CF foundation Tampa

About me:

*** What Is Cystic Fibrosis?*** Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that: clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond. ***Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis*** People with CF can have a variety of symptoms, including: very salty-tasting skin; persistent coughing, at times with phlegm; frequent lung infections; wheezing or shortness of breath; poor growth/weight gain in spite of a good appetite; and frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements. ***Statistics*** About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year. More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two. More than 40% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older. The predicted median age of survival for a person with CF is more than 37 years. Volunteers are the key to our success, and we encourage you to get involved! Whether you join a committee and help get sponsors for an event, recruit companies to put together walk teams or volunteer time in our office, you help us achieve our mission—curing and controlling cystic fibrosis. Take a moment to see what a difference you can make by supporting events throughout the year. Together, we can continue adding tomorrows every day to the lives of people with CF.