Respiratory Diseases

Nearly 1 in every 30 Americans are a carrier of the recessive gene that leads to CF (About Cystic Fibrosis, n.d.). Although CF is a life-threatening condition, through the advancement of treatments and care, there has been a steady increase in life expectancy and improvement in the quality of life. The current mean age of survival is now 40. Although that does not seem very high, sixty years ago, a child diagnosed with CF did not survive childhood (About Cystic Fibrosis, n.d.). CF is a complex disease, where the types and severity of symptoms can differ widely from person to person. Symptoms may include fatigue, salty-tasting skin, persistent cough with phlegm, wheezing and shortness of breath, lung infections, and poor growth and weight loss (Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms, Causes & Risk Factors, 2018). Many different factors, such as the age of diagnosis, can affect an individual's health and the course of the

Cystic Fibrosis is a life threatening condition that causes severe damage to the lungs and digestive system. Developing this condition can change a person's entire life. Depending on the severity of the condition a person can be affected by mild symptoms such as shortness of breath, all the way to severe symptoms such as rectal prolapse, or even death. Screening is done on infants in all 50 states; therefore if a child has inherited Cystic Fibrosis it will be known in the first months of life. As professional staff members of a nursing community it will be necessary to help prepare the child and the family for the life of Cystic Fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis is a disorder where the exocrine glands secrete abnormally thick mucus, leading to obstruction of the pancreas and chronic infections of the lungs, which usually cause death in childhood or early adulthood. Some mildly affected patients may survive longer. Doctors can diagnose the disease by testing the patients perspiration because people with Cystic Fibrosis have high amounts of salt in their perspiration. Those with respiratory infections are treated with antibiotics, with aerosols that relieve constriction of the airways and liquefy the thick mucus, and by physical therapy to help patients cough up the obstructing secretions. Patients with pancreatic insufficiency can take pancreatic enzymes with meals.

The respiratory system is a complex organ structure of the human body anatomy, and the primary purpose of this system is to supply the blood with oxygen in order for the blood vessels to carry the precious gaseous element to all parts of the body to accomplish cell respiration. The respiratory system completes this important function of breathing throughout inspiration. In the breathing process inhaling oxygen is essential for cells to metabolize nutrients and carry out some other tasks, but it must occur simultaneously with exhaling when the carbon dioxide is excreted, this exchange of gases is the respiratory system's means of getting oxygen to the blood (McGowan, Jefferies & Turley, 2004).

In infants symptoms include coughing, wheezing, excess mucus in the lungs, shortness of breath, extremely salty skin and decelerated growth. With infants it is very common for them to develop pneumonia infections because of all the bacteria that resides in the lungs. With treatment, most patients with cystic fibrosis live into their 20’s and 30’s, some individuals with milder cases can live longer. Death is most often due to end-stage lung disease.Thus far no cure for the disease has been found. Although, research on gene therapy is promising. Treatment is generally aimed at alleviating symptoms, preventing infections, and slowing the progress of the disorder. (Egan’s 10th Ed,

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease which is progressive and limits breathing ability. The lungs and other organs are affected by a thick buildup of mucus. This mucus traps bacteria which leads lung damage, infections, and respiratory failure. The digestive enzymes being released is prevented, affecting the breakdown of food and nutrients being absorbed. ?More than 30,000 children and adults in the United States have Cystic Fibrosis. 70,000 people worldwide.? (Diagnosed With Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) Someone who has Cystic Fibrosis have a defective gene from each parent which produces faulty protein. The CFTR gene is the gene that is mutated causing this. The channel that transports chloride in and out of cells is created by instructions that are created by CFTR gene. The regulation of chloride ions and water are prevented creating the thick mucus formed on the passageways of lungs, pancreas, and other organs. Cystic Fibrosis doesn?t cause learning problems are mobility of the person. Babies with this still develop and grow up normally. The average life expectancy is close to 40 years, and has been increasing in the last fifty years thanks to improved care. ?Chronic coughing, recurring chest colds, wheezing, shortness of breath, frequent sinus infections, and allergies that last all year, are the most common symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis.? (Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms) Since this disease is progressive

