What is Cystic Fibrosis (CF)?
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems. A defective gene causes the body to produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. These thick secretions also obstruct the pancreas, preventing digestive enzymes from reaching the intestines that help break down and absorb food. There are approximately 30,000 people in the United States with CF and more around the world. As of 2003, the median age of survival for people with CF in the U.S. is in the early to mid 30s. While there is currently no cure, the number of people with CF living active adult lives continues to grow. Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Commitment to CF Care Dartmouth-Hitchcock (D-H) provides care to people with CF at both its Lebanon and Manchester sites. To accommodate and coordinate CF care at these sites, D-H has created the New Hampshire Cystic Fibrosis Center. The New Hampshire Cystic Fibrosis Center’s mission
