This section is for information about Cystic Fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease.

Cystic Fibrosis affects over 8,000 people in the UK.

Over two million people in the UK carry the faulty gene that causes Cystic Fibrosis - around 1 in 25 of the population.

If two carriers have a child, the baby has a 1 in 4 chance of having Cystic Fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis affects the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, by clogging them with thick sticky mucus. This makes it hard to breathe and digest food.

Each week, five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis.

Each week, three young lives are lost to Cystic Fibrosis.

Average life expectancy is around 31 years, although improvements in treatments mean a baby born today could expect to live for longer.

Use the menu on the left to find out more details on the different aspects of Cystic Fibrosis.