
How Is Bronchiectasis Diagnosed?
The diagnostic process for bronchiectasis is a key step in treatment for this condition. Read on to learn more.
Home » Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is a progressive lung disease that causes damage to the airways in your lungs. With this disease, the airways grow stiffer and develop scarring, which interrupts the ability for your lungs to clear out mucus. As a result, this mucus builds up in the lungs, causing breathing difficulties and potentially causing inflammation and the development of other serious lung conditions.
As bronchiectasis inhibits your body’s ability to take in the necessary amounts of oxygen, it becomes more difficult to take part in the activities you love. As the disease progresses, it may even become too difficult to do something as simple as walking without losing your breath.
Like many chronic lung conditions, bronchiectasis has no cure. However, medical treatment can help reduce the severity of its symptoms and assist in slowing the progression of the disease
Since bronchiectasis is a chronic disease, its symptoms may develop slowly over time. However, they can also develop quickly, depending on the nature of your condition.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you should seek medical assistance immediately. Catching the disease in its earlier stages allows more treatment possibilities for controlling the symptoms and slowing its progression.
Bronchiectasis typically occurs as a result of your immune system’s reaction to a perceived threat in your airways. This reaction is usually a form of inflammation.
Inflammation goes away on its own in many cases, but when it does not it can cause permanent damage to the airways of your lungs. The scarring from the inflammation causes your airways to lose elasticity and grow wider, which leads to the mucus buildup.
It is difficult to identify the exact causes of bronchiectasis in many cases, but it is known to have been linked with the following:
Cystic fibrosis is the most common cause of bronchiectasis, but if you don’t have this disease, you should still seek medical attention immediately when you experience the symptoms of bronchiectasis. Ignoring your symptoms can result in further scarring and damage and, potentially, another chronic lung condition.
Diagnosing your bronchiectasis early is important for developing an effective treatment. As part of your diagnosis, your physician will perform a series of physical tests and examinations. He or she will also review your medical history and discuss your health and wellness and any smoking habits you may have had in your lifetime.
Some of the tests your physician may order to accurately diagnose bronchiectasis include:
Since there is no cure for bronchiectasis, treatment aims to slow the disease’s progression and manage the severity of its symptoms. Treatment varies depending on the individual factors, such as the severity of the condition and the patient’s age, overall health and any smoking habits.
If you’re a smoker, the first step of treatment is to quit smoking. Quitting helps reduce the amount of irritation that may be causing your bronchiectasis.
In cases of cystic fibrosis and other lung diseases, it is difficult to predict and prevent bronchiectasis.
If you do not smoke or have quit smoking, you greatly reduce your chances of developing bronchiectasis.
Furthermore, if you work in an environment with a lot of dust, chemicals, smoke and asbestos, you need to wear proper safety equipment. Wearing the right equipment and following proper safety measures should help reduce your chances of developing lung disease.
Do you need to speak with a medical professional about your symptoms of bronchiectasis? Contact us today at the Lung Health Institute to schedule your free consultation to discover your treatment options.
Fill out this form to learn more about your cellular therapy options
The diagnostic process for bronchiectasis is a key step in treatment for this condition. Read on to learn more.
Learn more about the symptoms of bronchiectasis and treatment options that can offer relief from this debilitating condition.
This easy-to-understand guide can help you gain a better understanding of bronchiectasis and how it affects lung function.
Learn more about bronchiectasis, a condition characterized by thickening and inflammation of the breathing tubes in the lungs.
Speak with a patient coordinator today to learn more about lung disease treatments. Call (866) 681-7852
Find out if you’re a candidate.
Every day the Lung Health Institute is changing people’s lives. Our duty and obligation is to help our patients, and we know we are doing something special for them. We measure our success by our patients’ success and their satisfaction with our services and the care they receive from our dedicated staff.
*For more information, go to theLungHealthInstitute.com/Results.
© Copyright 2019 Lung Health Institute, LLC | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use