Exercise appears to reduce the long-term risk of bronchiectasis, a potentially serious disease of the airways, according to a study published in the journal Radiology.
Bronchiectasis is characterized by repeated cycles of inflammation and exacerbations that damage the airways, leaving them enlarged, scarred and less effective at clearing mucus. This creates an environment ripe for infections. Risk increases with age and the presence of underlying conditions like cystic fibrosis. There is no cure.
Computed tomography (CT) is used to confirm or rule out the disease in patients with symptoms like shortness of breath and coughing up mucus. Bronchiectasis has also been found on CT in asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic individuals.
Little is known about factors that can reduce the risk of bronchiectasis. While some studies have tied higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness to a reduced risk of declining lung function and airway diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, its benefits in reducing the risk of bronchiectasis are unknown.
That’s a very interesting article 2g. I was born with congenital heart disease, but not diagnosed until I was nearly 18. When I had the surgery my consultant said I was the healthiest patient he had ever operated on. I am sure that because we didn’t know about it I just did everything that all children did. Being the 40s and 50s I walked or rode my bike everywhere. The major problem was all the infectious diseases around that people barely remember these days, and I did manage to get most of them. However, now I have bronchiectasis which was diagnosed 10 years ago and probably caused by the bronchitis and whooping cough I had as a toddler. All my life I have kept up the walking, and after I stopped work, yoga and aquarobics. I have never smoked, although I have been a yo-yo dieter. I started using a mobility scooter about 10 years ago though. I have got much worse in the last year and now have severe heart failure but considering my complicated medical history I think it is remarkable that I shall be 78 in six weeks time. So yes, I think keeping yourself healthy, especially respitorily, must help people cope with these horrible illnesses!
i wish I 'd gone in for fitness at a much younger age. It didn't seem to matter when I was in my 30ies, but now......
It bears out that the radical and, some thought, barmy chest man who, in 1956, put a six year old child with severe bronchiectasis through a then unknown programme of physio therapy, breathing exercises, being marched up cliff paths, thrown into swimming pools and indoctrinated to believe that this was the way to have a full life was so right!I’m still here and I’m still giving it plenty.
I really do believe that not enough is made of pulmonary rehabilitation and exercise for all those with all lung conditions.
Hear hear Littlepom my wonderful physio has turned my life around. I would encourage any one with bronchiectasis to take part in pulmonary exercise it really does make a difference.
I went on a pulmonary rehabilitation course and thoroughly enjoyed it. I learnt a lot from speakers in the afternoons, exercised in the mornings, and met people with similar conditions, I had never met anyone with Bronch before and there was only one other in a group of 15, the rest being diagnosed with COPD in varying stages. You have a fitness test at the programme start and one at the concluding to see if your fitness levels have improved.unfortunately mine was halted as my one foot turned inwards and tripped me up! I had to explain that as a child I had weak ankles and had special shoes reinforced with iron in one, I am so used to a dodgy stance that I had forgotten to report it at the initial introduction.
Anyway, from what was observed, my levels had improved and I try at home to keep this up.
I still maintain that singing is the best exercise for me, and I do practise at home with my choir via Zoom.
As a bronchiectasis sufferer, perhaps now, with hindsight, playing lots of sports at school then afterwards when in my thirties onwards has helped me without my realising it.
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Chlorinated swimming pool and Bronchiectasis
