Living With Bronchiectasis

If you have bronchiectasis, you should work closely with your doctor to develop self-management skills that can improve your quality of life. This means that you need to learn as much as you can about bronchiectasis and any underlying conditions that you have.

Avoiding respiratory infections should be a top priority. To do this:

• Have annual flu vaccinations
• Have pneumonia vaccinations as directed by your doctor
• Get regular aerobic exercise (walking and swimming, for example) to help loosen the mucus so it can be coughed up
• Eat a healthy diet
• Drink lots of fluids
• Wash your hands often
• Maintain a healthy weight.

Other things you can do to improve your condition include:

• Do not smoke
• Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke
• Avoid fumes and dust that can irritate your lungs