Is bronchiectasis dangerous?

Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 20, 2024
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Whether bronchiectasis is dangerous depends on the extent of the patient's bronchiectasis and whether they have other comorbidities. If the patient's bronchiectasis is relatively limited and actively treated, they can still survive for a long time. Clinically, we often see elderly people in their seventies or eighties with bronchiectasis, but their medical history can often span decades and even trace back to childhood. In such cases, bronchiectasis does not pose a significant danger to their lifespan. However, if the bronchiectasis is more extensive and has damaged lung function, it can lead to respiratory failure, pulmonary heart disease, and other dangerous conditions, possibly resulting in death. Additionally, bronchiectasis can cause severe hemoptysis. If severe hemoptysis occurs suddenly, it is generally difficult to rescue in time, severely affecting their prognosis and can cause death within a short time, within minutes.

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Written by Yang Feng
Pulmonology
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Can people with bronchiectasis eat lamb?

Patients with bronchiectasis can eat mutton, as in traditional Chinese medicine, mutton is considered a warming and tonifying food. It generally benefits conditions like cold-induced cough, chronic bronchitis, and deficiency-cold asthma. Patients with bronchiectasis, who often suffer from repeated lung infections and have lower immune function, are generally weaker, so consuming an appropriate amount of mutton can be beneficial. However, it should not be consumed in excess as mutton can cause heatiness or indigestion, which are particularly detrimental for individuals with bronchiectasis.

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Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
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Where to massage for bronchial dilation?

There is no definite efficacy for the treatment of bronchiectasis with massage therapy. Generally, the main measure for bronchiectasis is to prevent respiratory infections. Bronchiectasis often presents symptoms of coughing up purulent sputum and may be accompanied by chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and hemoptysis. In patients with bronchiectasis, respiratory infections may exacerbate these symptoms. Therefore, preventing respiratory infections is crucial for bronchiectasis. Additionally, if the patient has obvious coughing and expectoration, mucolytic medications can be used to facilitate expectoration. If the patient experiences chest tightness and difficulty breathing, inhaling bronchodilators can help improve these conditions. For patients with bronchiectasis, if the lesions are localized and recurrent infections or hemoptysis occur, surgical treatment may also be considered.

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Written by Yang Feng
Pulmonology
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What to do if bronchiectasis causes chest tightness?

Patients with bronchiectasis often experience chest tightness, usually due to infections and a decline in lung function, so an initial effective pulmonary imaging examination is necessary. If an infection is present, actively controlling the infection can alleviate symptoms. Furthermore, lung function tests should be further refined. If there is concomitant ventilatory dysfunction and reduced lung function, inhaling bronchodilators or corticosteroids can improve symptoms. Since bronchiectasis is incurable once diagnosed, effective prevention is also very important. In summary, the causes of chest tightness in bronchiectasis are infections and decreased lung function.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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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 Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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Symptoms of bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis exhibits many symptoms, but the most common are chronic cough and sputum production. The amount of sputum in bronchiectasis can vary greatly from person to person, and to some extent, it can reflect the severity of the condition. Some patients may have significant coughing and sputum production, with sputum amounts reaching over one hundred milliliters per day. In others, the condition may be more stable, with only a few milliliters of sputum per day. Additionally, patients with bronchiectasis may experience hemoptysis, which often recurs and can manifest as blood-streaked sputum, minor bleeding, or sudden severe bleeding. Significant bleeding can be particularly dangerous, potentially leading to death within minutes. Bronchiectasis can also cause recurrent lung infections and chronic long-term infection, which may be accompanied by fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia, and other symptoms.