Skip to main content

What is Cystic Fibrosis and its significance?

Cystic fibrosis is of great significance in our world today.           

Most cases of cystic fibrosis in the UK are now identified through

laboratory screening test procedures after birthIt’s discovered that 1 in every 2,500 babies born in the UK has cystic fibrosis.


More than 30,000 people in the U.S. live with cystic fibrosis (CF.) Doctors diagnose about 1,000 new cases each year.

CF affects the cells in your body that make mucus, sweat, and digestive fluids. Normally, these are very thin and slippery to keep systems in your body running smoothly. But if you have CF, they become thick and glue-like. This blocks tubes and ducts throughout your body.
Over time, mucus builds up inside your airways. This makes breathing a struggle. The mucus traps germs and leads to infections. It can also cause severe  lung damage like cyst (fluid-filled sacs) and fibrosis (scar tissue). That’s how CF got its name.


  What Causes Cystic Fibrosis?

It’s caused by a mutation (change) in a single gene called the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR.) This controls the flow of salt and fluids in and out of your cells. If the CFTR gene doesn’t work like it should, a sticky mucus builds up throughout your body. It’s not contagious.To get CF, you have to inherit a mutated copy of the gene from both your parents.If you only inherit one, you won’t have any symptoms. But you’ll be a “carrier” of the disease. That means there’s a chance you could pass it on to your own child one day.About 10 million Americans are CF carriers. Every time two CF carriers have a baby, there’s a 25% (1 in 4) chance that their baby will be born with CF.


Parts of the Body Does Cystic Fibrosis Affect?The lungs aren’t the only part of the body that’s harmed by CF. The disease also affects the following organs:

Pancrease: The thick mucus caused by CF blocks ducts in your pancreas. This stops digestive enzymes (proteins that break down your food) from reaching your intestine. As a result, your body has a hard time absorbing the nutrients it needs. Over time, this can also lead to diabetes.

Liver: If the tubes that remove bile become clogged, your liver gets inflamed and severe scarring (cirrhosis) occurs.

Small intestine: Because breaking down high-acid foods that come from the stomach is a challenge, the lining of the small intestine can erode.

Large intestine: Thick secretions (liquids) in your stomach can make feces (poop) very thick. This can cause blockages. In some cases, the intestine may also start to fold in on itself like an accordion (called “intussusception”).

Bladder: Chronic coughing weakens the bladder muscles. Almost 65% of women with CF have what’s called “stress incontinence.” This means that you leak urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or lift something. Though more common in women, men can have it, too.

kidneys: Some people with CF get kidney stones. These small, hard mineral deposits can cause nausea, vomiting, and pain. If ignored, they can lead to a kidney infection.

Reproductive organs: Excess mucus affects fertility in both men and women. Most men with CF have problems with the tubes that transport their sperm, or what’s called the “vasa deferentia.” Women with CF have very thick cervical mucus, which can make it harder for a sperm to fertilize an egg.


Other parts of the body: CF can also lead to thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) and muscle weakness. Because it upsets the balance of minerals in the blood, it can also bring about low blood pressure, fatigue, a fast heart rate, and a general feeling of weakness.
Although CF is a severe condition that needs daily care, many treatments for it have improved. People who have CF live much longer than they used to and the quality of life has improved as well. 





Treating cystic fibrosis 
     There's currently no cure for cystic fibrosis, but it's possible to help control the symptoms, prevent or reduce complications, and make the condition easier to live with. A person with cystic fibrosis will be supported by a team of healthcare professionals at a specialist cystic fibrosis centre. A care plan will be drawn up that's tailored to their individual needs.A range of treatments may be used and sometimes treatment in hospital will be needed. Regular appointments to monitor the condition will also be recommended.Some of the main treatments for cystic fibrosis include: 

  • ·       Dietary and nutritional advice
  •     Lung transplants
  •      Medications to treat and prevent lung problems
  •      Airway clearance techniques to remove mucus from the lungs.
  •      Treatments for associated problems, such as diabetes 
s





Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PLASMODIASIS: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW?

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Life circle of plasmodium Plasmodium in Erythrocytes  Female mosquitoes Species of plasmodium Symptoms of malaria Diagnosis and treatment. Prevention and control. Anti mosquitoes measure Vaccines and Research Plasmodiasis is a term that could be referred to a disorder of parasitic protozoan that is responsible for the breaking down of red blood cell  that gives rise to an infectious blood in the living system. This parasitic protozoan is called the plasmodium. The plasmodium thus released the sporozoites  and the merozoites into the blood stream and then transported to the liver and thus reduces the potency of the immune system. Life circle of plasmodium Malaria is a disease caused by a one-celled parasite known as Plasmodium. The parasite is transmitted to humans by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito . The Plasmodium parasite spends its life cycle partly in humans and partly in mosquitoes. (A) Mosquito infected with the malaria par

Types Of Cancer

A n abnormal growth of the cell is defines what cancer is about, and this abnormal cell growth are most likely to attack other body part. There are more than hundred types of cancers that can affect man. One of the major cause of cancer is the use of tobacco, others are obesity, lack of nutritional diet, indiscriminate alcohol consumption. Another important cause of cancer is the onset of some diseases. Diseases like Hepatitis B, C and others can distort the genes of cells. One of the most effective way of preventing cancer is by shunning smoking, exercising, controlled alcohol consumption, eating more nutritional diet, early detection of cancerous. Below are the full compilation of the most common type of cancer: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Childhood Adrenocortical Carcinoma Adrenocortical Carcinoma, Childhood AIDS-Related Cancers AIDS-Related Lymphoma A

Routes of Drug Administration

Table of Contents INTRODUCTION. DEFINITION. FACTORS OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES. CONCLUSION. Routes of medication administration To start, let’s talk about the different ways drugs can be administered. You’re probably familiar with injections and pills that you swallow, but medications can be given in many other ways as well. Routes of medication administration are described in the as follows…