Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes or what?

[Guest guest]

I thought I had diabetes, asthma, allergies, arthritis, digestive disorders

and who knows what else. I've been fairly well controlled. I eat the right

diet. I've just learned that I have a genetic disorder known as cystic

fibrosis. It is often misdiagnosed as asthma; and then a whole lot of other

problems develop. Anyone here know what I mean? ~ek

 

Nutrition, Herbs, and Supplements for Cystic Fibrosis

 

Cystic fibrosis is a condition that results from an abnormal gene being

passed on to a child from each one of his or her parents. People with cystic

fibrosis have overactive mucus and sweat glands, leading to blocked airway

passages and dehydration. Cystic fibrosis is characterized by chronic

coughing, wheezing, asthma, and fatigue. Since at present there is no cure

for cystic fibrosis, treatment focuses on easing symptoms, preventing

infections, slowing the progress of the disease, and generally improving

quality of life. Doctors often advise physical therapy, exercise, and

medications to reduce inflammation and mucus buildup and to fight

infections. Nutrition, supplements, and herbal remedies also play a critical

part in a comprehensive treatment plan.

 

Nutritional Guidelines

 

If you or someone you are caring for has cystic fibrosis, it's important

that you realize how much diet can influence the symptoms and severity of

this disease. Adhering to the following recommendations can help to protect

organs, reduce infections, and improve quality of life.

 

Limit foods that encourage the body to make mucus, such as dairy products

(especially milk, cream, and ice cream), peanuts, oranges, bananas, sugar,

saturated fats, wheat and gluten-containing grains (barley, oats, and rye),

meat, and salt.

 

Increase intake of foods that reduce mucus, such as garlic, onions,

watercress, horseradish, mustard, parsley, celery, rose hip tea, pickles,

umeboshi plums, and lemon.

 

Eliminate food allergens. Common food allergens include milk, eggs, fish,

peanuts, food colorings, and additives. Talk to your doctor about

determining food sensitivities through an elimination diet or a food allergy

test.

 

Reduce foods in the diet that may contribute to inflammation, including

saturated fats (meats, especially poultry, and dairy), refined foods, and

sugar.

 

Increase intake of anti-inflammatory oils (found in nuts, seeds, and

cold-water fish).

 

Dietary Supplements

 

Increase dietary intake of the following antioxidants: selenium (200 mcg per

day), vitamin E (400 IU per day), vitamin C (500 to 1,000 mg two to three

times a day), and beta-carotene (25,000 IU a day).

 

Take n-acetyl cysteine to reduce mucus and protect lung tissue from damage.

The recommended dose is 200 mg three times a day.

 

Take zinc (10 to 30 mg a day) to support the immune system.

 

Take quercetin (250 to 500 mg before meals) to reduce inflammation.

 

Talk to your doctor about taking pancreatic enzymes with your meals; they

aid in the digestion and absorption of nutrients from foods.

 

Herbal Remedies

 

Herbs are generally available as dried extracts (pills, capsules, or

tablets), teas, or tinctures. Unless otherwise indicated, teas should be

made with 1 teaspoon herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10

minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 to 4

cups per day. Tinctures are preparations made from alcohol (or water and

alcohol), containing an herb strength of 1 part herb to 5 parts solvent or 1

part herb to 10 parts solvent.

 

To liquefy mucus: mix equal parts of four to six of the following herbs:

thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata), anise (Pimpinella

anisum), hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra),

and rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis). Take 20 to 60 drops in tincture form

two to four times a day.

 

For acute infections: combine equal parts of coneflower (Echinacea

purpurea), goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), wild

indigo (Baptisia tinctoria), and elecampane (Inula helenium) with 15 drops

of cayenne (Capsicum annuum). Take 20 to 30 drops in tincture form every

three to four hours.

 

Be sure to talk with your physician or pharmacist to best determine which

herbal or nutritional supplements are for you. Some supplements should not

be taken if you have certain medical conditions or are taking particular

prescription medications.

