Cystic Fibrosis
Sophia Marino, Kate Woolam, Vanessa Friedman
What is Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis is a chronic, progressive, life limiting genetic disease that affects about 30,000 people in the United States. An altered gene causes cells to produce mucus that is thicker and stickier, resulting in blocked ducts which affects the function of certain organ systems.
Signs & Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis causes your sweat to become very salty. As a result, your body loses large amounts of salt when you sweat. This can cause dehydration (a lack of fluid in your body), increased heart rate, fatigue (tiredness), weakness, decreased blood pressure, heat stroke, and, rarely, death.
Causes of Cystic Fibrosis
Long and Short Term Effects of Cystic Fibrosis
Long term effects: People who suffer from Cystic Fibrosis often live to their twenties/thirties.
Short term effects: Some people only live to their teenage years, if diagnosed with it young.