Cystic Fibrosis
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LearningTranscript
00:00Give me a sec, Moby.
00:06My asthma is acting up.
00:13I'm not calling you coach.
00:21Dear Tim and Moby, I have cystic fibrosis and kids always ask me what it is.
00:27Could you make a movie about it so I don't have to explain CF a million more times?
00:31Thanks, Savannah.
00:34I totally get where you're coming from.
00:36We'd be happy to help you out.
00:38Cystic fibrosis might sound pretty scary, but people with CF can do most things anyone
00:43else can.
00:46CF does cause respiratory problems.
00:50People get winded more easily and have trouble breathing sometimes.
00:53You might also notice that they cough, like a lot.
00:57At times, the coughing fits can be pretty bad, but cystic fibrosis is not at all contagious.
01:04Those respiratory problems come from thickening of mucus in the lungs.
01:09That's a sticky fluid our bodies make to protect and lubricate our organs.
01:13In our lungs, it captures unhealthy stuff like germs and bacteria.
01:18When we cough it up, out go those harmful microbes.
01:24Mucus is usually super slick and slippery.
01:27In people with cystic fibrosis, it's much thicker, almost like glue.
01:32The stickier mucus clogs airways and makes it difficult to breathe.
01:36It also traps a lot more germs, but it's way, way harder to expel.
01:41So lung infections from chest colds to pneumonia are more common.
01:45That's why classmates with cystic fibrosis are often out sick.
01:51The thicker mucus comes from a problem with a cell protein called CFTR.
01:56It's part of cell membranes throughout the body.
01:59CFTR controls the flow of water into and out of the cell.
02:03When CFTR is working properly, mucus around the cell is fluid and runny.
02:08But when the protein is missing or malfunctioning, water stays trapped inside the cells.
02:13As a result, mucus is starved of water, and it becomes thick and sticky.
02:18Unfortunately, cystic fibrosis doesn't only affect the lungs.
02:24It also limits the function of the pancreas, an organ that helps you absorb nutrients.
02:28Normally, the pancreas releases digestive enzymes into the small intestine.
02:33The enzymes break food down into the nutrients our bodies need.
02:37In people with CF, thick mucus blocks the tubes that deliver the enzymes.
02:42So nutrients stay trapped inside the food.
02:46Yeah, kids with cystic fibrosis often struggle with malnutrition.
02:51They tend to be on the smaller side and have trouble gaining weight.
02:55Eating plenty of snacks can boost their energy levels.
02:58They also take enzyme pills to help them digest.
03:02For their lungs, they do daily treatments to keep the airways clear.
03:07Machines called nebulizers thin mucus out.
03:11They deliver medicine in mist form straight into the lungs.
03:16Special vibrating vests also break up the mucus.
03:21Anyway, loosening all that gummy mucus is good news for the lungs.
03:28Nebulizers and vests make it easier to hack it all out.
03:31That helps keep infections away and makes breathing a lot easier.
03:38Go nuts, Moby.
03:40Remember, cystic fibrosis isn't contagious.
03:44It's genetic.
03:45That means it's passed down from parents to kids.
03:52Actually, kids with CF rarely have parents with it, too.
03:56More often, the parents are both carriers.
03:59That means they have one gene that's normal and one CF gene.
04:03You get one gene from each parent, and which one you get is random.
04:07You only need one normal copy to ensure your CFTR proteins work properly.
04:12So even if both parents are carriers, it's only a one in four chance that any
04:16child will have cystic fibrosis.
04:21Testing to see if you're a carrier is crazy expensive.
04:24There are more than 1,000 mutations that can cause CF.
04:28That's why we need all the help we can to find a cure.
04:33You can volunteer at organizations like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
04:37They organize events to raise money for treatment and research.
04:41In our lifetimes, we might just beat cystic...
04:43Settle down, Moby.
04:49You're going to get a technical.
04:53Sorry, ref.
04:54I got this.
05:02Come on, guys.
05:04Let's see some hustle.
05:07Hustle.