Causes, Risk Factors & Complications Of Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a serious medical condition that causes the buildup of thick, sticky mucus in the body. While it can affect multiple areas of the body, such as the pancreas, bowels, and reproductive organs, most complications of this disease revolve around mucus buildup in the lungs. Although treatments for cystic fibrosis have improved over the years, it's still a degenerative condition. This means cystic fibrosis gets worse over time and generally leads to an early death—most commonly between the ages of thirty and fifty. The following is a look at the causes, risk factors, and medical complications associated with cystic fibrosis.

Gene Mutation

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition, meaning it can be passed from parent to child. An individual receives one copy of each gene in their body from both parents, and when these genes don't work properly, the mutation runs the risk of being present in the child as well. Specifically, cystic fibrosis occurs when a gene mutation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR) is inherited. This gene is responsible for the body's regulation of fluids and salt within cells, and when it does not work properly, it causes the buildup of mucus within the lungs that's associated with cystic fibrosis.

Keep reading for more on the causes and risk factors of cystic fibrosis.