Treatment Options for Cystic Fibrosis

Although living with cystic fibrosis seems difficult and overwhelming, there are several treatment options that are available.  In this blog post, I will be focusing in on some of the treatment options and how they work.

One of the devices used to treat CF is called a chest clapper.  A chest clapper is a handheld device that mimics the effect of cupped hands that are over the chest.  It is used to loosen mucus in the airways.  It literally claps on the person's chest.

http://openi.nlm.nih.gov/detailedresult.php?img=3094358_1745-9974-7-2-1&req=4



 Another treatment option available to CF patients is an inflatable chest.  This is a device that is worn around the chest that vibrates at high frequencies.  Like the chest clapper, it also tries to loosen mucus from the airways.

http://sunsci.wikispaces.com/Cystic+Fibrosis

Lastly, mucus-thinning drugs can be used to help treat CF.  These drugs help thin the mucus in the airways so it can be coughed up.  All of these treatment options are usually used together to provide the best possibilities of treating cystic fibrosis.

Here is the website for Pulmozyme, which is a drug that is commonly used to treat CF. It has an interactive video that shows how it works.
 http://www.pulmozyme.com/how-pz-works.html

Resources used: 
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cystic-fibrosis/basics/treatment/con-20013731