What are the symptoms?
The most common symptom of bronchiectasis is coughing up sputum. Frequent chest infections are also a common feature of bronchiectasis.
Other symptoms you might have are:
- Breathlessness, having difficulty breathing or feeling short of breathing
- Feeling very tired or finding it difficult to concentrate.
- Problems with your sinuses.
- Cough incontinence, also called bladder leakage.
- Anxiety and depression.
Less common symptoms include:
- Coughing up blood.
- Chest or joint pain.
Sometimes, if the number of bacteria multiply, you will get a chest infection or a flare-up of your symptoms. It is important to recognise and treat chest infections. If you do not get treatment, your airways may be damaged further. Most people with bronchiectasis have a normal life expectancy with treatment tailored to their needs.
At Nottingham, we have a team of healthcare professionals who provide care for people with bronchiectasis both as an inpatient and outpatient. This includes doctors, specialist nurses, and respiratory physiotherapists. In addition, we work closely with colleagues in Primary Care, including GPs, community nurses and colleagues from other medical specialities in Secondary Care.