The manifestations of bronchiectasis

Written by Zou Zhong Lan
Pulmonology
Updated on September 10, 2024
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Bronchiectasis refers to the destruction of bronchial wall tissues caused by chronic inflammation of the bronchi and surrounding lung tissues. The lumen undergoes irreversible dilation and deformation. Some patients have a history of recurrent respiratory tract infections, mainly presenting with chronic coughing and coughing up large amounts of thick sputum. Many patients have a history of repeated hemoptysis, although the amount of blood is usually small. There can be blood in the sputum or slight bleeding, and it can also manifest as a large amount of blood, potentially life-threatening. In the affected areas, fixed and persistent localized wet rales can be heard.

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Written by Zou Zhong Lan
Pulmonology
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The manifestations of bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis refers to the destruction of bronchial wall tissues caused by chronic inflammation of the bronchi and surrounding lung tissues. The lumen undergoes irreversible dilation and deformation. Some patients have a history of recurrent respiratory tract infections, mainly presenting with chronic coughing and coughing up large amounts of thick sputum. Many patients have a history of repeated hemoptysis, although the amount of blood is usually small. There can be blood in the sputum or slight bleeding, and it can also manifest as a large amount of blood, potentially life-threatening. In the affected areas, fixed and persistent localized wet rales can be heard.

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Written by Yang Feng
Pulmonology
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Is bronchiectasis easy to treat?

Firstly, bronchiectasis is incurable, but its treatability cannot be judged solely by whether it can be cured or not. Some bronchiectasis patients have no clinical symptoms, and such patients do not need treatment. They only need regular check-ups and to maintain proper lifestyle habits. However, for patients who experience frequent disease attacks, strict prevention is necessary to avoid triggers such as infections and fatigue. Using sensitive medications during disease flare-ups can also lead to improvement.

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Written by Zou Zhong Lan
Pulmonology
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How is bronchiectasis treated?

The treatment of bronchiectasis mainly includes medical treatment and surgical treatment. Medical treatment primarily aims to control infection and promote the drainage of sputum. Antibiotics are crucial for controlling infections, initially based on empirical therapy. Adjustments can be made accordingly if results from sputum culture and drug sensitivity tests are available. Secondly, to promote sputum drainage, we can use postural drainage or mechanical vibration to expel sputum. Expectorant medications such as ambroxol and bromhexine, or nebulized inhalation therapy may also be utilized. Thirdly, bronchodilators can be used to relieve asthma symptoms and ease the patient's discomfort. If the patient has hemoptysis, hemostatic treatment should be provided. Surgical treatment is primarily considered for patients with localized bronchiectasis and when medical treatment is ineffective, in which case surgical resection may be considered.

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Written by Yang Feng
Pulmonology
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What tea is good for bronchiectasis?

Patients with bronchiectasis do not have special requirements for drinking tea; they can generally drink green tea, black tea, etc. These teas contain a higher amount of tea polyphenols, which have antioxidant and antibacterial effects and can also promote the body's metabolism. These are beneficial to patients with bronchiectasis. However, it is not recommended to drink excessively, especially before bedtime, as it may lead to insomnia or digestive system disorders. In summary, drinking green tea and black tea has certain benefits for patients with bronchiectasis.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 51sec home-news-image

How long can one live with bronchiectasis?

This question is actually very difficult to answer because no doctor can predict exactly how long their patient will live. They can only provide a general prognosis of the disease. Bronchiectasis is relatively a benign condition. The prognosis for most patients depends mainly on the severity of the bronchiectasis and their comorbidities, among other factors. Generally, if a patient’s bronchiectasis is not very severe and mild, and does not affect lung function or is not compounded by other underlying diseases, they might experience long-term, recurrent coughing and sputum production, requiring long-term hospitalization. However, if they do not experience acute complications associated with bronchiectasis, such as asphyxiation caused by hemoptysis, then actually they can live for a long time. There are many patients who are in their seventies or eighties and frequently admitted to the hospital. When asked how long they have had bronchiectasis, their condition might span over forty or fifty years, or even longer. This means that patients with bronchiectasis can live for a long time, provided their condition is relatively stable and they don’t suffer from acute complications such as severe bleeding or asphyxiation. However, if the bronchiectasis is severe, or unfortunately, even if the bronchiectasis isn’t very severe, if a patient suffers from major hemoptysis, it can cause asphyxiation rapidly leading to death within minutes. Therefore, it is impossible for doctors to predict exactly how long each patient will live.