The existence of the human being is full of positive and negative experiences. There are problems that affect most people, such as unemployment, hunger, poverty, etc. But there are other evils that irremediably affect us all, such is the case of illness, time and death. These are scourges from which we cannot escape and which strike some more harshly than others. In the specific case of the disease, many of them are not considered fatal, they are treatable and with certain care, health can be recovered. However, there are others that can become complicated and become chronic diseases that endanger people’s lives. However, there are also diseases that become a true death sentence. Those who develop them have their days numbered because there is no scientifically proven cure.
While it is true that most diseases are contracted through contact with another infected person, others can be inherited. That is, they are transmitted from parents to children through genes. One of these diseases is cystic fibrosis, have you heard of it? If so, perhaps your knowledge of it is very limited, but you must bear in mind that it is a disease that is affecting more and more people. Hence the importance of being well informed to know how to treat it and, above all, what you can do to avoid it. In this article I will tell you everything you need to know about cystic fibrosis, its symptoms, causes, diagnosis and possible complications. That way, you can take the appropriate preventive measures to continue enjoying good health now and in the future.
Instructions
Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive genetic disease, which means that two copies of the gene in each cell are altered. In addition, it is a non-contagious disease that begins to manifest from the very moment of birth. It is one of the most common incurable genetic diseases in white people. It is a very complex pathology that affects several organs of the body. However, this varies in mode and degree depending on the patient. One of the most serious conditions is the lung disease, since it produces different types of infections that deteriorate the lung tissue and, sometimes, requires a transplant. But, although it presents a serious condition, if an early diagnosis is made and the appropriate treatment is implemented, it is possible to reduce its effects.
Your symptoms
At the respiratory level, the thick and sticky mucosa obstructs the channels that are responsible for transporting air in and out of the lungs, which can cause different symptoms, such as: Constant cough that produces thick mucus. Inability to perform physical exercise. Frequent lung infections. Swollen nostrils. Lots of nasal congestion. Recurrent episodes of sinusitis. It should be noted that mucus can also block the ducts that are responsible for transporting digestive enzymes that go from the pancreas to the small intestine. Without them, your intestines don’t have the ability to fully absorb all the nutrients from the food you eat. Therefore, they produce: You make greasy appearance and bad smell. Little weight gain, as well as growth. Blockage in the intestines, especially in newborns. Chronic constipation that eventually causes part of the rectum to bulge out of the anus. It can also cause infertility in men and decreased fertility in women.
complications
Some of the complications in the respiratory system are: Airway damage. Frequent chronic infections. Presence of nasal polyps. Presence of coughing up blood. Pneumothorax. Respiratory insufficiency. Acute exacerbations. Within the digestive system can occur: nutritional deficiencies. Diabetes. Liver diseases. Intestinal obstructions. Distal intestinal obstruction syndrome. Other complications can include weakening of the bones or osteoporosis, electrolyte imbalances and dehydration, and mental health problems, such as fear, depression, and anxiety. As you may have realized, cystic fibrosis is a very serious and incurable disease. But you need to know what the recommended treatment is to treat it correctly.
What do you need
It is important to keep in mind that cystic fibrosis is an incurable disease and, therefore, the treatment that is implemented is intended to deal with the effects of this condition, in order to achieve the comprehensive improvement of the patient’s health. Since it is a complex and multisystemic disease, its treatment is also very complex, since it must affect each of the aspects in which the disease manifests itself in the person. It has been shown that the patient must receive comprehensive care. Ideally, it should be in specialized cystic fibrosis units. On the other hand, early treatment allows the patient to enjoy a better quality of life. For this to be the case, the patient must undergo regular check-ups that include lung capacity controls, fat balances, etc. In addition, the treatment requires that the person be constant and disciplined, which implies that both he and his family must adapt their time, effort and resources to the times that mark the treatment. Since the disease can manifest itself differently in each person, there is no standardized treatment. The specialist will be in charge of determining which is the most appropriate treatment for the affected person. Today, lung transplantation is a proven fact that offers new hope for prolonging the lives of people with cystic fibrosis, especially those whose lung tissues have been severely damaged by the disease. This measure not only offers the opportunity to survive, but also makes it possible to enjoy a more active and better-quality life than before undergoing the operation. However, we must not forget that the transplant process is a very hard stage for the patient, both physically and emotionally, and therefore requires the constant support of their loved ones, since it requires a long hospital stay. composed of several phases. Now, is there a way to prevent cystic fibrosis?
Tips
It must be remembered that cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease, the person is born with it and, therefore, it is not possible to prevent it, unless it is known that the parents are carriers of the disease. In such a case, a selection of the embryos can be made in couples who wish to have children. If you are not aware of having this disease, it is best that both parents have a genetic test before having children. This test is very simple. This is an analysis of a blood sample in the laboratory. This way you can determine how much risk you have of having a child with cystic fibrosis. Of course, keep in mind that these types of tests are not for everyone. Before you decide to have it done, you will need to have a conversation with a genetic counselor in order to minimize the psychological impact that the results of said test may cause. In relation to the prevention of symptoms, it is possible to slow down the deterioration of lung tissue with the help of different treatments.