Do I Have Bronchiectasis?

Do you have a daily cough that occurs over months or years?

Do you produce large amounts of sputum (spit) daily, which may contain mucus (a slimy substance), trapped particles, and pus (yellow or green mucus)?

Do you have shortness of breath that gets worse during flare-ups?

Do you feel run-down, tired or fatigued?

Do you have wheezing or whistling sound while you breathe?

Do you cough up blood or mucus mixed with blood?

Do you have a chest pain from increased effort to breathe?

Do you have fever and chills?

Do you have fingertips and toes that appear wider and rounder than normal or the thickening of the skin under nails (clubbing)?

Did you lose weight?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have bronchiectasis. The airways that bring air into the lungs are called the bronchi. Bronchiectasis is a lung disease characterized by the irreversible dilatation of the bronchial lumen. In people with bronchiectasis, the walls of the bronchi are thickened, less elastic and cannot effectively drain the mucus that is normally found in the airways. Over time, the bronchial lumen expands and mucus accumulates, creating ideal conditions for the development of infection. Bronchiectasis affects about 500,000 Americans, and it is more common in women than in men. The older adults have the higher risk of getting bronchiectasis.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis is a long-term lung disease in which the airways, called the bronchi, are permanently damaged, thickened and dilated. The mucus that accumulates in the airways cannot be drained properly, which results in breathing problems. Bronchiectasis usually occurs as a consequence of another lung disease, such as cystic fibrosis, but it can also be caused by repeated lung infections (pneumonia). However, in about 40 percent of cases, the exact cause of bronchiectasis is not known. A diagnosis is based on your medical history, blood tests, lung function tests and imaging tests (X-ray or CT scan).

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis is a pulmonary disorder characterized by damaged airways that become dilated and flaccid. The damaged airways gradually lose function causing difficulty breathing. Bronchiectasis can affect one or more sections of your lungs. Timely diagnosis and treatment are extremely important, and most people with bronchiectasis can live a quality life. The goal of treatment is to control the symptoms, prevent infections and flare-ups. Treatment includes medications, hydration and chest physical therapy. Some people may benefit from an oxygen therapy, while surgery may be recommended in the most severe cases.