How to completely cure bronchiectasis?

Written by Li Tao
Pulmonology
Updated on January 29, 2025
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Bronchiectasis refers to the inflammation and fibrosis of the bronchi and surrounding lung tissue due to various causes, ultimately leading to the destruction of the muscular and elastic tissue of the bronchial walls. This causes the bronchi to become deformed and permanently dilated, commonly referred to as bronchiectasis. The most common clinical symptoms of bronchiectasis include coughing, production of phlegm, and coughing up blood. When treating bronchiectasis, the first step is to treat the symptoms, such as administering treatments to reduce phlegm, fight infection, and stop bleeding. If the patient continues to experience symptoms repeatedly after these treatments, we may recommend surgical intervention, if the patient's condition allows, to remove the dilated bronchi, thereby achieving the goal of cure.

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Written by Yang Feng
Pulmonology
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Can bronchiectasis be treated with nebulization?

Patients with bronchiectasis can undergo nebulized inhalation, and nebulized inhalation has a very good therapeutic effect for the treatment of bronchiectasis. Commonly used nebulized medications include budesonide suspension and terbutaline nebulizer solution, among others. These medications work to dilate the bronchi and relieve airway spasms. For patients with excessive phlegm, these treatments can promote expectoration. They are also very effective for patients with bronchiectasis-caused breathing difficulties. Furthermore, there is now literature proving that inhaling budesonide suspension has a good anti-inflammatory effect on lower respiratory tract infections and helps in the absorption of inflammation.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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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.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Is bronchiectasis contagious?

Bronchiectasis is relatively common clinically and is caused by destruction of the bronchial wall due to various reasons, leading to abnormal dilation of the bronchi. Common symptoms include repeated coughing, coughing up phlegm, and even hemoptysis. It can be definitively stated that bronchiectasis itself is not contagious. Contact with a person with bronchiectasis will not result in contracting bronchiectasis. However, in some cases, care should be taken when coming into contact with bronchiectasis patients. For example, some cases of bronchiectasis are caused by pulmonary tuberculosis, known as tuberculous bronchiectasis. Since pulmonary tuberculosis is contagious, in this scenario, there is contagion. However, it is the tuberculosis that is contagious, not the bronchiectasis itself.

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Written by Li Tao
Pulmonology
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Bronchial dilation diagnostic methods

Bronchiectasis refers to the inflammation of the bronchi and surrounding lung tissue caused by various diseases and etiologies. This inflammation leads to the destruction of the muscles and some elastic tissues of the bronchial walls, resulting in the deformation and persistent dilation of the bronchi, which cannot recover, collectively known as bronchiectasis. The definitive diagnosis of bronchiectasis is most commonly based on clear clinical symptoms such as significant coughing, phlegm production, and hemoptysis; secondly, cystic and cylindrical dilations in the patient’s bronchi can be clearly seen through chest CT and high-resolution CT, allowing for a direct diagnosis of bronchiectasis.

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Written by Yang Feng
Pulmonology
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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.