What Is Cystic Fibrosis? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

What Is Cystic Fibrosis? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic genetic disorder that causes thickened mucus to form in your lungs, pancreas, and other organs in the body.

When mucus clogs airways in your lungs, infections and lung damage can occur.

Mucus in the pancreas can prevent the release of digestive enzymes, which your body needs to break down food and absorb nutrients.

Cystic fibrosis is considered a life-threatening condition, but its symptoms and severity can vary greatly depending on your age, the type of genetic variation you have, and your overall health. (1)

Signs and Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis symptoms vary with the disease’s severity. Symptoms can also change in the same patient over time. Some people may not experience any CF symptoms until they become teenagers or adults.

CF symptoms usually affect the respiratory and digestive systems, though less common symptoms, such as pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), are also possible. Typical CF signs and symptoms may include:

Salty-tasting skin

Persistent cough

Coughing up phlegm or bloody mucus

Wheezing or shortness of breath

Frequent lung or sinus infections

Inability to tolerate exercise

Stuffy nose or inflamed nasal passages

Sinus pain or pressure

Poor growth

Weight loss or loss of appetite

Greasy, foul-smelling, or bulky stools

Difficult bowel movements or severe constipation

Clubbed fingers (wide and rounded tips of the fingers)

Fatigue (2)

Learn More About Signs and Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis

Causes and Risk Factors of Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease. It’s caused by a nonworking gene that a person inherits from their parents.

The faulty gene contains an abnormality, called a variant, which changes a protein (known as CFTR) that’s responsible for regulating the movement of salt in and out of the body’s cells.

There are over 1,800 different variants of the CFTR gene known to cause CF when in combination with another disease-causing variant.

People with the disease inherit two nonworking copies of the cystic fibrosis gene — one from each parent.

Typically both of the parents have at least one copy of the nonworking gene for a child to have CF. If both your parents have a nonworking version of the CFTR gene, you have about a 25 percent chance of developing the disease.

If you inherit one copy of the gene, you won’t develop cystic fibrosis, but you’ll be a carrier and may pass it on to your children.

There’s also a chance that you won’t inherit the cystic fibrosis gene or the disorder even if your parents are carriers.

Each time two CF carriers have a child, the chances are:

25 percent that the child will have CF

50 percent that the child will be a carrier but will not have CF

25 percent that the child will not be a carrier and will not have CF (3)

How Is Cystic Fibrosis Diagnosed?

Signs of cystic fibrosis can be detected on a newborn screen. All 50 U.S. states now routinely screen newborns for the disease.

If the newborn screening comes back positive for CF, more tests are done to confirm a diagnosis. These may include the following:

Sweat test measures levels of chloride in a person’s sweat.

Genetic test checks for a cystic fibrosis gene variant.

Today, most children are diagnosed with cystic fibrosis by age 2. (3) Still, some people with CF are diagnosed as adults and will need to undergo diagnostic procedures, such as a sweat test or genetic test, to see if they have CF.

Getting an early diagnosis is important because the outcomes are better when treatments are started sooner.

Genetic testing can also be done before or during pregnancy to determine if a parent or the fetus has cystic fibrosis or is a carrier. (2)

Prognosis of Cystic Fibrosis

There’s no cure for cystic fibrosis, but the outlook has greatly improved in recent years.

In the 1970s, most patients with CF didn’t live beyond their teen years.

Today, thanks to improved treatment options, the expected age of survival is more than 36 years old, with data finding a median predicted survival of CF patients above 45 years old. (5)

Duration of Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a lifetime disease. You can’t cure or get rid of it. But, as treatments and management strategies improve, there is an increasing likelihood of living into adulthood with a high quality of life. (5)

Treatment and Medication Options for Cystic Fibrosis

While there’s no cure for CF, certain treatments can help ease symptoms and prevent further problems.

Goals of cystic fibrosis treatment typically include:

Treating and preventing lung infections

Loosening and removing mucus from the lungs

Maintaining lung function

Treating and preventing blockages in the intestines

Providing nutrition and preventing dehydration (2)

Medication Options

Different medicines are used to treat cystic fibrosis and control symptoms. Some include:

Antibiotics

Anti-inflammatories

Bronchodilators

Mucus thinners

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved the following oral medications for people with cystic fibrosis who have one or more specific variants in the CFTR gene. They are in the category of CFTR modulator therapies:

elexacaftor, ivacaftor, and tezacaftor (Trikafta)

ivacaftor and tezacaftor (Symdeko)

ivacaftor and lumacaftor (Orkambi)

ivacaftor (Kalydeco) (2)

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a technique that can improve lung function. It’s usually performed as an outpatient therapy and involves physical exercises and breathing techniques. As part of the program, you may also receive counseling, support, and nutrition advice. (2)

Airway Clearing

Airway clearance methods, also known as chest physical therapy, may help relieve mucus obstruction for people with cystic fibrosis.

