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Taking a Look at Cystic Fibrosis

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Cystic fibrosis is life threatening, progressive and genetic disorders that cause severe damage to the lungs and digestive systems. About 30,000 children’s and adults in the United States are affected by this chronic disease. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited condition which affects the body’s exocrine glands (mucus secretion glands). The secreted fluids such as mucus, sweat and digestive juices are normally thin and slippery. The secretions become thick and sticky in those people who are affected by cystic fibrosis. So the secretions plug up tubes, ducts, and passageways instead of acting as a lubricant. Therefore it is a life threatening disease since the secretions block the passageways especially in the lungs and pancreas. People with this disease are able to attend school and work but they require daily care. The treatments for this disease are getting better but there is no cure for this disease. The life spans of patients are 20s and 30s and some patients live up to their 40s and 50s. There is 25 percent chance of developing cystic fibrosis; if both the parents carry recessive gene but they do not have the disease. A 50 percent chance is there that the child will carry the gene but do not have the disease. And there is 25 percent chance that the child can be totally unaffected for the children of the couple who carry recessive gene. The main cause of the cystic fibrosis is that a defect gene damage a protein called cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

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