Turn on more accessible mode

Turn off more accessible mode

Skip Ribbon Commands

Skip to main content

Turn off Animations

Turn on Animations

Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis - How to prevent?

Bronchiectasis - Treatments

Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition and often requires life-long treatment.

Usually, the damage to your airways that causes bronchiectasis can’t be reversed.

General measures and lifestyle changes will keep you from falling sick too often. These include:

Balanced diet, increase protein intake
Regular exercise/physical activity
Avoid smoking/smoking cessation
Updated vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcus

The main stay of treatment includes prevention of infections which will further damage your lungs, and improving your symptoms. This can be done through:

Daily chest physiotherapy – to help to clear phlegm from your airways using various breathing exercises and techniques
Antibiotics – prompt antibiotic therapy when acutely unwell or worsening symptoms (“exacerbation”)
Bronchodilators – may help to open up your airways
Mucolytic/mucus clearance agents – to help expectorate the phlegm
Long term inhaled or oral antibiotics

Other Options:

You also have option of participating in clinical trials to see if new treatment or medications work. To find out more, you can call SGH Clinical Trails and Research Centre at +65 6321 3652 or send an email to [email protected]

Bronchiectasis - Preparing for surgery

Bronchiectasis - Post-surgery care

Article contributed by Respiratory ＆ Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital

