How to Know Cystic Fibrosis Risk Factors
People afflicted with cystic fibrosis are genetically predisposed to excess mucus in their systems, which may lead to pancreatic and lung infections. A chronic condition, cystic fibrosis leads to a shorter life span and frequent ailments such as sinus infections, diarrhea, pneumonia and slow growth in children. Understanding the risk factors can aid in the early detection and proper treatment of cystic fibrosis.
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Instructions
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Know Cystic Fibrosis Risk Factors
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Trace your genealogy and know your family background. Cystic fibrosis occurs most often in Northern European and Ashkenazi Jewish populations. The risk goes down significantly for people of African and Asian ancestry.
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Look for symptoms based on age. For example, the younger the individual, the more you need to look for low rates of growth and fecal blockage of the intestines.
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Find out whether one or both parents carry the mutated gene. If so, a person has a one-in-four chance of developing cystic fibrosis. Only one normal gene is enough to prevent the child from the disease.
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Check for fertility problems in adults. About 97 percent of sufferers of cystic fibrosis are infertile.
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Get tested for the mutated gene in case you decide to have a baby.
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Tips & Warnings
Genetic and prenatal testing are effective methods of detecting the defective gene associated with cystic fibrosis.
Most cystic fibrosis sufferers are diagnosed before they reach their second birthday. A small number of people diagnosed after age 18 usually have milder symptoms.
Cystic fibrosis results when there is a mutation in the gene called the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Most healthy people have two unmutated copies of this gene.
There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis. Make a donation to support research in fighting this disease at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (see Resources below).
Knowing the risk factors of cystic fibrosis does not automatically mean understanding what causes the disease. Risk factors simply indicate the likelihood of being affected.
Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal genetic disease in America today.
Know the risk factors of cystic fibrosis early in order to prolong life, prevent some lung infections, and address growth problems.
Couples who hope to have a baby may choose to test themselves for the presence of the mutated cystic fibrosis gene.
The warning signs of cystic fibrosis may not always how up at birth. Some signs take years to emerge.
