1. Look After Your Nutrition
If you suffer from cystic fibrosis, you have lowered levels of important pancreatic enzymes reaching your small intestines to aid in digestion. Thus, you have difficulties maintaining a healthy body weight and getting enough nutrients, and you'll need to up your calorie intake and use nutritional supplements to achieve better physical health.
Make sure any vitamins you take are fat-soluble, since your intake of fats will be dramatically increased to help you get enough calories. You might also want to consider working with a dedicated nutritional therapist to design and implement a diet program that meets your or your child's needs.
2. Drink Plenty of Fluids
Water thins your mucus, and mucus buildups in the lungs cause many cystic fibrosis symptoms. One of the simplest home care techniques you can use is to stay hydrated, especially if you're active, and especially during the summer. During the hot months of the year, it's much easier to lose hydration through your sweat. Many CF patients have a harder time managing their condition during June, July and August for this very reason.
3. Avoid Smoke
Smoke is the great enemy of lungs both healthy and compromised. You should make sure to avoid it in all forms, at home, at work and in your outdoor environment. That means you should take care to avoid cigarettes and other forms of tobacco as well as exhaust. It's also not the best idea to live where conditions are smoggy if you or your child has CF.
4. Stay Active
You or your child should stay as active as you can manage, since regular physical activity reduces the congestion of phlegm and mucus in your lungs. The benefits of exercise aren't solely physical, either. Children often feel alone or left out when other kids play sports and they can't--and the best solution is to let them play too! Just be moderate and don't encourage your child to overexert him or herself.
5. Booster Shots for Children With CF
Because your child becomes vulnerable to all sorts of avoidable complications if he or she contracts pneumonia or the flu, it's wise to get your child immunized against common diseases and infections. A good rule of thumb is to make sure your child has all available booster shots and vaccinations, both standard and optional, and to work with your doctor to make sure they stay up to date.
