Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung condition where the walls of your airways (bronchi) widen and are thickened from inflammation and infection. Early diagnosis and treatment of bronchiectasis and any underlying condition is important for preventing further damage to your lungs.

Learn About Bronchiectasis - Key Facts

• Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition where the lung’s airways become permanently damaged and widened.
• Bronchiectasis affects 350,000 to 500,000 adults in the United States. The risk of developing bronchiectasis increases with age.
• Bronchiectasis is more common in women than in men; and older adults are at increased risk.
• Although there is no cure for bronchiectasis, getting the correct treatment as early as possible can help you have the best possible quality of life.

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Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disease causing your airways, called bronchi, to become damaged and widened over time. There is no cure but getting on the right treatment path will help you manage your disease, avoid flare-ups and live your best life. Watch Video 

How Bronchiectasis Affects Your Body

Each time you breathe, air travels within your lungs through airways called bronchi. When you have bronchiectasis your airway walls (bronchi) become irreversibly thickened and damaged. As more walls become scarred, the bronchi are no longer able to effectively drain normal secretions, so mucus builds up and becomes a breeding ground for germs. This creates a vicious cycle of inflammation and infection that can damage your lungs. Bronchiectasis may occur throughout your lung or only in certain airways. The more widespread the damage, the more serious the disease.

What Causes Bronchiectasis?

Although the cause of bronchiectasis is not known in about 40% of the cases, it is often brought on by damage from another condition that affects the lungs. An airway blockage, like a growth or a noncancerous tumor, can lead to bronchiectasis. Though it is often linked to cystic fibrosis, many other conditions can trigger bronchiectasis such as:

• Autoimmune disease
• Immunodeficiency disorders, such as HIV or diabetes
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency which can cause COPD in some people
• Diseases that affect the cilia, the small, hair-like structures that line your airways and whose main function is to clear mucus
• Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis
• Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis which is a type of allergic lung inflammation of the airways
• Chronic pulmonary aspiration, problems with swallowing that cause food or fluids to get into the lungs and leads to inflamed airways

Recurring infections that can cause damage to the airway walls include:

• Pneumonia
• Pertussis (Whooping cough)
• Tuberculosis
• Fungal infections

Bronchiectasis Symptoms and Diagnosis - What Are the Symptoms of Bronchiectasis?

Symptoms of bronchiectasis can take months or years to develop and gradually become worse. The two primary symptoms are:

•  A daily cough that occurs for at least eight weeks 
• Daily production of mucus (sputum). 

Other symptoms typically include:

• Coughing up yellow or green mucus daily
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue, feeling run-down or tired
• Fevers and/or chills
• Wheezing or whistling sound while you breathe
• Chest pain
• Clubbing, or the thickening of the skin under fingernails and toenails

A less common symptom that may develop over time is coughing up blood or mucus mixed with blood, a condition called hemoptysis.

Top Five Bronchiectasis Facts You Need to Know

People living with this disease share insight into diagnosis and living with this disease. Read the blog

How Is Bronchiectasis Diagnosed?

Bronchiectasis is an under-diagnosed condition with many patients being incorrectly diagnosed with other lung diseases. Early diagnosis is important to prevent further lung damage. If your healthcare provider suspects bronchiectasis, they will want a detailed family history and blood tests to determine whether you may have an underlying condition that could cause bronchiectasis. These blood tests can also tell your healthcare provider if you have low levels of infection-fighting blood cells.
Other assessments that your healthcare team may recommend:

• A chest X-ray or CT scan are the most common ways to diagnose bronchiectasis. Both tests create detailed images of your lungs, heart or airways.
• Lung function tests can determine how well your lungs are working.
• A sputum culture can tell your provider if bacteria are in your lungs.
• A sweat test may be ordered to determine if you have cystic fibrosis.

In severe cases when bronchiectasis isn’t responding to treatment, doctors may recommend a bronchoscopy. This flexible, narrow tube is inserted into the airways to help find blockages and sources of infection.

When to See Your Healthcare Provider

If you have not been diagnosed with a respiratory disease and have a daily cough, daily production of mucus, or any respiratory symptoms that concern you.
If you have been diagnosed with another respiratory condition and your symptoms are not well managed with your current treatment plan.
Once you have been diagnosed with bronchiectasis, you should see your healthcare provider for regularly scheduled visits.
If you are coughing up blood or have severe shortness of breath it is considered a medical emergency and you should seek help immediately.

