Bronchiectasis is an uncommon disease. Bronchiectasis is a disorder of the airways within the lungs. Bronchiectasis affects adults, children and infants. Bronchiectasis is often caused by recurrent inflammation or infection of the airways. It may be present at birth, but most often begins in childhood as a complication from infection or inhaling a foreign object. Cystic fibrosis causes about 50% of all bronchiectasis in the United States today. Bronchiectasis can be caused by many things such as Infections that damage the airways, Something blocking off part the airways, for example, a piece of food stuck in the airway ,Cystic fibrosis and Diseases that affects the tiny hairs (cilia) inside the airways. Symptoms often develop gradually, and may occur months or years after the event that causes the bronchiectasis.
About 1 in 3 people with bronchiectasis also have chronic (persistent) sinusitis. The most common symptom of bronchiectasis is a cough that’s chronic (it doesn’t go away) and productive. Fatigue, weight loss, shortness of breath and abnormal chest sounds can also occur. Some people with bronchiectasis also have chronic sinusitis. Bronchiectasis causes people to cough up large amounts of mucus. The mucus is sometimes yellow or green and it sometimes smells bad. Treatment is aimed at controlling infections and bronchial secretions, relieving airway obstruction, and preventing complications. Antibiotics, bronchodilators, and expectorants are often prescribed for infections. Surgery may be an option if you have a small local area of lung damage causing symptoms.
Bronchiectasis Treatment and Prevention Tips
1. Not smoking and avoiding second-hand smoke.
2. Eating a balanced diet
3. Physiotherapy is thought to be an important part of treatment.
4. Mucus thinners thin your mucus to make it easier to cough it up.
5. Corticosteroids work slowly to reduce the swelling in your airways.
6. Daily exercise such as running, walking, swimming, dancing, aerobics, etc, helps to clear the mucus
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