There are more than 1,400 possible mutations of the faulty gene that causes cystic fibrosis. Everyone living with the condition carries two of these mutated genes, meaning that the way it affects the body can vary wildly from person to person. When you add to this the huge range of other influencing factors, the one thing way can say for sure is that CF is as individual as you are!

Here you can explore some of the most common physical symptoms of cystic fibrosis and find out what may be going on below the surface.

Mental health 

Living with cystic fibrosis means more than just a set of physical symptoms - it can have an impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing. 

Problems with mental health can affect anyone at any time, and everyone with CF experiences their condition differently. Consequently, some people may go through particular periods of mental stress, especially if their physical health takes a turn for the worse, while others may find it affects them to a lesser degree. 

If you are concerned that CF may be affecting your mental or emotional health, you can talk to your clinical team.

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While you're here, take a look at psychologist Dr Ann-Marie Golden's tips for mindfulness and try out some of the practices for yourself.

Nasal polyps 

Nasal polyps are soft swellings that grow in the nose or sinuses. They can vary in size and may grow individually or in a bunch. People with nasal polyps may complain of congestion, sinus pain, a runny nose or a loss of their sense of smell.

Many people with CF suffer with nasal polyps. This is thought to be due to the chronic congestion and infection that CF can cause. Polyps can often be treated with steroids or sometimes with a surgical procedure called a polypectomy. To reduce the chance that the polyps will return after treatment, steroids, antihistamines, antibiotics or sinus flushes may be recommended.

Sinusitis

Sinus problems are very common in people with cystic fibrosis.The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the head; three pairs between the eyes and one pair above the eyes. They have a number of functions including warming and humidifying the air we breathe and trapping particles such as bacteria and dust. Cystic fibrosis can cause thick, sticky mucus to build up in the sinuses, resulting in a range of symptoms including facial pain, chronic congestion, loss of smell/taste and a constant need to clear the throat.

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While you're here, find out more about the other additional complications of cystic fibrosis.

Your lungs are responsible for inhaling air and passing the oxygen it contains into the bloodstream, where it is taken to cells that use it to produce energy. Creating energy in the cells produces carbon dioxide, which is transported back to the lungs in the blood stream and then expelled in the air you breathe out.

Air moves around your lungs through airways, which branch into smaller and smaller tubes. You have almost 15,000 miles of airways in your body – that’s like flying from London to New York and back again - twice! At the end of these tubes are tiny balloon-like structures called alveoli, which are surrounded by blood vessels that pick up the oxygen and drop off the carbon dioxide.

Sticky mucus in the lungs

Inside your airways there’s a thin layer of mucus that catches anything you breathe in, like bacteria or dust. In people with CF, this mucus is stickier than it should be. This means bacteria can become trapped in the lungs, causing infections.

Your airways are also covered in tiny finger-like structures that move backwards and forwards to push the mucus and everything it contains out of the lungs. These are called cilia, and because the mucus in the lungs of people with CF is stickier, the cilia don’t always work properly.

Physiotherapy helps to loosen the mucus, which in turn helps the movement of air through the lungs.

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While you're here, find out more about how cystic fibrosis affects the lungs, with information on lung infections, cross-infection and antibiotic resistance.

Pancreas and digestion 

The pancreas creates enzymes, important chemicals that break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in your food. This is important for releasing the nutrients that your body uses to make energy.

In digestion in people with CF, the small tubes that transport these enzymes out of the pancreas become blocked with mucus. The enzymes build up in the pancreas instead of reaching the digestive system, causing the pancreas to become inflamed. As a result, people with CF have to take supplements to replace these enzymes with their meals to help digest their food. A person whose pancreas is affected in this way is suffering from ‘pancreatic insufficiency’.

Pancreas and CF-related diabetes

The pancreas also makes insulin, a hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in theblood. The scarring caused by the build-up of enzymes in people with CF can mean that the pancreas does not produce insulin as effectively, resulting in CF-related diabetes (CFRD), a condition that affects more than 30% of adults with cystic fibrosis.

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While you're here, find out more about the other additional complications of cystic fibrosis, and download our CFRD factsheet.

It is quite common for adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) to have some changes in their liver function, however these changes will often not cause them any difficulties.

It is thought that CF affects the normal secretion and function of bile, which is produced in the liver. The bile can become sticky, causing irritation and inflammation of the bile ducts in the liver. This can be a minor problem for most people with cystic fibrosis. However, occasionally the inflammation leads to permanent damage in the ducts that in turn leads to scarring and problems with the normal functioning of the liver.

It is not known why some people develop CF-related liver damage and others do not.

Liver transplant

Some people with cystic fibrosis may require a liver transplant.

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While you're here, find out more about the other complications of cystic fibrosis.

As we get older our bones become thinner and weaker, and may become more susceptible to fracture. However, in people with CF, thinning of the bones can occur at an earlier age. Bone health is strongly linked to the severity of lung disease and body weight. Over a third of adults with CF have low bone mineral density. Conversely, those with normal weight and height, and good lung function, have near-normal bone density.

Joint pain

Joint pain and arthropathy (disease of the joints) affects more than 1 in 10 people living with cystic fibrosis. Find out about the research we are funding to tackle this issue.

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While you're here, find out more about the other additional complications of cystic fibrosis.

In people with CF there is a problem in the transport of salt across cell membranes. This results in a higher concentration of salt in sweat compared with those who do not have the condition.

Screening for CF

Screening for CF is part of the national newborn blood spot screening programme (the heel prick test). The sweat test is performed on babies suspected of having CF, as part of the follow up to the blood spot screening process. This test is safe and painless, and may also be used to help make, or exclude, a diagnosis of CF where there is a family history or a possibility of the condition.

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While you're here, find out more about the additional complications of cystic fibrosis.