Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting approximately 4,000 Canadians. There is no cure. CF is a multi-system disease, primarily affecting the lungs and digestive system. In the lungs, where the effects of the disease are most devastating, a build-up of thick mucus causes increasingly severe respiratory problems. It may be difficult to clear bacteria from the lungs, leading to cycles of infection and inflammation, which damage delicate lung tissue.<\/p>\n
Mucus and protein also build up in the digestive tract making it difficult to digest and absorb nutrients from food. Large quantities of digestive enzymes (average of 20 pills a day) must be consumed with every meal and snack. As improved therapies have helped to address the malnutrition issues, virtually all cystic fibrosis-related deaths are due to lung disease.<\/p>\n
At the present time the median predicted age of survival in Canada is approximately\u00a048 years, but half of CF patients who died in 2011 were under the age of 34.<\/p>\n
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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting approximately 4,000 Canadians. There is no cure. CF is a multi-system disease, primarily affecting the lungs and digestive system. In the lungs, where the effects of the disease are … Continue reading