Cystic Fibrosis
We help you manage this disease so you can live longer and breathe easier
A genetic disease called cystic fibrosis (CF) causes thick mucus to build up in various part of the body, including the lungs and pancreas. The mucus blocks your airways, causing lung damage and making you susceptible to bacterial infections.
Cystic fibrosis is most often discovered in infancy, though sometimes when children grow a little older.
Children with cystic fibrosis show symptoms such as frequent wheezing and coughing, poor growth, greasy stools or diarrhea and frequent lung infections. Physicians use tests such as chest X-rays, pulmonary function tests and mucus cultures to diagnose the condition.
Overview
Children with cystic fibrosis show symptoms such as frequent wheezing and coughing, poor growth, greasy stools or diarrhea and frequent lung infections. Physicians use tests such as chest X-rays, pulmonary function tests and mucus cultures to diagnose the condition.
Our Pulmonology & Respiratory Care at the IU Health Medical Center in Indianapolis is one of only four accredited cystic fibrosis care centers in the state of Indiana. Our physicians conduct cystic fibrosis studies that will give you access to the latest clinical trials and advanced treatments.
Your pulmonologists will provide high quality, comprehensive care to address the many facets of cystic fibrosis and assist you in managing symptoms so you can lead an active lifestyle.
Scientists have not yet discovered a cure for cystic fibrosis, but treatments continue to improve steadily. Managing cystic fibrosis requires a comprehensive treatment plan. Physical therapy, medication to reduce mucus, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications can all assist in reducing your symptoms. In addition to seeing a pulmonologist, you may also need to see a gastroenterologist to control and improve digestive problems.
IU Health physicians will give you access to many treatments unavailable anywhere else in the state, including:
- Antibiotics. Your physicians will supply you with the antibiotics you need to manage your risk of bacterial infections.
- Physical therapy
- Respiratory therapy: During respiratory therapy, your ability to breathe will be monitored and improved through various exercises and treatments.
- New medications. Our physicians will assist you in getting access to some of the latest medical innovations in the treatment of cystic fibrosis.
- Lung transplant. IU Health has the only healthcare system in Indiana to offer lung transplants. Lung transplants can help you if you have severely damaged lungs from cystic fibrosis. While this will remove symptoms of cystic fibrosis from the lungs, the disease will continue to affect your sinuses, digestive tract and reproductive tract.
- Access to clinical research trials
Treatment
Our Pulmonology & Respiratory Care at the IU Health Medical Center in Indianapolis is one of only four accredited cystic fibrosis care centers in the state of Indiana. Our physicians conduct cystic fibrosis studies that will give you access to the latest clinical trials and advanced treatments.
Your pulmonologists will provide high quality, comprehensive care to address the many facets of cystic fibrosis and assist you in managing symptoms so you can lead an active lifestyle.
Scientists have not yet discovered a cure for cystic fibrosis, but treatments continue to improve steadily. Managing cystic fibrosis requires a comprehensive treatment plan. Physical therapy, medication to reduce mucus, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications can all assist in reducing your symptoms. In addition to seeing a pulmonologist, you may also need to see a gastroenterologist to control and improve digestive problems.
IU Health physicians will give you access to many treatments unavailable anywhere else in the state, including:
- Antibiotics. Your physicians will supply you with the antibiotics you need to manage your risk of bacterial infections.
- Physical therapy
- Respiratory therapy: During respiratory therapy, your ability to breathe will be monitored and improved through various exercises and treatments.
- New medications. Our physicians will assist you in getting access to some of the latest medical innovations in the treatment of cystic fibrosis.
- Lung transplant. IU Health has the only healthcare system in Indiana to offer lung transplants. Lung transplants can help you if you have severely damaged lungs from cystic fibrosis. While this will remove symptoms of cystic fibrosis from the lungs, the disease will continue to affect your sinuses, digestive tract and reproductive tract.
- Access to clinical research trials
Treatments for cystic fibrosis evolve constantly to improve your quality of life and life expectancy. Stay up-to-date on cystic fibrosis through the following websites:
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: This website features the latest cystic fibrosis news, information on treatments and support for patients living with cystic fibrosis.
- National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute: This website provides information on treating and living with cystic fibrosis.
Resources
Treatments for cystic fibrosis evolve constantly to improve your quality of life and life expectancy. Stay up-to-date on cystic fibrosis through the following websites:
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: This website features the latest cystic fibrosis news, information on treatments and support for patients living with cystic fibrosis.
- National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute: This website provides information on treating and living with cystic fibrosis.
Jun 16
For Jen Weber, who has cheated death multiple times, helping others is “the only way to give back to the cosmic universe.” As a child, Jen Weber had a somewhat lofty goal for a person with cystic fibrosis. She dreamed of reaching the age of 21. In her mind, that would mean she would have had the chance to go to college and actually be an adult, even if for a short while. She was living with CF, a debilitating genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs, but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestine. Long-term issues include difficulty breathing and frequent lung infections. Decades ago, before treatment improved, the illness more often than not snuffed out young lives before they reached adulthood. Weber, who was treated at Riley Hospital for Children, reached her goal and pushed well beyond it, thanks to advances in care and to her own motivation. Now 45, she not only went to college, she went to law school and works as an attorney for the Indiana Supreme Court. But there’s so much more to her story. She’s been a cellist with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra for 21 years. She recently had a mini jam
Patient Stories for Cystic Fibrosis
Jun 16
For Jen Weber, who has cheated death multiple times, helping others is “the only way to give back to the cosmic universe.” As a child, Jen Weber had a somewhat lofty goal for a person with cystic fibrosis. She dreamed of reaching the age of 21. In her mind, that would mean she would have had the chance to go to college and actually be an adult, even if for a short while. She was living with CF, a debilitating genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs, but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestine. Long-term issues include difficulty breathing and frequent lung infections. Decades ago, before treatment improved, the illness more often than not snuffed out young lives before they reached adulthood. Weber, who was treated at Riley Hospital for Children, reached her goal and pushed well beyond it, thanks to advances in care and to her own motivation. Now 45, she not only went to college, she went to law school and works as an attorney for the Indiana Supreme Court. But there’s so much more to her story. She’s been a cellist with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra for 21 years. She recently had a mini jam