10 Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
Symptom #3: Breathlessness
Our lungs are sucking in and exhaling air in a continuous cycle all day, every day. This cycle allows us to take in the oxygen that we need and then expel the spent air, emptying the lungs ready for another batch of fresh, oxygen-laden air. In order for this to work, the lungs need the airways to be open to allow the air to pass freely.
Patients with cystic fibrosis, however, will find that their airways are narrowed by their illness. This means that the lungs have difficulty getting enough air from which they can extract oxygen. This results in breathlessness and the patient will often breathe heavier to try and compensate.
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