Essay On Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections, and complicates a person’s ability to breathe. People with Cystic fibrosis have troubles to breathe because a broken gene causes a thick, growth of mucus in the lungs, pancreas and other organs. The mucus blocks the air passage to the lungs, and traps bacteria leading to infections, considerable lung harm, and sooner or later, respiratory failure. In the pancreas, this mucus blocks the deliverance of digestive enzymes that allow the body to break down food and absorb vital nutrients. People with this disease used to have a life expectancy of 6 months back in 1938, but now with the advances of technology and medical treatments, life expectancy is approximately 35

This disease lasts a lifetime and usually gets worse with time. According to thoracic.org, “Cystic fibrosis affects at least 30,000 people in the United States; between 900 and 1,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. One in 29 people of Caucasian ancestry is an unaffected carrier of the CF gene mutation.” Although Cystic fibrosis is more commonly found in white people, there is no scientific evidence or answer on why so many Caucasian people have this disease. According to Ms. Judy Monroe, “…tissue in the pancreas becomes scarred and damaged. Healthy tissue also is replaced by cysts, or small holes filled with fluids.” CF affects the transport of salt and water across cells. It not only affects the lungs, but it also affects the pancreas and some other organs. Some of its symptoms are salted tasting skin, constant coughing some times with phlegm, etc. Cystic Fibrosis is caused by a damaged gene that a child obtains from both of their parents. Cystic Fibrosis is a hereditary condition, and for a child to get the disease, they have to get one copy of the defective gene from their mother and their