The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

SingHealth

TOP

[{"SHPageId":"261","BodyPart":"#Lungs#","BodyPartLst":["lungs"],"Institution":null,"SHDoctorConditionsTreatments":"#Bronchiectasis#, #Asthma#, #Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease#, #Lung Cancer#, #Severe Asthma#, #Lung Infection#","SHDoctorConditionsTreatmentsLst":["bronchiectasis","asthma","chronic obstructive pulmonary disease","lung cancer","severe asthma","lung infection"],"SHDoctorAwards":null,"SHDoctorAwardsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgDisp":"Senior Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstText":"48d80a29-eabe-421e-aa61-202648168f9e|8e9834e6-3ccb-4ee2-bdb9-45837e8602f8;Senior Consultant|8e9834e6-3ccb-4ee2-bdb9-45837e8602f8;3c9e64be-225f-45de-b30b-7f327afd2447|8e9834e6-3ccb-4ee2-bdb9-45837e8602f8;Director|8e9834e6-3ccb-4ee2-bdb9-45837e8602f8;","ListSHDoctorClinicalDesgInst":[{"ClinicalDesgName":"Senior Consultant","ClinicalDesgId":"48d80a29-eabe-421e-aa61-202648168f9e","ClinicalDesgInst":"Singapore General Hospital","ClinicalDesgInstId":"8e9834e6-3ccb-4ee2-bdb9-45837e8602f8"},{"ClinicalDesgName":"Director","ClinicalDesgId":"3c9e64be-225f-45de-b30b-7f327afd2447","ClinicalDesgInst":"Singapore General Hospital","ClinicalDesgInstId":"8e9834e6-3ccb-4ee2-bdb9-45837e8602f8"}],"ListSHDoctorClinicalDesg":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstFirst":"Director","SHDoctorAltDesgDisp":"","SHDoctorEducation":null,"SHDoctorEducationFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfile":null,"SHDoctorProfileFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchInterests":"\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eSevere Asthma, Asthma, Bronchiectasis, Health Services Research\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","SHDoctorResearchInterestsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrials":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrialsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointments":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointmentsFullHtml":"\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eJan 2018- current\u0026#58; Director of Clinical Trials and Research Centre, Singapore General Hospital \u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eApril 2016 – current\u0026#58; Clinical\u0026#160; Associate Professor, Office of Clinical \u0026amp; Academic Faculty Affairs, Duke-NUS Medical School\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e2012 – current\u0026#58; Senior Clinical Lecturer, Yong –Loo-Lin School of Medicine \u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e2019-2020\u0026#58; Senior Advisor, Singapore National Asthma Program-2\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e2019 to current – Co-chair, ACE Asthma Clinical Practice Expert Group.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e2021-2023- Committee Member, Singapore National Asthma Programme- 3\u0026#160; \u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e2018- current\u0026#58; Chairman, Clinical Trials and Research Centre Advisory Committee, SGH\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e2018- current\u0026#58; Member, SGH Research Executive Committee\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e2020- current\u0026#58; Editorial Board\u0026#58; Annals Academy of Medicine, Singapore \u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","SHDoctorPublications":null,"SHDoctorPublicationsFullHtml":null,"SHQualification":null,"SHQualificationFullHTML":"\u003cp\u003eMBBS, MRCP\u003c/p\u003e","SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoRender":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/doctor-2019/Mariko-Koh.png","SHDoctorThumbnailPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/doctor-2019/Mariko-Koh.png","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"Dr Mariko Koh from SGH","BorderWidth":0,"Height":251,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":199},"SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/doctor-2019/Mariko-Koh.png","Description":"Dr Mariko Koh from SGH"},"SHDoctorPortraitPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/doctor-2019/Mariko-Koh.png","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"Dr Mariko Koh from SGH","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":0},"SHDoctorPortraitPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/doctor-2019/Mariko-Koh.png","Description":"Dr Mariko Koh from SGH"},"Email":"","SHDoctorRole":"Doctor;#Researcher;#","SHDoctorSalutation":"Clin Assoc Prof","SHDoctorFirstName":"Koh Siyue","SHDoctorLastName":"Mariko","SHDoctorOtherName":"","SHDoctorHideProfile":false,"SHDoctorPrimarySpecialty":"Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine","SHDepartmentLink":null,"SHSpecialtyLink":null,"SHSubSpecialtyLink":null,"ListDoctorAcademic":null,"ListDoctorClinical":[{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"261","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Senior Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Singapore General Hospital","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SGH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SGH-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"https://www.sgh.com.sg","Description":"https://www.sgh.com.sg"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"Respiratory ＆ Critical Care Medicine","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":null,"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"koh-siyue-mariko","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":1},{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"261","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Director","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Singapore General Hospital","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SGH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SGH-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"https://www.sgh.com.sg","Description":"https://www.sgh.com.sg"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"Clinical Trial Resource Centre","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":null,"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"koh-siyue-mariko","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":1000}],"ListDoctorSpecialty":[{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Severe Asthma","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":2,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"261","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"koh-siyue-mariko"},{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Asthma","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"261","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"koh-siyue-mariko"},{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Bronchiectasis","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1000,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"261","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"koh-siyue-mariko"},{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Cough","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1000,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"261","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"koh-siyue-mariko"}],"ListDoctorInstitution":[{"SHDepartmentLink":"#Respiratory ＆ Critical Care Medicine#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":null,"SHDepartmentUrlLink":null,"SHInstitutionLink":"#Singapore General