15 Tips for Dealing With Cystic Fibrosis

Tip 1 - As with any major illness or disease, education is important to help you and your doctor manage the disease. You should have continuing medical treatment from a staff of doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists who specialize in treating cystic fibrosis. If you are unsure of what doctor to choose, you can find a specialist at most major medical centers or a list can be found on the CF Foundation Centers website. National Hospital and Medial Center Directory

Tip 2 - If you are raising a child with CF, avoid smoking in the house. If you must smoke, go outside so your child can avoid inhaling second-hand smoke. If you are a smoker with cystic fibrosis, stop smoking. You will improve your quality of life and have you a longer life span.

Tip 3 - Exercise often. Make exercise a part of your daily routine. This will help strengthen your cardiopulmonary system and help fight infections that may attack your weakened lungs and air passages.

Tip 4 - Chest therapy must be done every day! Parents will be instructed on how to give their child chest therapy and adults can learn to do their own therapy.

Tip 5 - You want to avoid infections. You need to wash your hands often to avoid picking up a bacteria or germ that can cause respiratory infections.

Tip 6 - Take all recommended flu and other vaccinations that are appropriate. Flu and pneumonia vaccinations may help you avoid complications with cystic fibrosis that can be life threatening.

Tip 7 - Living with cystic fibrosis is not easy, but a positive attitude can help. If you are a carrier and have passed the disease on to one of your children, stop feeling guilty! You don’t have to be overprotective. You can encourage your child to be strong, active, and self-reliant. They will mimic your attitude about their disease!

Tip 8 - Carry a small waterless hand cleaning liquid in case you find yourself in a place where you cannot wash your hands. Avoiding infection is so important, so something as simple as this could make a huge difference to your quality of life.

Tip 9 - Never skip the exercise treatments unless you have been given medical reasons to. They are important for helping your fight against CF.

Tip 10 - Use sun block when you go outside, especially when you are taking medication that makes you more sensitive to sunlight.

Tip 11 - When you go traveling, make sure to have your medical documents with you at all times. You may need them to prove you have CF in various situations.

Tip 12 - Once a child is diagnosed with cystic fibrosis they may or may not need to have a hospital stay after they are diagnosed with the disease. A hospital stay will depend on the condition of the child when cystic fibrosis is diagnosed.

Tip 13 - One of the ways to check if two parents are carriers of the cystic fibrosis gene is to perform a gene test. Genetic testing will confirm or deny if either of you are carriers of the mutant cystic fibrosis gene.

Tip 14 - Children with cystic fibrosis are usually put on a diet tailored specially for them as well as given a daily care routine which is likely to include pulmonary treatments.

Tip 15 - Someone with cystic fibrosis is prone to malnutrition, if they don’t take good care of their diet and nutrition. Eating healthily and taking extra vitamins as suggested by the medical team is essential to avoid dehydration, rickets or other issues.