Treatment Options

Helping Yourself

Tips on how CF patients can stay healthy

1. Eat healthy! Make sure you eat a well-rounded, healthy diet. Individuals with CF need to consume additional calories to maintain adequate nutrition.
2. Drink it up! Make sure you drink enough water each day, especially if you play sports or exercise. It is usually recommended that patients with CF should drink one-half of their body weight in ounces of water, daily. For example, 180 lb of body weight = 90 oz. of water daily. Take that total amount of water and divide that into 8 or 10 oz. glasses of water. That is how much water you should drink everyday. By drinking enough water each day you can avoid dehydration. Dehydration can cause the mucus secretions in your lungs to become even thicker, causing it harder for you to breathe.
3. Immunize! Keep your immunization records up-to-date. Measles/Mumps/Rubella, Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis, and Flu immunizations are important for individuals with CF because they help prevent future lung infections.
4. Stay Active! Try to live a normal lifestyle. Regular exercise can strengthen your respiratory system which will allow you to breathe easier. Also, participation in sports can increase your self-esteem and confidence.
5. Snuff it out! Do not smoke and eliminate smoke from your environment, as much as possible. The harmful toxins in tobacco smoke can lead to lung problems for all individuals, especially those with CF.
6. Wash up! Make sure that you maintain a high level of personal hygiene. By limiting your exposure to germs and bacteria, you may be able to avoid many infections. Wash your hands thoroughly several times a day, particularly:
   • At the doctor's office, waiting room, and lab
   • After coughing and sneezing
   • After using public restrooms
   • After touching public devices, such as telephones, handrails, or elevator buttons
7. Supplement your diet! Be sure to take a daily vitamin supplement in your diet, because individuals with CF often do not absorb enough vitamins from their daily diet.
8. Lift it up! Because people with CF are at risk for poor bone health, they are often at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures later in life. Weight-bearing exercises such as weight lifting, jogging, and dancing may strengthen your bones. Increasing your consumption of foods that contain calcium, increasing vitamin D through increased exposure to sunlight, and/or taking a calcium and vitamin D supplement may also help prevent the development of osteoporosis.

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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.