Cystic+Fibrosis+Disease

**Disease Description ** Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic, and frequently fatal genetic (inherited) disease of the body's mucus glands. CF primarily affects the |respiratory and digestive systems in children and young adults. The reproductive system also are usually involved. On average, individuals with CF have a lifespan of about 30 years. Mucus is a slippery substance that lubricates and protects the linings of the airways, digestive system, reproductive system, and other organs and tissues = = = = **Inheritance ** Heterozygous carriers (those who have inherited only one copy of the altered gene) are asymptomatic. Two altered genes must be present for CF to appear. This means that if both parents are CF carriers, their offspring would only express CF symptoms if they had inherited one defective copy of the gene from each parent. = = = = **Incidence ** According to Cystic Fibrosis Disease, about 30,000 Americans, 3000 Canadians, and 20,000 Europeans have CF. The disease occurs mostly in whites whose ancestors came from northern Europe, although it affects all races and ethnic groups. Accordingly, it is less common in African Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans. About 2500 babies are born with CF each year in the United States. Also, about 1 in every 20 Americans is an unaffected carrier of an abnormal CF gene. These 12 million people usually are unaware that they are carriers. ﻿ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">HOW THIS COULD AFFECT MY REEBOP- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">This could affect my reebop because i could have the disease and then my reebop could get it from me. Or my husband could have it and the reebop could get it from him. Either way the reebop could get it some how if one of us has the disese. But it is possible that the reebop does not get it but it is most likley that he will if one of us has the disease. That is how this disease could affect my reebop.

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