Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease, most common among Caucasians, that affects the lungs and digestive system. The defective gene, CFTR, responsible for cystic fibrosis leads to a production of thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and obstructs the pancreas. This can make breathing difficult since the thick, sticky mucus makes it difficult to cough out of the lungs, which leads to severe lung infections. The mucus prevents proteins needed for digestion from reaching the intestines, which decreases the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food, leading to malnutrition.