You have been diagnosed with bronchiectasis. This occurs when your bronchial tubes (the tubes that carry air in your lungs) become wider than normal. When the airways are wider than normal, they can become blocked with mucus. When this happens, infection can occur. You are most likely to get bronchiectasis if you have cystic fibrosis or another lung disease. It can also be caused by smoking, breathing in foreign objects such as food, or lung infections that keep coming back. Here’s what you can do to feel better.
How to say it
brong-kee-EHK-tuh-suhs
Break the smoking habit
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Enroll in a stop-smoking program to increase your chances of success.
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Ask your healthcare provider about medicines or other methods to help you quit.
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Ask family members and friends to quit smoking as well.
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Don’t allow smoking in your home, car, or around you.
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In public places, stay away from secondhand smoke.
Other home care
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Learn percussion and postural drainage. Do it
2 to 3 times a day. Ask your healthcare provider for directions. -
Learn to do controlled breathing. Ask your healthcare provider for directions.
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Take your medicine exactly as directed. Don’t skip doses or take double doses.
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Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
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Exercise within your healthcare provider's guidelines.
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Unless told otherwise, drink at least
8 glasses of fluid every day to thin mucus and secretions. -
Stay at a healthy weight. Ask your provider for help to lose any extra pounds.
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Get a flu shot every year. Ask your healthcare provider about pneumonia vaccines.
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Stay away from allergens, pollution, and dust.
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Get medical care right away for infections.
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Think about installing a home air-conditioning system with a filter and humidity control.
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Consider joining a support group or seeing a professional counselor. People with chronic lung conditions are more likely to have depression and anxiety.
Follow-up care
Talk with your healthcare provider about getting flu and pneumococcal vaccines. Make a follow-up appointment with your healthcare provider, or as advised.
Call 911
Call
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Chest pain or tightness in the chest
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Shortness of breath that doesn't get better after taking medicine
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Skin or lips are blue, purple, or gray in color
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Problems talking or swallowing
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Feeling faint
When to call your healthcare provider
Call your healthcare provider right away if any of the following occur:
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Fever of
100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider -
Yellow, green, bloody, or smelly mucus
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Symptoms that get worse or new symptoms
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More than normal amount of mucus
Online Medical Reviewer: Deborah Pedersen MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Jessica Gotwals BSN MPH
Online Medical Reviewer: Marianne Fraser MSN RN
Date Last Reviewed: 05/01/2022
© 2000-2025 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.Related Articles
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You have been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis. Here is how you can take care of yourself at home.
Treatment for Bronchiectasis
When you have bronchiectasis, the airways of the lungs become wider than normal. These airways are called bronchi and bronchioles. Over time the walls of the airways become thick and scarred. The damaged airways can’t clear mucus as well. Because of this, mucus builds up in the airways. This increases the risk for lung infections. Bronchiectasis is a long-term (chronic) condition.
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is a condition that affects the airways to the lungs. It's often caused by an infection or other inflammatory condition. You can also be born with it.
Acute Bronchitis
Follow up with your healthcare provider as you are told. You will likely feel better in a week or 2. But a dry cough can linger beyond that time. Let your healthcare provider know if you still have symptoms (other than a dry cough) after 2 weeks.
