What is CF?
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a chronic, progressive genetic condition that affects the whole body, but the most serious symptoms are in the lungs.1,2
An imbalance of salt in CF causes mucus in the lungs to become thick and sticky.1
This mucus builds up and can cause breathing problems, as well as being a good environment for lung infections to take hold.1
Repeated lung infections can cause cumulative damage to the lungs.4
Approval code: UK/RESP/16/0060cr
Date of preparation: January 2020
References
- What is cystic fibrosis? British Lung Foundation. Available at: https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/cystic-fibrosis/what-is-it Last accessed: January 2020.
- What is cystic fibrosis? CF Trust. Available at: https://www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk/what-is-cystic-fibrosis Last accessed: January 2020.
- A disease called ‘sixty-five roses’ [Ed]. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 2002; 9: 887.
- Lungs and cystic fibrosis. CF Trust. Available at: https://www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk/what-is-cystic-fibrosis/how-does-cystic-fibrosis-affect-the-body/symptoms-of-cystic-fibrosis/lungs Last accessed: January 2020.