How long can one live with bronchiectasis?

Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 06, 2024
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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.

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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 Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Does bronchiectasis cause nausea?

Bronchiectasis generally does not present with symptoms of nausea. Bronchiectasis primarily occurs when the body is infected with particular pathogenic microorganisms, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, atypical mycobacteria, or from childhood infections like measles or whooping cough that damage the cartilage of the trachea, causing the tracheal cartilage to fail in maintaining the normal shape of the trachea. Consequently, the trachea can become dilated due to the pulling by the surrounding lung tissue. Once diagnosed with bronchiectasis, the main symptoms displayed are coughing, coughing up phlegm, and some patients may also experience chest tightness and shortness of breath. Generally, it does not cause nausea. However, severe coughing or a significant amount of difficult-to-expel phlegm can lead to concurrent symptoms of nausea, but these are not directly caused by the disease itself, but rather by its complications. Therefore, appropriate treatment can significantly alleviate these symptoms.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
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How to check for bronchiectasis?

How to check for bronchiectasis: generally, corresponding physical examinations and laboratory tests are used for diagnosis. Early physical examinations may not show positive signs. When the condition is severe or secondary bacterial infection occurs, fixed and persistent moist rales can be heard in the affected areas. Some patients may show signs of oxygen deficiency, such as clubbing and cyanosis. During acute infections, routine blood tests will show increased white blood cell counts and neutrophil counts. Sputum examination may reveal elastic fibers and pus cells. A chest X-ray can show thickened and disordered lung periphery, and typical lesions may appear as honeycomb-like curly shadows.

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Written by Yang Feng
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How to exercise with bronchiectasis

Firstly, patients with bronchiectasis are not suitable for intense physical exercise, especially during the onset of the disease. They should rest appropriately instead of engaging in excessive exercise, as overexertion can lead to a further worsening of the condition. When the condition is stable, activities like walking, swimming, and brisk walking can be considered. However, the choice should be based on one's personal health status, and the exercise must be moderate. The intensity of the exercise should not be too high, nor should it be too exhausting, as excessive fatigue can also trigger the onset of the disease.

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Written by Li Tao
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Can bronchiectasis be cured?

Bronchiectasis refers to the deformation and persistent dilation of the bronchi due to various inflammations and fibrosis in the patient's bronchi and surrounding lung tissue, which destroys the surrounding muscles and elastic tissues. Bronchiectasis is treatable, and usually, symptomatic treatment and fundamental treatment targeting the cause can be employed. Symptomatic treatment involves anti-infection treatment for infections caused by the dilation. If the patient produces a large amount of phlegm, treatments to facilitate expectoration can be given. Additionally, if the patient's dilated bronchi repeatedly cause coughing, expectoration, and hemoptysis, and if internal medical treatment is ineffective, part of the dilated bronchi can be surgically removed to achieve therapeutic goals.