2023-10-23 09:48:00
Fall is a time when respiratory diseases such as bronchial diseases increase due to large daily temperature differences and cold winds. For humans, breathing is the most basic activity for sustaining life. The bronchial tubes, which are closely related to breathing, are air passages that take in external air, move it to the lungs, and exhale it to the outside. The inner walls of the bronchi are covered with mucus. When inhaling outside air, bacteria and dust contained in it attach to mucus and are discharged through cilia in the form of phlegm. If cilia do not function properly due to various reasons, mucus discharge becomes difficult, increasing the possibility of bacteria multiplying. When bacteria multiply and cause chronic inflammation in the bronchi, the bronchi become pathologically dilated, which is called bronchiectasis.
When the bronchi expand like this, the number of blood vessels increases and becomes weaker, which can lead to symptoms of hemoptysis mixed with blood in the cough. Thick phlegm and chronic cough are also typical symptoms of this disease. Depending on the cause, phlegm may have an unpleasant odor and may be accompanied by difficulty breathing, chest pain, fever, or weight loss.
The most common cause is recurrent or severe respiratory tract infections. These include bacterial infections such as staphylococcus, acid-fast bacterial infections such as tuberculosis, and viral infections such as adenovirus or influenza. Additionally, there is a high possibility that the bronchial tubes may be blocked due to inhalation of foreign substances, lung tumors, enlarged lymph nodes, etc., or if there is an immune deficiency disease or ciliary motor dysfunction. To diagnose bronchiectasis, you must consult with a specialist to check symptoms and evaluate changes in breathing. To check the progress, chest X-rays, CT scans, lung function tests, and sputum and blood tests may be performed.
Stretched bronchi do not easily return to normal. In severe cases, lung function may decline and chronic respiratory failure requiring oxygen treatment may occur. To improve the patient’s symptoms, drug treatment such as antibiotics, antitussive expectorants, and bronchodilators is administered. If symptoms such as lung infection persist despite drug treatment, surgical treatment may be performed concurrently. As the season when respiratory diseases occur frequently is approaching, we must pay attention to preventing infection by viruses. In the eyes of the general public, respiratory diseases often have similar symptoms, so if symptoms such as coughing or phlegm do not improve, it is best to visit a medical institution and receive a diagnosis.
To prevent bronchiectasis, it is important to maintain appropriate temperature and humidity in your daily living environment. In particular, be careful not to expose to sudden temperature changes. It is recommended that patients with chronic diseases, infants, young children, and the elderly with reduced immunity wear masks when going out to protect their respiratory organs. In addition, the general public is also recommended to wear a mask when there are people around them with respiratory diseases such as colds or when there is severe yellow dust or fine dust. In particular, you should practice thorough personal hygiene, such as washing your hands, and pay attention to your physical health by drinking enough water, eating a good quality meal, and exercising appropriately. If you are a smoker, quitting smoking is essential. Getting vaccinated against influenza (flu), measles, and pneumococcus before winter begins is also helpful in preventing respiratory diseases.
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