Treating and Managing Bronchiectasis - How Is Bronchiectasis Treated?

The goal of bronchiectasis treatment is to treat any underlying conditions, prevent lung infections, remove excess mucus, and prevent flare-ups, also called exacerbations. This is done with a combination of medication, hydration and airway clearing techniques with a goal to prevent any further damage to the airways.

Medication Specific for Bronchiectasis
Antibiotics
Other Medications
Mucus Thinning
Airway Clearance Devices and Chest Physical Therapy
Airway Clearance Techniques
Other Treatment Options

How to Manage Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition, meaning it will not go away; however, it can be well managed. It is important to follow the treatment plan established by your healthcare provider. You should also work closely with your healthcare provider to determine healthy habits that will help manage your symptoms and decrease the risk of flare-ups. To better manage your disease:

• Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
• Avoid air pollution and other toxic fumes.
• Maintain a healthy diet, low in sodium, added sugars, saturated fats and refined grains.
• Stay hydrated, drinking plenty of water to help prevent mucus build-up.
• Take your prescribed oral and inhaled medications as directed by your provider and perform mucus clearance techniques daily.
• Stay up to date on recommended vaccinations.
• Take antibiotics as prescribed by your healthcare provider during flare-ups.
• Stay active and talk to your provider about what activity is right for you.

Despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle, occasional flare-ups may occur. This often happens because of a new respiratory infection or overgrowth of bacteria. Symptoms such as increased mucus (sputum)  that is bloody or a different color, fever, fatigue, weight loss and worsening shortness of breath may be a sign you’re experiencing a flare-up. In these instances, you should contact your healthcare provider right away to discuss further treatment options.

Finding Support

The Lung Association recommends patients and caregivers join our Living with Lung Disease Support Community, Patient & Caregiver Network or a Better Breathers Club to connect with others facing this disease. You can also call the Lung Association's Lung Helpline at 1-800-LUNGUSA to talk to a trained respiratory professional who can help answer your questions and connect you with support. Learn More 

Newly Diagnosed with Bronchiectasis - Take These Important First Steps

• It is helpful to learn about bronchiectasis, what your treatment options are and how it is managed.
• Talk to your healthcare provider about your diagnosis to better understand how it will impact your life and what steps you can take to ensure you have the best quality of life.
• Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition without a cure, so starting the right treatment will help you have the best possible health outcomes.

Featured Resource: Health Journal

Use this fillable digital health journal to help achieve your wellness goals. If you have been diagnosed with bronchiectasis, call the Lung HelpLine 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872 and press 2) to have this FREE journal mailed to you or download here. Get Journal

Take Care of Yourself

Staying healthy when you are living with a chronic lung disease is important so that your condition does not get worse and you decrease the risk of damaging your lungs. You should talk to your healthcare provider to ensure you understand what your treatment plan is and how often you should see your provider to best manage your disease. Ask your provider to explain how any medications you are prescribed will help you and make sure you understand what side effects to expect so you can better manage them. If your provider is recommending airway clearance techniques, also called mucus clearing, make sure you understand what this means and how to do it.
You can take these actions to following a healthy lifestyle:

• Quit smoking and avoid exposure to tobacco smoke.
• Avoid exposure to unhealthy air, both indoors and outdoors.
• Choose healthy foods.
• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Talk to your healthcare provider about how much fluid is right for you.
• Avoid respiratory infections through hand washing, staying away from others who are sick and getting vaccinations that are recommended by your healthcare provider.
• Stay active.  Talk to your healthcare provider about what activity is right for you.

 Connect with Others

No person facing a chronic lung disease should go through it alone.  There are online and in-person support groups available.  Finding a group early in your journey will provide you with more opportunities to get information about your disease, empower you to better manage your disease and give you the support you need.

• Living with Lung Disease Community (online support community)
• Better Breathers Clubs (in-person or virtual support groups)
• Patient & Caregivers Network

Lung HelpLine

You can also call the Lung Association's Lung Helpline at 1-800-LUNGUSA to talk to a trained respiratory professional who can help answer your questions about bronchiectasis and connect you with support. Contact the HELPLINE 
Source: https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/bronchiectasis