Understanding Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder. It affects the lungs and digestive system. People with CF have thick, sticky mucus in their bodies. This can make it hard to breathe and digest food.

CF is caused by a change in the CFTR gene. This gene controls the flow of salt and water in and out of cells. When the CFTR gene is not working right, the body makes mucus that is thick and sticky.

Common symptoms of CF include coughing, trouble breathing, lung infections, poor growth, and greasy stools. To learn more about the symptoms of CF, visit https://www.cff.org/What-is-CF/About-Cystic-Fibrosis/.

Diagnosing Cystic Fibrosis

Doctors can diagnose CF by doing a sweat test. This measures the amount of salt in a person's sweat. People with CF have more salt in their sweat than people without CF.

Doctors can also do a genetic test to look for changes in the CFTR gene. This is done with a blood test or a cheek swab.

All babies in the United States are now tested for CF at birth. This helps doctors find and treat CF early. To learn more about newborn screening for CF, go to https://www.cff.org/What-is-CF/Testing/Newborn-Screening-for-CF/.

Treating Cystic Fibrosis

There is no cure for CF yet. But there are treatments that can help people with CF feel better and live longer. These include:

• Chest physical therapy to loosen mucus in the lungs
• Breathing treatments with medicines to open the airways
• Antibiotics to treat and prevent lung infections
• Pancreatic enzymes to help digest food
• A high-calorie, high-fat diet to help with growth and nutrition

New medicines called CFTR modulators can help the CFTR protein work better in some people with CF. These include Trikafta, Symdeko, Orkambi, and Kalydeco.

Doctors and scientists are also working on gene therapies and other new treatments for CF. To learn about the latest research, visit https://www.cff.org/Research/Research-Into-the-Disease/.

Living with Cystic Fibrosis

Living with CF can be hard sometimes. People with CF have to do treatments each day that can take a lot of time. They may also get lung infections that put them in the hospital.

But people with CF can still live full and happy lives. They can go to school, have jobs, get married, and have kids. It helps to have a good support system of family, friends, and doctors.

There are also CF care centers across the country that focus on treating people with CF. The care teams have doctors, nurses, dietitians, social workers, and others who understand CF well. To find a care center near you, go to https://www.cff.org/Care/Care-Centers/Find-a-CF-Care-Center/.

Hope for the Future

The future is bright for people with CF. Because of research and new treatments, people with CF are living longer and healthier lives.

In the 1950s, most children with CF did not live to go to elementary school. Today, many people with CF live into their 30s, 40s, and beyond.

Groups like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation are working hard to find a cure for CF. Until then, they are helping people with CF get the care and support they need. To learn how you can help, visit https://www.cff.org/Get-Involved/.