Manage Cystic Fibrosis
Unfortunately, cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease. It affects many different parts of the body because of a genetic mutation in a gene that creates glands. As with other genetic diseases, there is no cure at this point for cystic fibrosis. There is research being performed for gene therapy in infants that can correct that certain gene, but that is still in its early stages. It could be years before gene therapy is used to cure this disease, if it can be used at all. In the meantime, cystic fibrosis can be managed using different techniques that target specific problems or symptoms. Here are some of the symptoms that are currently used by physicians to treat cystic fibrosis.
1. Antibiotics – Because this disease has severe effects on the lungs, many of the treatments will focus on them. Cystic fibrosis causes the lungs to fill up with mucus and phlegm uncontrollably, which can then lead to inflammation and eventually infection due to bacteria in the phlegm. Antibiotics are regularly used by patients, many of them using at least one or more at all times. Since cystic fibrosis is a lifetime disease, antibiotics are used to suppress or prevent infection, even when the patient is seemingly healthy.
2. Insulin – CF also can lead to pancreatic disease, along with other organ dysfunctions. Insulin treatments are used to provide the blood with the insulin that the pancreas is failing to produce. The function that insulin provides is that it forces organs to absorb glucose in the blood. If the pancreas is not making the amount of insulin that it should be, the sugar level in the blood is going to be abnormally high. Also, if the body does not have glucose as an energy source, it will begin using fat instead. This can cause severe weight loss and could be very dangerous to the cystic fibrosis patient.
3. Enzyme supplements – This is also used for pancreatic disease. Since the pancreas will be having a difficult time creating these enzymes on their own, supplements are given to patients.
4. Chest physiotherapy – In this type of therapy, cystic fibrosis sufferers have the fluids and secretions loosened up by physiotherapists. They use their hands to hit, massage, or percuss in any way necessary for this type of therapy. This will keep the secretions from building up inside the chest and lungs, reducing the chances for infection and pneumonia.
It is always tragic when somebody is diagnosed with Cystic fibrosis, but times have changed. In the past, if somebody was diagnosed with this ailment, it was a death sentence. These days, the degeneration of the organs can be slowed down and infections can be prevented. The quality of life has greatly improved because of advances in the medical field. Find out what symptoms come along with CF, and if you are suffering from a few or all of them, consult a physician as soon as possible.
