Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms: The Constant Weakening of the Pancreas

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease caused by the progressive scarring of the pancreatic tissues. There are a lot of cystic fibrosis symptoms, most of which reveal themselves even in early childhood. There is no known cure for cystic fibrosis, but cystic fibrosis symptoms can be treated with antibiotics and certain therapies to make the disease much easier to live with.



Cystic fibrosis symptoms occur in the first years life and constantly progress and become worse as the years go by. The disease affects the pancreas, which renders the body unable to secrete sweat and mucus normally. A number of organs are affected by cystic fibrosis symptoms, but two of the most significantly weakened are the intestines and the lungs. When it comes severity, cystic fibrosis symptoms vary from every person, but there are standard symptoms that everyone with cystic fibrosis goes through.

When the disease affects the lungs, cystic fibrosis symptoms can be particularly aggressive. Cystic fibrosis floods the lungs with very thick mucus, which causes the patient to wheeze as the body tries to expel the phlegm. The lungs are further weakened, so cystic fibrosis symptoms can cause recurring infections in the lungs. The mucus in the lungs becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, socystic fibrosis symptoms worsen if the lungs aren’t treated immediately.

Because of the overproduction of thick mucus in the lungs, cystic fibrosis symptoms are often caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia breeding in the mucus. They constantly multiply until the patient arrives with different health complications. Cystic fibrosis symptoms such as recurrent pneumonia, bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, and asthma affect the lungs. The lungs becomes weakened until the lack of oxygen makes it more difficult for the patient to go about his or her daily activities. This lack of oxygen brings forth the most common among all cystic fibrosis symptoms the clubbing of the fingers. Oxygen deficiency affects the nails on the finger, giving the person enlarged and curved nails.


In the intestines, however, more cystic fibrosis symptoms can be observed. The pancreas no creates digestive enzymes, so food is never adequately digested and fat is lost along with the stools. The feces becomes smelly and hard to flush away. Cystic fibrosis symptoms such as malnutrition spring forth from the intestines’ inability to harvest nutrients, giving patients a hard time gaining weight and growing. Children who have cystic fibrosis symptoms experience delayed puberty. The lack of nutrients renders them incapable of growth and it can cause body progression cystic fibrosis symptoms that affect most children with the disease.

Cystic fibrosis is not the end of your life. It may be life-threatening, but treatments are available to give the patient more time to live. Most people who experience cystic fibrosis symptoms live beyond the age of 38.