only treat existing infections, but they will also help to prevent them from occurring in the first place.
2. Diet – Cystic fibrosis can cause the pancreas to cease functioning the way that it should, which accounts for a decreased level of insulin in the blood. Insulin forces the body to use glucose for energy, but with a lower amount of insulin, the body begins to use fat as an energy source. Because of this, people with CF need to choose their diets very carefully. They must eat foods with a very high fat content and with large amounts of calories, they need a third more protein than the average person, and zinc and calcium should be included as well.
3. Relationships – Having friends and family for support is extremely important for anyone that is suffering not only from cystic fibrosis, but any other disease as well. Having a disease like this can make people feel helpless or alone at times, but having someone there by your side can do a world of good. If you know somebody with CF, just make sure that they know you are there for them if they ever need you. Even though they might not say it, they will definitely appreciate it.
4. Tests – People with cystic fibrosis will make normal hospital or physician visits for testing. Tests such as lung function are performed during these visits, and do not take too much time. If there are ever any complications though, a CF sufferer can spend long periods of time in the hospital.
Although cystic fibrosis is very destructive to the body, it is possible to lead a relatively normal life. As long as sufferers take the necessary steps to keep themselves healthy and prevent infection, people may not even be able to tell that they have this disease.