The techniques aim to loosen the thickened mucus in the lungs, so it’s easier to cough up. (2)

Surgeries and Other Therapies or Procedures

Sometimes people with cystic fibrosis require procedures to relieve symptoms or treat complications. These may include:

Oxygen therapy

Nasal or sinus surgery

A feeding tube

Bowel surgery

Noninvasive ventilation (involves using a nose or mouth mask to provide positive pressure in the airway and lungs)

Lung or liver transplant (2)

Alternative and Complementary Therapies

Some people with cystic fibrosis turn to alternative treatments to ease their symptoms. You should always talk to your doctor before trying an alternative approach.

There are many nutritional and herbal supplements available for CF. Common options include omega-3 fatty acids, coenzyme Q10, probiotics, digestive enzymes, green tea, bromelain, milk thistle, and more.

Additionally, some people report improvement with acupuncture or massage. As with any medication or drug, it is best to speak to your physician before starting any complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy so he or she may address potential interactions, risks, or side effects, even if the risk could be low. (6)

Cystic Fibrosis and Diet

It can be tough for people with cystic fibrosis to maintain a normal weight because the disease causes damage to the digestive system and leads to malnourishment.

Patients require more calories because the lack of digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas results in a failure to properly digest what they eat.

As a result, people with the disease must balance consuming foods that are high in calories, fat, and protein, while still eating nutritiously. (2)

Learn More About Treatment for Cystic Fibrosis: Medication, Alternative and Complementary Therapies, Surgery Options, and More

Prevention of Cystic Fibrosis

There’s no way to prevent cystic fibrosis, but there are some measures you can take to minimize your risk of complications. These include:

Drink lots of fluids to help thin out mucus.

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.

Stay up-to-date on vaccinations.

Exercise regularly.

Don’t smoke.

Practice good hand-washing techniques to prevent infection.

Keep all appointments with your healthcare team. (2)

Complications of Cystic Fibrosis

Chronic respiratory infection is the most common complication of cystic fibrosis, but the condition can lead to a range of health issues affecting other parts of the body.

The following are some typical CF complications.

Chronic Infections

Pneumonia and bronchitis are common infections in people with cystic fibrosis. Individuals with the disease are at greater risk of getting lung infections because mucus that builds up in the lungs allows germs to thrive. Minimizing exposure to germs is critical for CF patients.

Infections can be caused by routine, community-acquired bacteria such as Streptococcus or Haemophilus, more serious bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, or gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas or Klebsiella.

Fungal organisms or atypical mycobacteria can also cause infections in people with cystic fibrosis.

“There are strict guidelines about steps people with CF should follow to minimize the risk of catching some of the more worrisome infections,” says Noah Lechtzin, MD, the director of the adult cystic fibrosis program at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.

As a rule, people with CF should maintain a minimum distance of six feet from people who are ill, including other CF patients. (7) Droplets containing germs that are released into the air when someone sneezes or coughs can travel several feet and land in another person’s mouth, nose, or eyes.

Bronchiectasis

This chronic condition damages the airways in the lungs (bronchi). The walls of the bronchi thicken from inflammation and infection, making it harder for people with cystic fibrosis to breathe.

Some signs of bronchiectasis resemble acute bronchitis. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, fatigue, and coughing up green or yellow mucus. (8)

Nasal Polyps

Nasal polyps are benign tumors made up of inflamed tissues. These small sacs can develop in the nose, leading to chronic congestion and difficulty breathing through the nose.

They are more common in people with cystic fibrosis and other conditions such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and chronic sinusitis. (2)

Respiratory Failure

Lung disease was the primary cause of death for people with cystic fibrosis in 2021. (9)

Lung tissue is sometimes damaged so badly that the lungs stop working. In this case patients may undergo evaluation and planning for a lung transplant.

Pneumothorax

This condition, also known as a collapsed lung, happens when air leaks from the lungs and collects in the space that separates the lungs from the chest wall. It causes chest pain and shortness of breath. It is more common in older CF patients.

