That’s why the daily habits you incorporate into your life matter. Small, repeatable practices — like hydrating adequately, making time for exercise, and tracking your symptoms — can help you spot changes before they turn into a flare.
These habits don’t replace conventional treatment, like using airway clearance techniques, taking your prescription medications, or checking-in regularly with your healthcare team, but they can work alongside your treatment plan to help you feel more stable and supported day-to-day.
1. Exercise
“Being active is really important. We’re not exercising in the sense of training for the Olympics — it’s about movement and some physical activity,” says Timothy Aksamit, MD, a pulmonologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and the medical director of the Bronchiectasis and NTM [Nontuberculous Mycobacteria] Association.
2. Hydration
“Hydration is huge,” Dr. Galiatsatos says. “If you’re dehydrated, those lung secretions will be much more viscous, thicker, and harder to cough out.”
Instead, keep a water bottle nearby and spread fluids out over the day. Aim for 8 to 10 8-ounce glasses of water.
3. Infection Prevention Habits
Respiratory infections can be more serious for people with bronchiectasis, so prevention is both a daily habit and one for times of high spread, Dr. Kurz says.
“Anybody who has an airway disease — and other forms of lung diseases — are much more vulnerable to severe respiratory infections. And we know that viruses, for instance, play a crucial role for [flares],” he says.
That doesn’t mean you should live in fear of germs. Here’s how you can safeguard your health.
- Stay up-to-date on vaccines, including regular flu and COVID-19 vaccines, plus any others your doctor may recommend, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumococcal disease, and tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap).
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Wear a high-quality mask (like N95 or KN95) in crowded indoor spaces when rates of flu, COVID-19, RSV, or other viruses are high.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
“All of these are highly recommended measures to minimize exposure,” Kurz says.
4. Daily Symptom Check-Ins
A brief daily check-in can help you notice changes early without becoming laser-focused on every sensation, Aksamit says.
Ask yourself: Am I coughing more than usual? Is my mucus thicker, darker, or a different color? Is there more sputum than usual? Do I feel more shortness of breath, fatigue, or chest pain?
The color of your mucus, for example, can provide telltale signs, he says, noting that darker, thicker mucus can indicate inflammation and disease activity.
5. Rest and Recovery
Bronchiectasis care can be physically and emotionally tiring. Airway clearance takes time, symptoms often interrupt sleep, and flares can leave you drained. Taking pauses for rest and recovery is a necessary part of living with a chronic lung condition, Kurz says.
“The impact of bronchiectasis with the symptoms, recurrent infections, and treatment can have a very substantial impact on mental health, which needs to be addressed,” he says. “It really can take a toll, not surprisingly, on patients, and their families, and their relationships.”
How to Build a Habit Routine That Sticks
Start with a single habit, then add others one at a time. Stack habits by adding a new habit to an existing one: You can exercise, then do your morning airway clearance before breakfast, for example, Aksamit says. But for some people, adding a new habit to an evening routine is preferred because of childcare, early working hours, or other commitments.
The key is to build a routine around what works best for your household, he says. “It has to fit that patient’s schedule, in a cadence that works well for them,” he says.
If a full routine feels overwhelming, talk to your healthcare team about how to make it more realistic, Galiatsatos says.
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