Bronchiectasis is a rare disease that affects people’s lungs.
With bronchiectasis, people’s airways (bronchial tubes) are damaged:
- Brochiectasis damages the tiny hairs (cilia) that line the inside of your airways. Damaged cilia can't do their job of sweeping dirt and mucus out of your lungs.
- With bronchiectasis, your airways widen and stretch out. In some places the airways are so stretched out they form little pockets. Germs, dust and mucus collect in these pockets and get stuck.
- After a while the germs, dust, and mucus that are stuck in your airways get infected. Your tiny hairs (cilia) can't sweep them away, so the infections keep coming back. People with bronchiectasis get many infections in their airways.
Bronchiectasis creates a vicious cycle: infections in airway pockets damage your airways, and when your airways are damaged you get more infections.
Bronchiectasis can’t be cured, but with the right treatment, most people with bronchiectasis can live relatively normal lives.
People with advanced cases of bronchiectasis can have more difficulty with day-to-day activities.
Other symptoms of bronchiectasis include:
- Feeling short of breath
- Chest pain
- Wheezing
- Coughing up blood
- Fever
- Weakness
- Weight loss
Preventing bronchiectasis
Some cases of bronchiectasis can’t be prevented. Other cases CAN be prevented by getting treatment for lung infections right away. Getting help right away means there is less chance for long-term lung damage. |
