Unexpected Sign Of Lung Conditions Can Be Hidden Right At Your Fingertips

Sometimes signs of chronic and serious diseases can show up in the most unexpected ways and places. One such condition is Bronchiectasis. It is a chronic lung condition that damages your airways, leading to excessive phlegm production. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute explains that this damage to your airways can hurt your lungs, as it will cause them to expand, become loose and scarred.

It has a big range of symptoms, some of which may seem unrelated to lungs. While there's typically no cure, the treatments available can help you manage the condition and also help you improve the quality of your life.

Bronchiectasis affects approximately one in 200 adults in the UK. The damage to your lungs and airways results in an overproduction of phlegm. This excess mucus can lead to various complications and presents a variety of symptoms.

However, an issue with conditions like this is that many times early warnings can go ignored or misidentified by people. Hence learning these crucial signs can help you get the treatment you need. Bronchiectasis may be a lung disease; however, its signs can be seen at your fingertips!

Unusual Early Warning Signs

According to Asthma + Lung UK, one surprising early indicator of bronchiectasis is "clubbing" of the fingertips. This refers to the swelling and rounding of the fingertips around the nails. It often occurs due to chronically low blood oxygen levels, which can be a consequence of lung diseases like bronchiectasis.

Pelvic Floor Issues

Lung conditions like bronchiectasis can put extra strain on your muscles, including those in your bladder, bottom, and pelvic floor. As a result, individuals with bronchiectasis may experience incontinence, such as slight urination or defecation, especially during exertion like coughing or laughing.

Common Bronchiectasis Symptoms

Beyond the more unusual signs, common symptoms of bronchiectasis include:

• A persistent cough with sputum (phlegm)
• Repeated chest infections
• Breathlessness
• Fatigue
• Chest pain or tightness

How Is Bronchiectasis Diagnosed

The American Lung Association explains that diagnosing bronchiectasis can be tricky because its symptoms often look like other lung problems. But getting an early diagnosis is really important to stop more damage to your lungs.

If your doctor thinks you might have bronchiectasis, they'll usually start by asking about your family's health history and ordering blood tests. These tests can help them figure out if you have an underlying condition that might be causing the bronchiectasis or if your body's infection-fighting cells are low.

Other tests include chest X-ray, lung function test which would measure how much can you breathe in and out, sputum culture, which will sample your phlegm to catch any infection. Sometimes, doctors order sweat test to see if you have cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that can lead to bronchiectasis.

In some severe cases, if bronchiectasis isn't getting better with treatment, doctors might suggest a bronchoscopy. This procedure involves putting a thin, flexible tube into your airways. It helps them find any blockages or sources of infection that are hard to see otherwise.

Managing Your Condition

While bronchiectasis is generally incurable, treatment aims to control symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening. Management strategies include:

Lifestyle Changes

Quitting smoking is strongly advised to help manage the condition more effectively.

Respiratory Physiotherapy

A respiratory physiotherapist can teach you techniques to effectively clear excess phlegm from your airways.

Medication

These are often prescribed to fight chest infections and flare-ups. If you experience frequent flare-ups, long-term antibiotic use may be necessary.

Surgery

In rare cases, surgery might be needed to repair lung damage or if a ruptured blood vessel in the lung leads to coughing up blood.