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Signs & Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis in Adults

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic and progressive disease that affects the body's mucus glands, leading to severe digestive and respiratory disorders. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, in the United States, this frequently fatal genetic illness affects approximately 30,000 children and adults. Typically, CF’s general symptoms include sweat becoming too salty, resulting in the body losing too much salt during perspiration. This can lead to dehydration, weakness, increased heart rate, heat stroke, tiredness, low blood pressure and even death.

  1. Reproductive Symptoms

    • Men diagnosed with CF are born infertile because they do not have a vas deferens, states the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The vas deferens is the tube that functions to deliver the sperm from the testicle to the penis. A woman diagnosed with CF on the other hand will have difficulty getting pregnant because the mucus will tend to block the cervix.

    Respiratory Symptoms

    • Individuals with CF will have thick and sticky mucus that normally builds up in the airways. The mucus buildup allows bacteria to easily grow and develop infections. Such infections can cause blockages in the airways, leading to coughing which gathers up mucus that can have the presence of blood.

      CF patients may also experience lung infections which are caused by germs that generally do not respond to antibiotics. For instance, a lung infection brought about by a certain bacteria called mucoid Pseudomonas, is common in individuals who have been diagnosed with CF; getting this infection may be a sign and symptom of CF. CF patients will also frequently experience sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia. Such infections may bring about long-term damage in the lungs, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

    Digestive Symptoms

    • Mucus that creates blockages in the ducts or tubes in the pancreas will prevent its enzymes from reaching the intestines. Without such enzymes being present in the intestines, proteins and fats cannot be fully absorbed by the digestive system. This can lead to frequent diarrhea along with bulky, greasy and foul-smelling stool. Having too much gas or experiencing constipation in your intestines may also result in stomach pain. For more severe cases of CF, other signs and symptoms will include pancreatitis, rectal prolapse, liver disease brought about by blocked or inflamed bile ducts, gallstones and diabetes, states the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

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