What are 3 interesting facts about cystic fibrosis?

There are close to 40,000 children and adults living with cystic fibrosis in the United States (and an estimated 105,000 people have been diagnosed with CF across 94 countries). Approximately 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year. More than 75 percent of people with CF are diagnosed by age 2.

What are 5 interesting facts about cystic fibrosis?

What are key facts about cystic fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition. It's caused by a faulty gene that affects the movement of salt and water in and out of cells. This, along with recurrent infections, can result in a build-up of thick, sticky mucus in the body's tubes and passageways – particularly the lungs and digestive system.

What are 2 facts about cystic fibrosis?

There are close to 40,000 children and adults living with cystic fibrosis in the United States (and an estimated 105,000 people have been diagnosed with CF across 94 countries). Approximately 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year. More than 75 percent of people with CF are diagnosed by age 2.

What kills cystic fibrosis?

In cystic fibrosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a much-feared pathogen. The bacterium easily colonizes the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis, leading to chronic infections that are almost impossible to eradicate and are ultimately fatal.

Ten Interesting Facts about Cystic Fibrosis

How long do people with CF live?

Based on the 2021 CF Foundation Patient Registry data, the current life expectancy for CF patients born between 2017 and 2021 is 53 years — a substantial jump from a decade ago when the life expectancy was 38. Now, almost 60% of us are older than 18.

What is the longest someone has lived with cystic fibrosis?

Marlene's Story of Living 86 Years With CF | Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Why can't two people with CF be together?

For people with CF, being close to others with the disease puts them at greater risk of getting and spreading dangerous germs and bacteria. This is called cross‐infection. Not only are these dangerous germs difficult to treat, but they can also lead to worsening symptoms and faster decline in lung function.

Can people with CF have kids?

Most women with CF are able to become pregnant and achieve a normal pregnancy. Your obstetrician should be able to help you understand your reproductive health to help you make the right family planning decisions.

Can cystic fibrosis patients kiss?

Research says that people with CF can get pseudomonas from other infected people. The germs can spread via indirect or direct contact. Direct contact includes shaking hands, hugging, kissing, etc.

Can CF people date each other?

People with cystic fibrosis should never meet each other, as they carry bacteria within their lungs that could be harmful to each other.

Is CF considered a disability?

The Social Security Administration recognizes cystic fibrosis as a serious impairment in its Blue Book under Section 3.04. Applicants with cystic fibrosis are eligible for automatic approval of disability benefits if they suffer from poor lung function and repetitive lung infections.

Is CF painful?

People with cystic fibrosis are at higher risk of developing a dangerous thinning of bones. They may also experience joint pain, arthritis and muscle pain.

What happens if CF is not treated?

CF causes thick mucus that clogs certain organs, such as the lungs, pancreas, and intestines. This may cause malnutrition, poor growth, frequent respiratory infections, breathing problems, and chronic lung disease. There is no cure for CF.

How rare is cystic fibrosis?

Frequency. Cystic fibrosis is a common genetic disease within the white population in the United States. The disease occurs in 1 in 2,500 to 3,500 white newborns. Cystic fibrosis is less common in other ethnic groups, affecting about 1 in 17,000 African Americans and 1 in 31,000 Asian Americans.

Can you have CF and not know it?

While cystic fibrosis is usually diagnosed in childhood, adults with no symptoms (or mild symptoms) during their youth can still be found to have the disease.

Does CF cause brain damage?

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients present with a variety of symptoms, including mood and cognition deficits, in addition to classical respiratory, and autonomic issues. This suggests that brain injury, which can be examined with non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is a manifestation of this condition.

What life is like with a person with CF?

Mucus buildup leads to complications ranging from mild or inconvenient to detrimental. The digestive system and lungs are the two systems CF hits the hardest. It can cause difficulty processing food, but the worst consequence of mucus buildup is the infections that can stem from it. CF is a cyclical journey.

What cystic fibrosis feels like?

Several people shared that CF feels like a cold that never goes away, which makes sense considering this diagnosis affects the lungs. Many folks named coughing and congestion as symptoms they deal with every day. “If they think a cold is bad, imagine having one all the time.

Can you get CF if your parents don't have it?

People with one CF gene are called carriers. If a parent is a carrier, there's a 50 percent chance they'll pass on the gene with a mutation to their child. If both parents pass on a normal gene, or only one parent passes a gene with a mutation, the child will not have CF.

Can you get CF late in life?

While most cystic fibrosis patients are diagnosed by the time they are two years old, and others are diagnosed in adulthood.

Is CF always inherited?

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease. This means that CF is inherited. A child will be born with CF only if two CF genes are inherited - one from the mother and one from the father. A person who has only one CF gene is healthy and said to be a "carrier" of the disease.

What is the 6 foot rule for cystic fibrosis?

You need to take special precautions if there is more than one person with cystic fibrosis at the same school. Precautions you can take include making sure two or more people with CF spends too much time in one place, maintain a 6-foot distance, cover coughs, and getting vaccinated.

What did they have in 5 feet apart?

Movie at a glance

Stella and Wil both have cystic fibrosis and are supposed to stay six feet apart. But they fall in love and decide to take one foot back from their disease – hence the 'five feet apart' of the movie's title.