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Experts share their tips about bronchiectasis
Getting the correct treatment for bronchiectasis, a chronic lung condition affecting 350,000 to 500,000 nationwide, is necessary to slow disease progression and help prevent further damage to the airways.
The American Lung Association, with support from Boehringer Ingelheim, is raising awareness about the need for early diagnosis and treatment of bronchiectasis. Here are the top things to know: Bronchiectasis is chronic. Bronchiectasis is a lifelong, progressive lung condition where the walls of your airways (bronchi) are permanently damaged, becoming widened and thickened from inflammation and infection. Getting the correct treatment as early as possible can help improve health outcomes and quality of life.
Diagnosis is often delayed. Two of bronchiectasis’s hallmark symptoms are daily cough and daily production of mucus. Because these symptoms, along with shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain, can mirror other lung conditions, bronchiectasis may have a delayed diagnosis. Further complicating matters, people often have bronchiectasis along with other lung conditions. However, it requires a separate diagnosis and its own specialized treatment. Nellie R. has had asthma since childhood and started having repeated infections as an adult.
“After being prescribed inhalers and other medications to treat infections, I realized that something wasn’t right.
Having my bronchiectasis mistaken for other lung conditions made me realize you have to advocate for yourself when you know you aren’t getting better,” she says.
Disease management is critical.
People with bronchiectasis often fall into a cycle where a respiratory infection triggers airway inflammation, which then causes further lung damage. To interrupt this cycle, follow your treatment plan: take medication as prescribed, utilize learned airway clearance techniques and take steps to reduce flare-up risk.
Jean R. was diagnosed with bronchiectasis after already living with and being treated for COPD. When it comes to managing both she says, “I manage my COPD, see my pulmonologist regularly and check in to make sure that my bronchiectasis is not progressing.”
You can decrease your risk of flareups. While you can’t control everything about your environment and health, there are steps you can take to help prevent bronchiectasis flare-ups.
These include:
• Avoiding exposure to toxic fumes
• Staying healthy by avoiding those sick with respiratory infections and keeping up to date with recommended vaccinations
• Staying hydrated to help thin your mucus
• Following your treatment plan
• Leading a healthy lifestyle Nellie works closely with her pulmonologist to stay on top of her treatment plan.
“It’s important to find out from a specialist what your medications are and why they are important to take. I am able to stay active and do things I enjoy. I follow my treatment plan.”
There are many causes. Although the cause of bronchiectasis is not known in about 40% of cases, it is often brought on by damage from another condition that affects the lungs.
An airway blockage, like a growth or noncancerous tumor, can lead to bronchiectasis.
— Statepoint
