Chromosome # 7 cystic fibrosis - GENETICS
..., but also digestion by blocking the pancreas which secretes digestive enzymes. Another symptom of Cystic Fibrosis is excessive appetite that results in no weight gain. One major sign of Cystic Fibrosis is that the skin will have a salty taste. Men who have Cystic Fibrosis are found to commonly be infertile, but this is less apparent women (5). Symptoms vary widely due to the large number of possible mutations of the gene (2). Approximately 30,000 American’s suffer from Cystic Fibrosis. The signs of this disease are usually detected around age three but nearly 10% are diagnosed at age eight-teen or older. This ratio is determined to be one of every 3,200 children born in the United States will have Cystic Fibrosis (4). Surprisingly Cystic Fibrosis can be linked to race. About one in every 3,000 Caucasians are born with Cystic Fibrosis. African Americans have a much lower chance of inheriting this disease, around one in 15,000. Asian Americans have the lowest chance of being born with Cystic Fibrosis, since only one in 31,000 are affected. Roughly 10 million Americans are carriers of the defective Cystic Fibrosis gene (3). For the child to be born with Cystic Fibrosis he must inherit one defective gene from each parent. Every time two carriers of the gene conceive there is 25% chance that the child will have Cystic Fibrosis. On the other hand, there is also a 50% chance that the child will only become a carrier of the gene, and a 25% chance that the child will be free of the Cystic Fibrosis gene completely (1). Cystic Fibrosis is an incurable disease and can be life threatening, but treatment have advanced so greatly that those born with Cystic Fibrosis today are expected to live up to theirforties (5). Treatments for Cystic Fibrosis can vary from person to person. Some take medications to help break down the thick mucus that accumulates in their body. Others with more severe causes actually have to take physical therapy. This consists of beating the chest and back to help relieve the mucus build up. Most Cystic Fibrosis patients use a ventilator at least thirty minutes a day. Treatment techniques are becoming more advanced, and these new treatments are helping suffers of Cystic Fibrosis to live longer (2). For example, in 1969 a child with Cystic Fibrosis was not expected to live past the age of 14. By 2000, the life expectancy rose to the age of 32, and by 2002 it was high still, about 33.4 years old (3). The most common treatment involves thumping the chest of a Cystic Fibrosis patient to clear the thick mucus, also known as "bronchial drainage". The pounding of the chest wall loosens the mucus in the lungs, which makes breathing easier (2). Cystic Fibrosis patients are also use techniques which involve forced coughing and breathing exercises that loosen the mucus and help to strengthen throat and stomach muscles. Aerobic exercises can also help Cystic Fibrosis patients. Physically active patients are able to decrease problems with shortness of breath and deterioration of muscles. This can also loosen t...