Living with CF

Wheezing and shortness of breath. Persistent coughing. Poor growth and weight gain. Frequent lung infections. These are all major symptoms of cystic fibrosis. More than 70,000 people worldwide are living with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems. Fifty years ago, a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis typically meant a death sentence for patients. Life expectancy was not predicted to be longer than four or five years. Today, the median age of CF patients is around 40.
In people with CF, a defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that does two things; clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down food and absorb vital nutrients.