Seniors Health Tips

Cystic fibrosis is a recessive disease. It means that both copies of the gene must be defective. An affected person will have abnormal cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene on each chromosome 7. Therefore both biological parents must have an abnormal gene. One abnormal copy is inherited from each parent.

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that affects the entire body, causing progressive disability and early death. Cystic fibrosis affects the entire body and impacts growth, breathing, digestion, and reproduction. Difficulty breathing and insufficient enzyme production in the pancreas are the most common symptoms.

The median life expectancy of a newborn with cystic fibrosis has increased from 4 years to 32 years. It has been estimated that there has been more than 10 year increase in the average life expectancy of affected people in North America. Over 90% of the affected infants now survive beyond one year. Studies show that life expectancy of children will exceed 40 years.

Cystic fibrosis, unfortunately, happens to be one of the most common inherited genetic disorders and about 1 in every 2500 newborns in the United States is affected. It happens to be most common in both Caucasians and Hispanics, and seldom occurs in those people of either African or Asian descent.

As cystic fibrosis is inherited, there is little that can be done to reverse or cure this disease. Instead, current treatment is focused on alleviating and decreasing as many of the symptoms as possible. Mucus clearing is of the utmost important so as to keep the airways clear. Antibiotics for lung infections, mucus thinning drugs and pancreatic enzyme supplements are among the most common cystic fibrosis treatments.

Another fertile area of interest is regarding the cause of cystic fibrosis. The research on genetic disorders explains the factors that regulate channel activity and their effect on the plasma membrane. This research proves that the inherited disorders of cystic fibrosis include chronic pulmonary disease and hypertension. Research done on the regulation of gene expression identifies the factors that control gene expression.

Nature's mechanism for filtering out the dust and microorganisms people breathe in is to secrete thin mucus in the airways and the lungs, and clear it through the nose or the digestive tract. For the person with cystic fibrosis, this mucus, which normally is thin and slippery, becomes thick and sticky. Other affected and thickened secretions are sweat, digestive juices and the reproductive system.

When the lungs and airways are choked, the cystic fibrosis patient coughs and produces very thick sputum. He is short of breath and develops wheezing. Polyps may grow in the nasal passages. The frequency of sinus, chest infections, pneumonia and bronchitis increase.

When the cystic fibrosis TR is not normal, the regulation of salt through the membranes becomes defective. This results in the secretions of the lining such as mucus, digestive juices and sweat, becoming thick and sticky.

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