Diabetes

Almost 20 percent of people with cystic fibrosis will develop diabetes by age 30. (2)

Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) shares some signs in common with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The thick mucus associated with CF causes scarring of the pancreas, the organ that produces insulin. As a result, CF patients can become insulin deficient (like people with type 1 diabetes). Like people with type 2 diabetes, CF patients can become insulin resistant.

People with CFRD may not show any signs or symptoms and may not know they have it unless they are tested specifically for diabetes.

Nutritional Deficiencies or Malnutrition

When the disease causes mucus to block the tubes that carry digestive enzymes from the pancreas to the intestines, your body can’t absorb important vitamins and nutrients. This is often referred to as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Approximately 85 percent of CF patients are exocrine pancreatic insufficient. (10)

Studies have shown that prevention of malnutrition is associated with a better course of pulmonary disease and longer patient survival.

Intestinal Obstruction

This type of blockage keeps food or liquid from passing through the bowel.

Distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS) is a common CF complication, with an estimated 5 to 12 cases per 1,000 patients annually among children and higher rates reported in adults. DIOS is mainly seen in patients with pancreatic insufficiency. (11)

Blocked Bile Duct

Your bile duct can become blocked and inflamed, which may lead to liver problems or gallstones.

Research suggests that cystic fibrosis–associated liver disease (CFLD) affects approximately 30 percent of CF patients. CFLD is believed to be the third most frequent cause of death in people with CF, after lung disease and complications related to organ transplants. (12)

Acid Reflux

This happens when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus; it can trigger coughing.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is common in CF patients, with studies estimating its prevalence as ranging from 35 to 81 percent. Research suggests that CF patients who have GER have more severe lung disease with lower pulmonary function and increased respiratory exacerbations. (13)

Infertility

Nearly all men with cystic fibrosis are infertile because the tube that connects the testes and the prostate gland becomes blocked with mucus or is missing altogether. (14)

While most women with CF are able to carry a child, impaired lung function and nutrition can raise their risk of health complications during pregnancy.

Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

People with cystic fibrosis are more prone to developing osteoporosis and osteopenia, two common bone diseases. Lung disease and malnutrition associated with CF can compromise bone health.

Low bone mineral density (BMD) is common in adult CF patients.

Certain medications taken by CF patients, such as steroids to help respiratory function, also can adversely affect bone strength.

Arthritis

CF patients have a high risk of joint inflammation and pain, particularly as they age.

Arthritis, the most common type of joint pain in people with CF, can come and go over time.

Dehydration or Electrolyte Imbalance

People with cystic fibrosis have saltier sweat, which may affect the balance of minerals in the blood and be related to dehydration.

Research and Statistics: Who Has Cystic Fibrosis?

About 40,000 people are living with cystic fibrosis in the United States, and there are approximately 105,000 people with CF worldwide. (3)

More than 75 percent of people with the disease are diagnosed by age 2, and more than half of all people living with cystic fibrosis are 18 or older.

CF occurs predominantly in white populations, at a rate of 1 in 2,500 births. Between 2 and 5 percent of white people are carriers of the CFTR gene variant but have no overt clinical signs of disease. The disease is less common among African Americans, occurring at the much lower frequency of approximately 1 out of 17,000 births. (15)

CF gene variants are most prevalent in persons of northern and central European ancestries or of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. They are rarely found in Native Americans, Asians, or native Africans. (16)

CF is equally common among men and women, but women patients fare significantly worse than male patients with the disease. The median survival age for female CF patients is about three years younger than it is for men, but the reasons for the poorer survival rates among women are not completely understood. (17)

Hispanic Americans and Cystic Fibrosis

While CF is more common in white people than in other races, research published in 2015 found that Hispanics with the disease may face poorer outcomes. Indeed, Hispanic Americans were nearly 3 times more likely to die of cystic fibrosis than non-Hispanic patients.

Researchers are continuing to study why this potential disparity exists. (15,18)

Related Conditions and Causes of Cystic Fibrosis

Managing other health problems is important if you have cystic fibrosis.

Some conditions that are closely linked to cystic fibrosis include:

Diabetes

Liver disease

Osteoporosis

Pneumonia

Arthritis (2,19)

Resources We Trust

Mayo Clinic: Mayo Clinic Q and A: Diagnosing Cystic Fibrosis

Cleveland Clinic: Adult Cystic Fibrosis

American Lung Association: Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: Managing CF

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: What Is Cystic Fibrosis?

Anna C.E. Hurst, MD, MS, FACMG

Julie Lynn Marks

Julie Marks is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience covering health, lifestyle, and science topics. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, her work has bee...

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