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes the body’s lungs to generate a different type of mucus than a non-infected body would. The contaminated lungs will produce mucus that is thick and adhesive which clogs the lungs and leads to an unpleasant and abhorrent lung infection. CF also interferes with the pancreas, disallowing the digestive enzymes from breaking down and absorbing food in the intestine. This can result in low nutrition, feeble growth, excessive sweat production, difficulties in breathing, and sometimes lung disease. When producing extra sweat and mucus, the body loses salt. If too much salt is lost, it can cause abnormal heart rhythms, disturbance of minerals in the blood, and perhaps, shock.

Five year old Ellis Miles undergoes numerous treatments each day to counteract the symptoms that accompany cystic fibrosis including physiotherapy, pills containing digestive enzymes, and a treatment which breaks up the mucus in her lungs. Cystic Fibrosis has numerous life threatening symptoms and while there is no cure, there are several treatments that a typical patient undergoes each day to combat these symptoms. The most prominent symptom associated with Cystic Fibrosis is a thick mucus that clogs up tubes that carry out crucial roles in the human body. This mucus especially affects the respiratory tract. Mucus builds up in the respiratory tract making it difficult for individuals with cystic fibrosis to have a frequent cough that produces a thick

This increases bacteria growth and causes infections (NHLBI, "What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis?", 2013). These infections can clog the airways and damage the lungs making it difficult to breath (NHLBI, "What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis?", 2013). The signs and symptoms of cystic fibrosis according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation are very salty tasting skin, persistent cough with sputum, frequent lung infections, wheezing, shortness of breath, poor growth, constipation, greasy,bulky stools(Cystic Fibrosis Foundation [CFF], "About CF: Causes, Signs & Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis | CF Foundation",

Cystic fibrosis is a disorder that causes severe damage to the respiratory and digestive system. (Saint Francis Medical Center) It is caused by an inherited defective gene from both parents, specifically the CFTR gene, which causes the cells to overproduce mucus, digestive juices, and sweat. Normally, the fluids that are secreted are slippery and thin. However, with cystic fibrosis, the defect in the gene causes thick and sticky secretions. Instead of the secretions having lubricant properties, it clogs up tubes, passageways, and ducts, especially in the pancreas and lungs.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited life- threatening disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system. This disorder can also be known as Mucoviscidosis . Long- term issues include difficulty breathing, also coughing up sputum as a result from frequent lung infections. Sinus infections, poor growth, clubbing of the finger and toes, also infertility in men are other possible symptoms of this disorder. Different individuals may have different degrees of symptoms. Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder. Mutations in both copies of the gene for the protein cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulatory (CFTR) is the cause of this. CFTR is involved in production of sweat, digestive fluids, and mucus. Secretions,

Shortness of breath and sudden chest pain are the primary symptoms. The chest pain is typically localized to the affected side. Tiredness may also be a symptom.

Cystic Fibrosis is a disease that affects the body in many ways throughout the patient's life. Newborns with Cystic Fibrosis may experience delayed growth, inability to gain weight, and salty-tasting skin ("Cystic," umm.edu 1). Older patients may be infertile, have recurring pancreatitis, and respiratory problems ("Cystic," umm.edu 2). Considering that these are just symptoms involving age, the full spectrum of ailments that afflict a patient with Cystic Fibrosis is far more taxing on a patient.

The respiratory system, also known as the ventilatory system, is a series of organs found in the human body. The system’s primary function is performing respiration – inhaling oxygen from the environment and exhaling carbon dioxide out of the body (K.M Zimmermann, 2016). Oxygen acts as fuel – without it, the body would be unable to function. Carbon dioxide, the by-product of this process, is breathed out as it is toxic to the human body when it builds up (A.M Helminstine, 2016).

The simple act of breathing is often taken for granted. As an automated function sustaining life, most of us do not have to think about the act of breathing. However, for many others, respiratory diseases make this simple act thought consuming. Emphysema is one such disease taking away the ease, but instead inflicting labored breathing and a hope for a cure.