{"id":11115,"date":"2020-11-19T15:30:46","date_gmt":"2020-11-19T20:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=11115"},"modified":"2023-10-17T12:50:37","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T16:50:37","slug":"is-cannabis-able-to-combat-the-symptoms-cystic-fibrosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/is-cannabis-able-to-combat-the-symptoms-cystic-fibrosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Cannabis Able to Combat the Symptoms Cystic Fibrosis?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many of us will never know what it\u2019s like to live with a life-threatening disease, let alone one that doesn’t have a cure. Those individuals who would know can teach us all a little something about strength and courage to continue facing life despite the looming possibility of death. While many individuals who suffer from Cystic Fibrosis, or CF, are able to live normal lives, many die from respiratory failure as a result of the disease. When looking at CF sixty years ago, you\u2019ll find <\/span>that a significant amount of children with the disease passed away before reaching elementary school age<\/a><\/span>. However, modern medicine has been able to afford CF patients with longer live-spans, yet still shorter than normal. As the world looks into more of the conditions that cannabis can help, Cystic Fibrosis made the list.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding Cystic Fibrosis<\/b><\/h2>\n

Cystic Fibrosis<\/a> is explained as<\/span> an inherited disease that can cause severe damage to vital organs such as the lungs, the digestive system (particularly the pancreas). Normally, people produce mucus, sweat, and digestive juices which are usually thin and slippery to act as lubricants. However, in the individual who inherited Cystic Fibrosis, those lubricants become thick and sticky which leads to clogged up tubes, ducts, and passageways, particularly in the lungs and pancreas. This disease can thus be life-threatening and individuals suffering from it, usually have shorter life-spans than those without cystic fibrosis. Respiratory failure is also the most common cause of death amongst those who are suffering from cystic fibrosis. While there is no cure for CF, individuals can take measures to improve their situation such as taking on and maintaining a good nutritious diet.<\/span><\/p>\n

All newborns in America are screened for CF and may successfully present with CF when both parents have the defective gene. CF causes the body to produce thicker and stickier mucus and fluids that accumulate. This makes it more difficult to cough out which leads to complications in the lungs as well as interfering with the pancreatic function by preventing enzymes to properly break down foods, leading to digestive complications and potentially malnutrition. CF can also lead to the infertility of males since it may clog up the tubes which transport sperm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

CF is caused by a mutation in a gene known as the Cystic Fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which changes a protein that regulates the movement of salt in and out of cells. As stated above, one needs to have a copy of this mutated gene from each parent in order to present with CF. If the individual only inherited one parent’s CF gene, they will only become a carrier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis<\/b><\/h2>\n

Fortunately, the newborn screening for CF allows for early detection before symptoms become present, resulting in faster action to manage the condition and hopefully improve the quality of life. As with most other diseases, the symptoms will be presented and experienced differently and is largely dependent on the severity of CF. Some individuals who have CF, may not have symptoms until they are much older, while other lives have been claimed by CF before they\u2019ve reached their teenage and young adult years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Respiratory Signs and Symptoms<\/b><\/h3>\n