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Six Tips for Maintaining Your Health With Cystic Fibrosis

Anyone diagnosed with a life-threatening disease should be wise enough to keep as healthy as possible. That means something different for each person and should be tailored to fit your individual lifestyle. There are six tips that help cystic fibrosis patients stay healthy.

Tip Number One: Eat a healthy diet. Be sure your diet includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish oils, and lean protein. Cystic fibrosis patients should increase their daily calorie intake. This will ensure your body is getting enough nutrients to thrive. Take a dietary supplement each day. Because cystic fibrosis can affect your bone structure, you should take a calcium supplement and increase your vitamin D consumption. Increasing your exposure to sunlight will help you keep your vitamin D level as high as it should be.

Tip Number Two: Drink plenty of water every day. If you exercise or take part in in sports you will need to drink more. Decaf tea and coffee count as water if you do not add sugar or milk. Cystic fibrosis patients should consume at least half of their body weight. If you weigh 140 pounds, you should drink 70 ounces of water. If you drink the water you should you will avoid dehydration and keep the mucus secretions in your lungs from getting any thicker. This will allow you to breathe easier.

Tip Number Three: Make sure your immunizations are completely up-to-date. Immunizations are important for cystic fibrosis patients to help prevent lung infections. You should have immunizations for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, and flu and pneumonia. If you have a child with CF, it's important to keep their immunization schedule current.

Tip Number Four: You should stay active! You should try to get some form of physical exercise every day. Regular exercise will strengthen your lungs and increase your air capacity. If regular participation in sports is exercise is new for you, always check with your doctor before beginning an exercise routine. Taking a walk each day is helpful. Start out with a walk around the block and increase the distance, as your body is able. Even a slow walk is better than no exercise at all. Taking part in a sport may also increase your confidence and self-esteem.

Tip Number Five: Stop smoking! Stay away from environments that are smoke-filled. Smoking and second-hand smoke can cause added lung problems for a patient with cystic fibrosis. Smoking and second hand smoke are bad for all of us but especially for a child or adult with cystic fibrosis.

Tip Number Six: Practice good hygiene habits. This will limit your exposure to germs and bacteria that can make your disease worse and give you more breathing difficulties. Always wash your hands thoroughly especially after using the rest room and visiting your doctor's office. Touching public devices such as elevators, grocery cart handles, and public telephones will mean you will want to wash your hands thoroughly. Carrying a bottle of waterless cleanser can keep you healthier by eliminating germ and bacteria on your hands.