Cystic Fibrosis Essay

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that affects the secretory system. A defective gene has to be inherited from both parents for a child to have the disease. CF is usually diagnosed at a young age. It is one of the most common chronic lung diseases in children; thankfully, treatments for this disease have improved over the years (Parker-Pope). Cystic fibrosis affects many parts of a person’s life; there are many symptoms, treatments, and social effects of this disease. Cystic fibrosis mainly affects the respiratory system. The first sign of CF is when parents notice that their baby’s skin tastes salty when kissed. The other symptoms begin later. The main symptom of CF is the mucus that builds up in the airways. This can cause frequent infections. People with CF tend to get different infections than people without it; these infections generally can’t be treated with antibiotics. They can also get many sinus infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia (“Signs and Symptoms”). Cystic fibrosis also affects the digestive systems of patients. Mucus caused by the disease can block tubes in the pancreas.

People with social anxiety have negative self-thoughts and low self-esteem, and often avoid social situations as a way of coping with symptoms of anxiety. Situations that are anxiety-provoking are reading aloud in class, oral presentations, gym class, using public bathrooms, performing in front of others, and eating in front of others. Coincidentally, many of these situations are things that would be difficult for a person with CF to do (Moore 9). In a study done by Mindy Moore, teens with CF were found to have elevated social anxiety levels. In general, the more days a CF patient spends in the hospital, the higher the level of social anxiety. Also, on average, teens with CF were just below the cutoff for high social anxiety levels. Eight of the participants were above the