Fibrosis, or cystic fibrosis, is an inherited disorder that causes severe lung damage and can result in severe nutritional deficiencies. This condition affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat or digestive juices in the body, making them secrete thick and sticky secretions that can plug their ducts. This happens most commonly in the pancreas and lungs. It is important to follow an adequate high-calorie, high-protein diet to prevent further complications arising from malnutrition.
Causes
Cystic Fibrosis is caused by a defective gene that alters the protein that regulates the movement of sodium in and out of the body's cells, thus making them secrete thicker and stickier fluids. The defective gene is inherited from a child's parents, but it is a recessive gene, so both parents need to have it in order to pass it to their children.
Symptoms
Symptoms of cystic fibrosis begin when patients are infants. Symptoms include persistent coughs, wheezing, repeated sinus and lung infections, stinky stools, decreased weight, impaired growth and development, constipation and even intestinal blockage.
Treatment
To this day, there is no known cure for cystic fibrosis. Treatment focuses on relieving some of the symptoms. Your physician may recommend medications like antibiotics for any frequent infections, mucus-thinning medication and bronchodilators to help keep the lung's airways open. Also, he might recommend physical therapy to physically remove thick mucus in the lungs, and, in severe cases, surgeries like a lung transplant or bowel surgery. Finally, if the ability to eat and digest foods is severely impaired, the physician might recommend that a feeding tube is put in place. So, it is very important to maintain adequate nutrition to prevent this from happening.
Foods to Eat or Avoid
The American Dietetic Association recommends that patients with cystic fibrosis eat a variety of foods that are rich in nutrients, calories and protein. This includes foods like meat, poultry and fish, other seafood, eggs, beans, nuts and seeds, and whole-milk dairy products like cheese or yogurts. Diet or "lite" foods should be avoided as should any foods that can fill you up without providing calories or nutrients, including beverages without any calories like coffee, tea or diet sodas.
Other Tips
There are certain things that you can do to increase your caloric and protein intake. Try to eat 6 large meals throughout the day if possible. Between meals, try to drink a calorie or protein supplement as well. If you are going to eat vegetables, eat them with cheese, cream, butter or salad dressing. Remember to eat a protein source, like meat or beans, in every meal. Finally, you might want to try to add 1 tablespoon of whole-milk powder to sauces, milkshakes or smoothies, or to the flour when baking.
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