Lesser-Known Facts About Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis, or CF as it’s commonly referred to, is a genetic disorder that affects the respiratory and digestive systems and is often fatal. While it’s a fairly well-known disease, there are only about 70,000 people living with CF in the entire world.

Those with CF often are mistaken for having a cold (from mucus buildup in the lungs) or an eating disorder, as it’s difficult to keep weight on due to the disorder. Here are 7 things to know about CF that might not be common knowledge…

1. It’s Not Just a Childhood Disease

CF has traditionally been typecast as a disorder of the young, however thanks to medical advances the life expectancy of a person with CF has raised. According to Cystic Fibrosis Canada, today almost 60-percent of all CF patients are adults.

CF Canada also helped support the production of a book called Salty Girls by Canadian photographer Ian Ross Pettigrew (and CF patient), which aims to raise awareness about adult females with CF. The book has since received international attention.