Hospital#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SGH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SGH-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"http://sgh.com.sg","Description":"http://sgh.com.sg"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":1000,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"261","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"koh-siyue-mariko"}],"DoctorProfileInstitutionString":null,"DoctorProfileDepartmentString":null,"DoctorProfileSpecialtyString":null,"DoctorProfileSubSpecialtyString":null,"ListDoctorResearchAppointment":[],"DoctorResearchAppointmentItem":null,"StartDate":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","Path":"/profile/koh-siyue-mariko","LastUpdatedOn":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","LastUpdatedOnString":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgLogo":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgURL":null,"SHContentTagType":null,"SingHealthInstitution":"","SingHealthSpecialty":"","TypeOfContent":null,"DoctorFriendlyUrl":"koh-siyue-mariko","DoctorSpecialtyFriendlyUrl":null,"SHDoctorResearchEmail":null},{"SHPageId":"2722","BodyPart":"","BodyPartLst":[],"Institution":null,"SHDoctorConditionsTreatments":"#Asthma#, #Bronchiectasis#, #Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease#, #Pulmonary Hypertension#, #Tuberculosis#, #Pneumonia#, #Pleural Effusions#, #Critical Care#, #Refractory Chronic Cough#, #Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)#","SHDoctorConditionsTreatmentsLst":["asthma","bronchiectasis","chronic obstructive pulmonary disease","pulmonary hypertension","tuberculosis","pneumonia","pleural effusions","critical care","refractory chronic cough","interstitial lung disease (ild)"],"SHDoctorAwards":null,"SHDoctorAwardsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgDisp":"Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstText":"9b7b3341-8e0f-48aa-8d37-d46b0085d6c0|8e9834e6-3ccb-4ee2-bdb9-45837e8602f8;Consultant|8e9834e6-3ccb-4ee2-bdb9-45837e8602f8;","ListSHDoctorClinicalDesgInst":[{"ClinicalDesgName":"Consultant","ClinicalDesgId":"9b7b3341-8e0f-48aa-8d37-d46b0085d6c0","ClinicalDesgInst":"Singapore General Hospital","ClinicalDesgInstId":"8e9834e6-3ccb-4ee2-bdb9-45837e8602f8"}],"ListSHDoctorClinicalDesg":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstFirst":"Consultant","SHDoctorAltDesgDisp":"","SHDoctorEducation":null,"SHDoctorEducationFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfile":null,"SHDoctorProfileFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchInterests":"","SHDoctorResearchInterestsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrials":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrialsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointments":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointmentsFullHtml":"\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eSGH Results Acknowledgement Workgroup Member\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eSGH Code Blue team\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","SHDoctorPublications":null,"SHDoctorPublicationsFullHtml":null,"SHQualification":null,"SHQualificationFullHTML":"\u003cp\u003eMBBS, MRCP (UK), MMED (Internal Med)\u003c/p\u003e","SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoRender":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/SGH/Doc/2023/Michelle%20Koh%20Siew%20Hui_resized.png","SHDoctorThumbnailPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/SGH/Doc/2023/Michelle%20Koh%20Siew%20Hui_resized.png","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":0},"SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/SGH/Doc/2023/Michelle%20Koh%20Siew%20Hui_resized.png","Description":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/SGH/Doc/2023/Michelle%20Koh%20Siew%20Hui_resized.png"},"SHDoctorPortraitPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/SGH/Doc/2023/Michelle%20Koh%20Siew%20Hui_resized.png","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":0},"SHDoctorPortraitPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/SGH/Doc/2023/Michelle%20Koh%20Siew%20Hui_resized.png","Description":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/SGH/Doc/2023/Michelle%20Koh%20Siew%20Hui_resized.png"},"Email":"","SHDoctorRole":"Doctor;#","SHDoctorSalutation":"Dr","SHDoctorFirstName":"Koh Siew Hui","SHDoctorLastName":"Michelle","SHDoctorOtherName":"","SHDoctorHideProfile":false,"SHDoctorPrimarySpecialty":"Respiratory ＆ Critical Care Medicine","SHDepartmentLink":null,"SHSpecialtyLink":null,"SHSubSpecialtyLink":null,"ListDoctorAcademic":null,"ListDoctorClinical":[{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"2722","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Singapore General Hospital","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SGH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SGH-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"https://www.sgh.com.sg","Description":"https://www.sgh.com.sg"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"Respiratory ＆ Critical Care Medicine","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":null,"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"koh-siew-hui-michelle","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":1000}],"ListDoctorSpecialty":[{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Respiratory ＆ Critical Care Medicine","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Pulmonary Hypertension","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1000,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"2722","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"koh-siew-hui-michelle"},{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Respiratory ＆ Critical Care Medicine","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Intensive Care Medicine","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1000,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"2722","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"koh-siew-hui-michelle"},{"SHSpecialtyLink":"","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Refractory Chronic Cough","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1000,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"2722","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"koh-siew-hui-michelle"}],"ListDoctorInstitution":[{"SHDepartmentLink":"#Respiratory ＆ Critical Care Medicine#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":null,"SHDepartmentUrlLink":null,"SHInstitutionLink":"#Singapore General Hospital#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SGH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SGH-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"https://www.sgh.com.sg","Description":"https://www.sgh.com.sg"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":1000,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"2722","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"koh-siew-hui-michelle"}],"DoctorProfileInstitutionString":null,"DoctorProfileDepartmentString":null,"DoctorProfileSpecialtyString":null,"DoctorProfileSubSpecialtyString":null,"ListDoctorResearchAppointment":[],"DoctorResearchAppointmentItem":null,"StartDate":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","Path":"/profile/koh-siew-hui-michelle","LastUpdatedOn":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","LastUpdatedOnString":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgLogo":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgURL":null,"SHContentTagType":null,"SingHealthInstitution":"","SingHealthSpecialty":"","TypeOfContent":null,"DoctorFriendlyUrl":"koh-siew-hui-michelle","DoctorSpecialtyFriendlyUrl":null,"SHDoctorResearchEmail":null}]

Discover articles,videos, and guides afrom Singhealth's resources across the web. These information are collated, making healthy living much easier for everyone.

What to Eat Before, During and After a Marathon

What to Eat Before, During and After a Marathon

Common Asthma Triggers at Home

Common Asthma Triggers at Home

How to Keep Asthma Under Control

How to Keep Asthma Under Control

Cold and Flu Symptoms, Treatments and Prevention

Cold and Flu Symptoms, Treatments and Prevention