Cystic fibrosis primarily affects the lungs and digestive system, but respiratory problems cause the most serious complications for those suffering from the disease. This life-threatening, genetic condition causes thick mucus to build up in the body’s organs, especially the lungs and pancreas. The cells responsible for producing mucus, sweat, and digestive juices change the consistency […]

For patients with the life-threatening genetic respiratory disorder known as cystic fibrosis (CF), daily treatment routines often mean a life of inconvenience and discomfort. For UAB Medicine patient Mark Sleeper, however, CF is no longer a matter of constant care. Major advances in drug therapy at the UAB Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center gave Sleeper what he calls “a completely normal life.”