The Cystic Fibrosis Disease Analysis Essay

Cystic fibrosis also called CF is a hereditary disease caused by gene mutations. The National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) states that the disease affects organs like reproductive organs, liver, lungs, sinuses, pancreas and the intestines (2009). The disease causes the secretory glands to excrete excessive mucus. The mucus lines some tissues in the body. Typically, the mucus is “a slippery, watery substance” that helps to keep the organs moist and prevent them from being infected or drying out (NHLI, 2009, para. 2). However, CF causes the mucus to become sticky and thick and blocks passages in the lungs and the pancreas eventually leading to diseases because the mucus forms a breeding ground for bacteria. The disease has a high prevalence among people of Caucasian descent from Europe, Australasia and North America. Nonetheless, CF is found in other populations for instance in the Middle East and Latin America, blacks have the lowest prevalence rates (Savopoulos & Oversteegen, 2006).