What Are the Effects of Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis is a disease many people have heard of, but not everyone is sure exactly how it affects the body. While most people know it damages the lungs, they may not realize that cystic fibrosis can also have an impact on other systems in the body.

Definition

• Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that affects the secretory glands. The organ most affected is the lungs.

Infection

• Cystic fibrosis causes your mucus to become thick and sticky, blocking the tubes that carry air into and out of your lungs. Such buildups make it easy for bacteria to grow, leading to infection.

Malnutrition

• Mucus buildup can affect the pancreas, blocking crucial enzymes needed for digestion. This can lead to malnutrition and vitamin deficiency, because your body is unable to absorb vital nutrients.

Mineral Loss

• Cystic fibrosis causes the body's sweat to become extremely salty. This can lead to a mineral deficiency within the body that can cause a number of symptoms, including dehydration, tiredness and decreased blood pressure.

Death

• The most severe effect of cystic fibrosis is death, which is often caused by respiratory failure, because of the long-term damage to the lungs.