Did Chopin Have Cystic Fibrosis?
#spacer{clear:left}#abc #sidebar{margin-top:1.5em}if(zs>0){zSB(3,3)}else{gEI(“spacer”).style.display=’none’;gEI(“sidebar”).style.display=’none’} 19th century Polish-French composer Frederic Chopin died at the young age of 39. The generally accepted explanation for his death was that he succumbed to tuberculosis, but speculation has arisen in the last decade or so that Chopin may actually have suffered from cystic fibrosis. The argument makes sense when you put the pieces together. Historical accounts of Chopins health condition do fit the profile of CF. He was 57, weighed a mere 140 pounds, and battled lung disease from early childhood. The fact that he fathered no children has led to suspicion that he may have been infertile. He also had a sister who died of lung disease in her teens. Recently, some of Polands medical experts have filed a request to do testing on Chopins heart, which is preserved in an urn of cognac, to see if it contains a CFTR mutation. The request has spawned quite
