The Pulmonary and Sleep Center of the Valley provides many effective treatment options for patients of Cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis, or CF, is an inherited disease of the secretory glands. Secretory glands include glands that make mucus and sweat.

If you have CF, your mucus becomes thick and sticky. It builds up in your lungs and blocks your airways, making it difficult to breathe. The buildup of mucus also makes it easy for bacteria to grow. This can lead to repeated lung infections, and over time these infections can severely damage your lungs.

A person with CF can also have problems with their pancreas as the Mucus can also block tubes in the pancreas. As a result, the digestive enzymes that your pancreas makes can’t reach your small intestine. The result is vitamin deficiency and malnutrition because nutrients pass through your body without being used. You also may have bulky stools, intestinal gas, a swollen belly from severe constipation, and pain or discomfort.

The symptoms and severity of CF vary. Sometimes you may have few symptoms. Other times, your symptoms may become more severe. As the disease gets worse, you’ll have more severe symptoms more often.

Lung function often starts to decline in early childhood in people who have CF. Damage to the lungs can lead to severe breathing problems, and respiratory failure is the most common cause of death in people who have CF.

Early treatment for CF can improve your quality of life and increase your lifespan. These treatments may include nutritional and respiratory therapies, medicines and exercise. The specialists at the Pulmonary and Sleep Center of the Valley can help you by providing effective treatment options for CF.