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What Causes Shortness Of Breath When Diagnosed With Bronchiectasis?
Question: I have been diagnosed with mild bilateral bronchiectasis. Around 3:30 am I was awoken with shortness of breath and could not go back to sleep. Is there anything I could have done to treat the shortness of breath?
Brief Answer:
Take levosalbutamol inhaler.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Since you are having bronchiectesis, possibility of obstructive Airway defect is more likely for your breathlessness.
So best treatment for immediate relief is levosalbutamol inhaler.
So take levosalbutamol inhaler.
This is prescribed drug, so you will need prescription for this.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Take levosalbutamol inhaler.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Since you are having bronchiectesis, possibility of obstructive Airway defect is more likely for your breathlessness.
So best treatment for immediate relief is levosalbutamol inhaler.
So take levosalbutamol inhaler.
This is prescribed drug, so you will need prescription for this.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you for the reply. I do have an albuterol sulfate inhaler. Could that be used in place of levosalbutamol? (until I get it)
Brief Answer:
Yes you can use albuterol
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes you can use albuterol inhaler as it is also short acting bronchodilator.
No need to take levosalbutamol inhaler if your breathlessness is relieved by albuterol.
Hope I have solved your query, I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Yes, we can halt the disease progression.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, we can definitely stop the progression of disease.
First let me know few more things.
1. Which drugs are you taking at present?
2. Since how long you are having bronchiectesis?
3. Do you smoke?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Yes you can use albuterol
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes you can use albuterol inhaler as it is also short acting bronchodilator.
No need to take levosalbutamol inhaler if your breathlessness is relieved by albuterol.
Hope I have solved your query, I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Yes, we can halt the disease progression.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, we can definitely stop the progression of disease.
First let me know few more things.
1. Which drugs are you taking at present?
2. Since how long you are having bronchiectesis?
3. Do you smoke?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Looking at Bronchietasis long term, I know it can not be cured, but is there a way to stop getting worse. Thank you for your help. No drugs at present. (I have never used the inhaler.) Never smoked, quite the contrary, always try to be healthy. I just saw the results of the chest CT yesterday, so just learning it is bronchoetasis a few hours ago. However, I had a prolonged bout with bronchitis 3 years ago, and that is when I think things started to go bad.
thank you again
thank you again
Brief Answer:
Get done PFT first.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Bronchiectesis is obstructive Airway disease (OAD). So to know the severity of OAD, you should first get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
On the basis of severity, you will need inhaled bronchodilators (formoterol or salmeterol) and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) (budesonide or fluticasone).
You should also start N acetyl cystine (NAC).
It is mucolytic, expectorant, antioxidant in nature.
You should also take adult pulmonary vaccines like influenza and pneumococcal vaccines.
Chest physiotherapy and deep breathing exercises are also good for lung functions.
Please let me know if you already had PFT or not.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Get done PFT first.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Bronchiectesis is obstructive Airway disease (OAD). So to know the severity of OAD, you should first get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
On the basis of severity, you will need inhaled bronchodilators (formoterol or salmeterol) and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) (budesonide or fluticasone).
You should also start N acetyl cystine (NAC).
It is mucolytic, expectorant, antioxidant in nature.
You should also take adult pulmonary vaccines like influenza and pneumococcal vaccines.
Chest physiotherapy and deep breathing exercises are also good for lung functions.
Please let me know if you already had PFT or not.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
The doctor performed some tests when I saw him last week, (not sure it was the PFT you are referring to) and he said my breathing was normal. No wheezing and a test he did to gauge inflammation in the lungs was good. For that test a reading under 25 is good and mine was 17. In fact, everything looked so good, that he was ready to blame my problems on allergies, but then he saw my clubbed finger nails and ordered the CT. Have already started the NAC. I am a student of the Buteyko breathing method.
Brief Answer:
Yes, you should continue buteyko breathing exercises and NAC.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Sorry for late reply as I was busy.
Yes, you can definitely continue buteyko breathing exercises and NAC. No harm in it.
PFT is something you would not forget if you have done it once.
In this, you need to blow out and breath in in a tube which is connected to the computer.
Computer will automatically generate report by doing this.
So get done PFT if you have not done it.
Also discuss with your doctor about starting regular inhaled treatment.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Yes, you should continue buteyko breathing exercises and NAC.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Sorry for late reply as I was busy.
Yes, you can definitely continue buteyko breathing exercises and NAC. No harm in it.
PFT is something you would not forget if you have done it once.
In this, you need to blow out and breath in in a tube which is connected to the computer.
Computer will automatically generate report by doing this.
So get done PFT if you have not done it.
Also discuss with your doctor about starting regular inhaled treatment.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
The doctor did perform a test connected to a computer, and as it turns out, my breathing was normal. He also conducted a test that gauges inflammation in the lungs with a good score being under 25. My number was 17, a very good result. So I do not think my lungs are the problem. I believe it to be in the airway, which was indicated on CT as (mild) bronchietasis.
I am considering stem cell therapy. This particular therapy takes your own cells, processes them and then returned to the body. I am getting mixed opinions from doctors on stem cell therapy. Do you have a position?
I am considering stem cell therapy. This particular therapy takes your own cells, processes them and then returned to the body. I am getting mixed opinions from doctors on stem cell therapy. Do you have a position?
Brief Answer:
If available, you should definitely try stem cell therapy.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, you should definitely try stem cell therapy if available.
So no harm in it.
It is not 100 % curative. So you should keep failure at the back of your mind.
Hope I have solved your query. If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
If available, you should definitely try stem cell therapy.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, you should definitely try stem cell therapy if available.
So no harm in it.
It is not 100 % curative. So you should keep failure at the back of your mind.
Hope I have solved your query. If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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