Treatments & Therapies: How to Take Charge of CF!

In recent decades, cystic fibrosis treatment has come a long way - and as a result, the prognosis of the disease has increased from childhood to where it stands today.  Unfortunately, the disease cannot truly be cured because it is a genetic disease. The faulty CTFR gene that causes Cystic Fibrosis is part of the make up in every cell of the affected's body. However, while there are no cures, there are treatments that can make the disease more manageable, improve quality of life, and even extend the lifespan.

 In the world of pharmaceuticals, the use of antibiotics, mucus thinning drugs, and oral pancreatic enzymes can reduce the complications of Cystic Fibrosis. Antibiotics can lessen the chance of the build-up of bacteria leading to lung infections and subsequent lung damage. Meanwhile, mucus thinning drugs will prevent mucus from becoming so thick as to obstruct airway passages. Oral pancreatic enzymes are frequently given to CF patients to replace the enzymes that are lacking in the body from disease-related pancreatic damage. This allows the digestive tract to be able to absorb the proper nutrients. 

Other treatment options that may be prescribed involve finding ways to improve the structural deficiencies of the lungs and chest. Chest physical therapy in the form of the chest clapper, inflatable vest, or other breathing devices is used to loosen thick mucus in the lungs to make it easier to cough up. 

 

 Inflatable vest

Consists of two parts:
Air-pulse generator: creates rapid bursts of air that make the vest inflate and deflate against the chest wall. The vibration of the vest against the chest wall helps to loosen mucus.
Inflatable vest: creates an airflow that helps to move mucus from the airway walls.

In more extreme cases a doctors might also suggest oxygen therapy, lung transplants, feeding tube or bowel surgeries to better lung and digestive function and improve overall well-being.

References:

http://cfcareli.com/livingwithcf_acts_vest.php 

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cystic-fibrosis/basics/definition/con-20013731

https://www.cff.org/