Bronchiectasis will affect around one in 200 adults in the UK
Bronchiectasis is a condition that damages the lungs and airways, causing the body to produce a lot of phlegm, which can cause a range of other issues. As a result, it has some peculiar symptoms that may not seem related to the lungs.
According to Asthma + Lung UK, rounded fingertips, also known as clubbing, can be an early warning sign of the condition. This condition causes your fingertips to swell, creating a more rounded or clubbed look around the fingernails.
Clubbing usually occurs due to chronic low blood-oxygen levels caused by lung diseases like bronchiectasis. The charity notes that bronchiectasis affects around one in 200 adults in the UK.
Lung conditions like bronchiectasis also put extra pressure on the muscles in your bladder, bottom and pelvic floor. As a result, people with this condition might experience incontinence too, likely peeing or pooing a little whenever they exert themselves, such as coughing or laughing.
Other symptoms of bronchiectasis include:
- Regular cough with sputum
- Repeated chest infections
- Breathlessness
- Fatigue
- Chest pain or tightness
Usually, bronchiectasis can’t be cured. Instead, treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing it from getting worse.
This can involve antibiotics to combat chest infections and flare-ups. If you experience many flare-ups in a year, you may have to be moved onto long-term antibiotics.
You could also be referred to a respiratory physiotherapist who can teach you how to clear your airway of the excess phlegm. It’s also recommended to quit smoking to better manage your condition.
In rare cases, surgery may be needed to repair the lung damage or if the condition has caused one of the blood vessels in your lungs to rupture. This will cause you to start coughing up blood.
If you are diagnosed with bronchiectasis, Asthma + Lung UK offers support groups, advice on managing your condition and what help you should be getting. The NHS also advises exercising regularly, eating healthy and doing your best to avoid getting infections like colds and flus.