About Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), CF is a genetic disease affecting approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. A defective gene causes the body's mucosal cells to ineffectively transport water and sodium across the cell lining, thereby causing the production of abnormally thick, sticky mucous that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. These thick secretions also obstruct the pancreas, preventing digestive enzymes from reaching the intestines to help break down and absorb food.

SYMPTOMS: People with CF have a variety of symptoms including: very salty-tasting skin; persistent coughing, at times with phlegm; wheezing or shortness of breath; and an excessive appetite but poor weight gain. Symptoms vary from person to person due, in part, to the more than 1,000 mutations of the CF gene.