KNOW Cystic fibrosis is a life-long, hereditary disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to form in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. In the lungs, this mucus tends to block the airways, making breathing difficult. In the pancreas, it clogs the ducts leading to the intestines, thus interfering with the digestion of fat.
Cystic fibrosis is the leading genetic killer in the United States.
Approximately 30,000 Americans have the disease. It occurs equally in male and female babies and affects nearly every race. Although the disease begins at conception, symptoms may not appear for several years. Diagnosis is sometimes delayed for decades because of the mildness of the symptoms or a failure to recognize them. Only about 10 to 15 percent of the babies with cystic fibrosis have symptoms at birth.