30,000 American’s; 3,000 Canadian’s; and over 30,000 American’s; 3,000 Canadian’s; and over 20,000 European’s have this disease. 20,000 European’s have this disease.

1 in every 20 Americans carry the abnormal CF 1 in every 20 Americans carry the abnormal CF genegene

approximately 2,500 babies are born with CF approximately 2,500 babies are born with CF every year in the United States.every year in the United States.

-- Is a chronic, -- Is a chronic, progressive, and progressive, and frequently fatal generic frequently fatal generic disease of the body’s disease of the body’s mucous glands.mucous glands.

This disease primarily effects the respiratory and This disease primarily effects the respiratory and digestive system in children and young adults. digestive system in children and young adults.

The mucous in CF patients is very thick and The mucous in CF patients is very thick and accumulates in the intestines and lungs causing accumulates in the intestines and lungs causing

problems such as malnutrition, poor growth, problems such as malnutrition, poor growth, frequent respiratory infection, breathing frequent respiratory infection, breathing

difficulties and eventually permanent lung difficulties and eventually permanent lung damage.damage.The expected life span for someone who has CF is The expected life span for someone who has CF is

now 31 years old, where as only a short while ago now 31 years old, where as only a short while ago was once fatal in childhood.was once fatal in childhood.

Cystic Fibrosis is caused by an abnormal Cystic Fibrosis is caused by an abnormal gene that has to be carried by both gene that has to be carried by both parents and passed on to the child. The parents and passed on to the child. The problems vary in some ways, but the basic problems vary in some ways, but the basic problem of CF is:problem of CF is:An abnormality in the gland that An abnormality in the gland that

usually over produce sweat and usually over produce sweat and mucous.mucous.

Patients with CF lose major amounts of salt Patients with CF lose major amounts of salt when they when they

sweat. This causes problems in keeping a sweat. This causes problems in keeping a balance of balance of

minerals in the blood, which in turn canminerals in the blood, which in turn can

cause irregular hear rhythms and alsocause irregular hear rhythms and also

the possibility of going into shock.the possibility of going into shock.

SinusitisSinusitis--inflammation of the nasal sinuses, the --inflammation of the nasal sinuses, the cavities in the skull; above, behind, and on both cavities in the skull; above, behind, and on both sides of the nose.sides of the nose.Nasal PolypsNasal Polyps--fleshy growth inside the nose--fleshy growth inside the nose

ClubbingClubbing--rounding and enlargements of the --rounding and enlargements of the fingers and toes.fingers and toes.PneumothoraxPneumothorax--rupture of the lung tissue and --rupture of the lung tissue and trapping of air between the lungs and chest wall.trapping of air between the lungs and chest wall.

HemopatysisHemopatysis--coughing up of blood--coughing up of blood

Cor PulmonaleCor Pulmonale--the enlargement of the right side --the enlargement of the right side of the heartof the heartAbdominal pain and discomfort, gasinessAbdominal pain and discomfort, gasiness----too much gas in the intestinetoo much gas in the intestine

Lung disease is usually the number one Lung disease is usually the number one reason for death in CF patients.reason for death in CF patients.

Because the mucous being produced is Because the mucous being produced is so thick and abnormal, patients with CF so thick and abnormal, patients with CF

are more likely to get Lung infections and are more likely to get Lung infections and the air way becomes frequently the air way becomes frequently

obstructed.obstructed.Patients go through daily Chest therapy, which Patients go through daily Chest therapy, which is bronchial and/or postural drainage by placing is bronchial and/or postural drainage by placing

the patient in positions that will allow the the patient in positions that will allow the mucous to drain from the lungs and out of the mucous to drain from the lungs and out of the airway. This can be done by a parent (if the airway. This can be done by a parent (if the

patient is a young child) or by the patient patient is a young child) or by the patient his/herself when they are older.his/herself when they are older.

Digestive problems are usually less Digestive problems are usually less serious and are easily taken care of then serious and are easily taken care of then

those dealing with the lungs.those dealing with the lungs.

Same with the lungs; the abnormally thick Same with the lungs; the abnormally thick mucous created causes problems in the mucous created causes problems in the

digestion process. It can create, like in the digestion process. It can create, like in the lungs, obstructions that block the intestine.lungs, obstructions that block the intestine.

