Living with Cystic Fibrosis

People living with cystic fibrosis should learn as much as they can about the disease and learn how to manage it. Good self-care includes watching what you eat, doing daily chest physical therapy, and drinking lots of fluids. If your child has cystic fibrosis, you shouldn't feel guilty about passing the gene on to your child. Encourage your child to be active and self-reliant.

Cystic Fibrosis Information

An Introduction to Living With Cystic Fibrosis

People living with cystic fibrosis should learn as much as they can about the disease and work with their doctors to learn how to manage it. Ongoing medical care is important, which is why people with cystic fibrosis should seek treatment from a team of doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists who specialize in cystic fibrosis.

What Steps Can I Take?

If you have cystic fibrosis, the following self-care tips can help improve your quality of life:

Eating a healthy diet
Avoiding tobacco smoke
Washing your hands often to reduce your chances of infection
Exercising frequently
Drinking lots of fluids
Doing chest physical therapy every day
Having annual flu and other appropriate vaccinations
Taking your medicines as prescribed.

People with cystic fibrosis can expect to have a normal sex life.

Although most men with cystic fibrosis are infertile, they may be helped with modern reproductive techniques. And although most women with cystic fibrosis may be less fertile than women who do not have cystic fibrosis, they usually can have children. However, women with cystic fibrosis should talk to their doctor before becoming pregnant.

If you are a parent of a child with cystic fibrosis, you should not feel guilty about passing the gene on to your child and you should not be overprotective; encourage your child to be active and self-reliant.