Home Care
As cystic fibrosis affects the digestive system, the patients start to lose weight even when they eat enough calories. Coughing and fighting with infections also take up calories, which makes the patient look tired and drained. Therefore, the patient should be given a healthy high-calorie diet to maintain a healthy weight and give body energy reserves to fight the infection better. Based on the patients’ age, weight, and health, the dietician designs a diet plan with the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. There is some home care that a patient of cystic fibrosis should follow.
Exercise
Multiple exercise programs need to be individualized, depending upon the age and health status of the person. There are fitness plans that include stretching exercises, aerobic training, and resistance training. The sessions usually are 5 to 10 minutes long at the start, and then they build up to 20-30 minutes. These exercises help make the body stronger and should be followed for the long term to increase the intensity of workouts as they get stronger. For a child, speak to the pulmonologist first to get a better sense of the child’s limitations and know which activities will be better for them.