To prevent digestive problems from occurring, CF To prevent digestive problems from occurring, CF patients have to be on a well-balanced diet--high-patients have to be on a well-balanced diet--high-

caloric, low in fat, high in protein, and usually caloric, low in fat, high in protein, and usually take pancreatic enzymes (helping in the digestion take pancreatic enzymes (helping in the digestion process) and vitamin supplements (usually A, D, process) and vitamin supplements (usually A, D,

E, and K)E, and K)

Digestive Medications:Digestive Medications:Pancreatic enzymesPancreatic enzymes

Vitamin Supplements--A, D, E, and KVitamin Supplements--A, D, E, and K

Lung and Breathing Medications:Lung and Breathing Medications:Aerosolized (mists) inhalersAerosolized (mists) inhalers

BronchodilatorsBronchodilators (widen the breathing tubes) (widen the breathing tubes)MucolyticsMucolytics (thin the mucous) (thin the mucous)DecongestantsDecongestants (reduce swelling of the (reduce swelling of the

membranes and breathing tubesmembranes and breathing tubes

New advancements are being made, coming up with New advancements are being made, coming up with new aerosolized enzymes to thin the mucous by new aerosolized enzymes to thin the mucous by

digesting the cellular material trapped in it. Also new digesting the cellular material trapped in it. Also new antibiotics are being made to fight lung infections.antibiotics are being made to fight lung infections.

These include creating new aerosolized enzymes These include creating new aerosolized enzymes that will digest the cellular material trapped in the mucous.that will digest the cellular material trapped in the mucous.

Also new antibiotics to fight lung infections are being madeAlso new antibiotics to fight lung infections are being madethat are stronger and more efficient.that are stronger and more efficient.

More research is going into the development ofMore research is going into the development ofColloidal SilverColloidal Silver as a possible antibiotic that will help as a possible antibiotic that will help

reduce lung infection in CF patients.reduce lung infection in CF patients.

is a suspension of silver in a gelatinous base, that have is a suspension of silver in a gelatinous base, that have particles of pure silver electrically suspended in pure water.particles of pure silver electrically suspended in pure water.

It can be taken orally, through intramuscular injection,It can be taken orally, through intramuscular injection,or intravenous injection.or intravenous injection.

It has shown to kill over 650 pathogens including:It has shown to kill over 650 pathogens including:

BacteriBacteriaaVirusesViruses

YeastYeastMoldMold

FungusFungus

ParasiteParasitess

A 12th grade student:A 12th grade student:Respiratory Problems:Respiratory Problems:

Has some permanent lung damage, but not extensive.Has some permanent lung damage, but not extensive.

Has chronic sinus problems--has had 8 sinus surgeries to help fix Has chronic sinus problems--has had 8 sinus surgeries to help fix the problemthe problem

Develops nasal polypsDevelops nasal polyps

Sinus Headaches--few days a week to dailySinus Headaches--few days a week to dailyDigestive Problems:Digestive Problems:

Takes enzyme tablets with foodTakes enzyme tablets with food

Some stomach pain and gasSome stomach pain and gas

Gallbladder spasms--assimilates labor pains lasting a minute or Gallbladder spasms--assimilates labor pains lasting a minute or moremore

Dehydration Problems:Dehydration Problems:

Has tendency to become dehydratedHas tendency to become dehydrated

Soar throatsSoar throats

Joints Problems:Joints Problems:

Seeing a rheumatologist--on an anti-inflammatory medicationSeeing a rheumatologist--on an anti-inflammatory medication

Medications:Medications:

Takes Pancrease, Tylenol, Albuterol Inhaler, and NaprosynTakes Pancrease, Tylenol, Albuterol Inhaler, and Naprosyn

Takes Enzyme tablets, prescription Vitamins, stomach Takes Enzyme tablets, prescription Vitamins, stomach tablet, tablet to thin tablet, tablet to thin the mucous, tablet for joint pain, inhaler the mucous, tablet for joint pain, inhaler antibiotic, and inhalant to thin antibiotic, and inhalant to thin mucous, nose spray, nasal mucous, nose spray, nasal inhaler, two regular inhalers, plus 30 minutes of inhaler, two regular inhalers, plus 30 minutes of therapy to clear therapy to clear the airways.the airways.

It is nearly impossible to prevent CF from It is nearly impossible to prevent CF from happening, and it is possible to detect gene happening, and it is possible to detect gene

mutations in unborn babies by prenatal mutations in unborn babies by prenatal genetic testing, but cannot detect all of the genetic testing, but cannot detect all of the

CF gene mutation. CF gene mutation. Babies with the two abnormal genes for CF, will already have signs ofBabies with the two abnormal genes for CF, will already have signs of

it at birth in some organs (pancreas and liver) and will develop in other it at birth in some organs (pancreas and liver) and will develop in other organs (lungs and intestine) through time.organs (lungs and intestine) through time.

In the Future, maybe In the Future, maybe Gene Therapy Gene Therapy to help prevent to help prevent lung disease from developing.lung disease from developing.