 

Cystic Fibrosis: Symptoms and Diagnosis

 

What are the symptoms of cystic fibrosis? Symptoms and severity of cystic

fibrosis (CF) can vary widely from patient to patient. Symptom variability

appears to result from differences in the specific CFTR mutation, other

genetic differences, and possibly environmental factors.

 

Potential symptoms include:

 

Respiratory Symptoms

Digestive Symptoms

Reproductive Symptoms

 

What are the respiratory symptoms of cystic fibrosis? Respiratory symptoms

include:

 

Breathing Difficulties

Thick mucus clogs the airways, interfering with breathing.

Frequent Lung Infections

 

Bacteria, most often Pseudomonas bacteria, thrive in the environment of

thick sticky mucus in the lungs, resulting in frequent lung infection.

As part of the body's inflammatory response to infection, white blood cells

migrate into the lungs. As they work to fight the bacterial infection, white

blood cells die off, releasing their DNA into the mucus.

 

The release of cellular DNA (long, stringy, sticky molecules) exacerbates

the stickiness of the mucus, contributing to an ongoing cycle of airway

obstruction, infection, and inflammation.

 

Progressive Lung Damage

 

Over time, persistent Pseudomonas infection and resulting inflammation

damage the lungs, leading to lung failure.

 

Lung failure is the most common cause of death in CF patients.

What are the digestive symptoms of cystic fibrosis? The digestive organ

most commonly affected in CF is the pancreas.

 

The pancreas produces:

 

Insulin, for transport of sugar from the bloodstream into cells of the body

Digestive Enzymes, for breakdown of food in the small intestine

In CF, thick mucus can clog the pancreatic ducts (channels responsible for

carrying digestive enzymes from the pancreas to the small intestine) and

damage the pancreas.

 

As a result, there is a shortage of pancreatic digestive enzymes, resulting

in the following symptoms:

 

Bulky, Foul-Smelling Stools

Malnutrition

Slowed Growth and Development

Abdominal Pain after eating

 

Progressive damage to the pancreas can lead to the development of diabetes.

Bile ducts, which carry bile (a digestive juice) from the liver to the small

intestine, also may be affected, resulting in biliary cirrhosis.

Newborns with CF may have an intestinal blockage called meconium ileus.

What are the reproductive symptoms of cystic fibrosis?

 

In most men with CF, the vas deferens (tubules that carry sperm from the

testes) are undeveloped, resulting in infertility. In some men with CF,

infertility may be the only noticeable symptom.

 

Women with CF may have reduced fertility, as a result of abnormal cervical

mucus or irregularities in the menstrual cycle.

What other symptoms can occur with cystic fibrosis? Additional symptoms of

the disease are:

 

Extremely Salty Sweat, due to impaired salt absorption in the sweat glands

Clubbed (rounded and enlarged) Fingers and Toes

Sinusitis

Polyps (benign growths) Inside the Nose

Coughing up Blood

Rectal prolapse

 

How is cystic fibrosis diagnosed? The most common test for CF is the sweat

test, to check for high levels of sodium and chloride in the sweat.

Other tests which may be performed to help diagnose CF include:

 

Immunoreactive Trypsinogen Test (IRT), to check blood levels of trypsinogen

(a pancreatic digestive enzyme)

 

Genetic Testing, to look for mutation in the CFTR gene, including in a

Fetus

Baby

Chest X-Rays

Tests of Lung Function

Sputum (phlegm) Analysis

Stool Analysis

 

How is cystic fibrosis treated? Although research is active and ongoing, as

yet there is no cure for CF. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, to

minimize lung damage and maximize quality of life.

 

The material in this article is provided for informational purposes only.

For specific medical advice or diagnosis, consult a healthcare provider. For

a physician referral, click the button above.

 

Last updated 4/1/03