CF Champions Navigating the Journey Together with Cystic Fibrosis

This post was sponsored by Walgreens Cystic Fibrosis Services as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.
I received compensation as a thank you for my post.

Have you ever heard of Cystic Fibrosis? I hadn’t heard of it until a close friend of mine told me about it because she personally suffered from it. I helped her out on a regular basis and learned how important it was for her to take care of herself. If you’re not sure what Cystic Fibrosis is, let me tell you about it. Cystic Fibrosis is a disease that is caused by a broken gene and changes how your body makes mucus and sweat. It also affects the lungs, digestive system and other body parts. 

A person who has Cystic Fibrosis may have very thick mucus and very salty sweat. If the heavy mucus clogs your lungs, it becomes hard to breathe – a very scary thing to anyone who has ever been through it or seen it happen. It can also block your pancreas, making it hard to digest food. Not to mention the fact that you could sweat away too much of the salt your body needs to work well.

Most people with Cystic Fibrosis are diagnosed when they’re babies, thanks to newborn screening programs. Sometimes, Cystic Fibrosis is not diagnosed until individuals are in their teens or adults. Cystic Fibrosis is a very serious disease and can be life threatening. It’s important to be aware of what it is, especially if it runs in your family or you have people you care out who may have it.

Thanks to Influence Central, I am partnering with the Walgreens Cystic Fibrosis CF Champions program to help spread the word. May is CF Awareness Month, but I honestly think that awareness could be raised at any time of the year. The CF Champions “Navigating the Journey Together” program stresses the importance of medication adherence, which ultimately leads to better health outcomes and improved life experiences.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a complex condition that affects approximately 30,000 adults and children in the US at any given moment. CF is a lifelong disorder that affects patients’ daily life, including everything from school to work and personal life. Those living with Cystic Fibrosis may have different levels of symptoms and severity, but treatments, which also vary, can help CF patients live as normal a life as possible. (CysticFibrosis.org.uk)

Due to the increased risk of infection and cross-contamination of CF patients, many of them are isolated from others. Patients often report high levels of depression and anxiety, which can have a huge impact on the disease’s severity and outcome. This is why it is so important to follow medication regiments and understanding of CF.

Here are some tips for taking CF medications:

1 – Alerts. Set alerts on your phone so medications are always taken when they’re supposed to be (especially important if medications are taken multiple times a day).

2 – Refills. Always refill prescriptions at least a week before running out.

3 – Dosage. Take the correct dosage of the medicine every time.

4 – Don’t skip out on meds. They greatly affect the health and well-being of the individual with Cystic Fibrosis.

5 – Positivity. If you know someone or are caring for someone with Cystic Fibrosis, try to be positive and uplifting. Aim to be their cheerleader. It’s amazing what a positive impact it does have on them.

Do you have a personal experience with Cystic Fibrosis?