- Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is one of the UK's most common life-threatening inherited diseases.
- If two carriers have a child, the baby has a 1 in 4 chance of having Cystic Fibrosis.
- Cystic Fibrosis affects the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, by clogging them with thick sticky mucus. This makes it hard to breathe and digest food.
- Each week, five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis.
- Each week, two young lives are lost to Cystic Fibrosis.
- Only half of those living with Cystic Fibrosis are likely to live past their late 30s.
Lungs
It is common for people with CF to encounter some difficulties with their lungs. A combination of physiotherapy and medication can help control lung infections and prevent lung damage. To avoid the risk of cross-infection, it is recommended that people with CF do not come into close contact with others with Cystic Fibrosis.
Digestive system
Cystic Fibrosis affects the pancreas, which makes it difficult for people with CF to digest food. This can cause malnutrition, which can lead to poor growth, physical weakness and delayed puberty. There is medication that can compensate for the failure of the pancreas.
In older patients, insulin production can become deficient due to increasing pancreatic disease. Some develop CF related diabetes mellitus and their blood sugar levels are no longer controlled. This rarely happens to children with Cystic Fibrosis.
Common symptoms of diabetes include thirst, hunger, weight loss and excessive need to urinate, but some people do not show obvious symptoms of diabetes.
Other Affected Organs
In every ten babies born with CF, one is ill in the first few days of life with a bowel obstruction called meconium ileus. In these cases, the meconium (a thick black material present in the bowels of all newborn babies) is so thick that it blocks the bowel instead of passing through. Babies with meconium ileus often need an urgent operation to relieve and bypass the blockage.
People with CF are prone to developing bone disease (thin, brittle bones) due to the nutritional and other problems involved with the disease. Adults with CF are at an increased risk of bone disease because of the adverse effects of steroids taken to control lung disease.
Although Cystic Fibrosis does not cause sexual impotency, it can lead to fertility problems. In most men with CF, the tubes that carry sperm are blocked, which causes infertility. Because underweight women are more likely to have irregular menstrual cycles, the nutritional problems associated with CF may affect fertility. Women with CF do produce healthy, fertile eggs so effective contraception is necessary.
Cystic Fibrosis can cause the blockage of small ducts in the liver. This only happens to approximately 8% of people who have CF, but it is a serious health risk and may necessitate a liver transplant
CF Diet
For people with CF, a suitable diet is vital. A healthy, well-nourished body can deal more effectively with chest infections or weight loss caused by illness. It is essential that energy and protein intake is high. Adults with CF have higher energy needs, especially those who have frequent chest infections or are losing a lot of fat in their stools. Protein intake should be as much as twice the regular recommended adult amount. There has to be a balance between sugary or fatty, energy rich foods and foods that contain protein, vitamins and minerals. Although there is no need to avoid any particular foods, people with CF should eat plenty of
- Fatty foods (butter, ice cream, chocolate)
- Sugary foods (jam, puddings, sweets)
- Milk and dairy products (cheese, yoghurts)
- Starchy foods (pasta, rice, bread)
- Protein foods (fish, eggs, meat)
- Vitamin/mineral-rich foods (fruit, vegetables)
