(Brong-kee-ek-tuh-sis)
“One of the things that did frustrate me a lot was that I never knew how to pronounce it – bronchiectasis, and it probably wasn’t until after about 6-9 months that I actually found out how to pronounce it properly, and it sounds such a silly little thing but if you mention it to somebody and you don’t know how to pronounce it, it’s a little bit embarrassing.” Mike, 43
People often ask if bronchiectasis is the same as the smoking related lung disease COPD, and people who have bronchiectasis are often upset and frustrated that others assume smoking has caused the problems with their lungs.
Bronchiectasis is not the same as COPD.
Bronchiectasis is caused by many different conditions.
Many patients with bronchiectasis have never smoked, whilst COPD is caused by smoking fairly heavily. It is important to note that some patients develop bronchiectasis as a complication of COPD. Smoking could be considered an underlying cause in this specific scenario, but smoking is not a primary cause of bronchiectasis like it is for COPD.
One thing that clearly links the two conditions is the need to stop smoking if you are a smoker to reduce your chances of further lung damage and also reduce the risks of developing lung cancer and other smoking-related diseases.
If you have bronchiectasis and you do smoke, trying to give up is very important. You can find out more about this in our diet, exercise and lifestyle section.
People often ask if bronchiectasis is the same as the smoking related lung disease COPD, and people who have bronchiectasis are often upset and frustrated that others assume smoking has caused the problems with their lungs.
Bronchiectasis is not the same as COPD or asthma.
Bronchiectasis is caused by many different conditions.
Many patients with bronchiectasis have never smoked, whilst COPD is caused by smoking fairly heavily.
It is important to note that some patients develop bronchiectasis as a complication of COPD. As both conditions can cause, cough, breathlessness, repeated chest infections and abnormal breathing tests, it is not surprising that they can also sometimes be mixed up.
In the UK, most GPs will look after 150-200 patients with COPD, whereas most practices will have less than 10 patients with bronchiectasis.
One thing that clearly links the two conditions is the need to stop smoking if you are a smoker to reduce your chances of further lung damage and also reduce the risks of developing lung cancer and other smoking-related diseases.
This website has been developed by doctors and patients as part of a research study. The site is designed to meet the information needs of people who have bronchiectasis and their families and carers and help them manage the condition.
Currently this website is being trialled as part of the ongoing study and is only available to those within the study. For details about the research study please go to http://public.ukcrn.org.uk.
If you would like more information about the study, either if you think you may be eligible to join this study, or if you would like to be able to look at this site in the future or hear about the research outcomes then please email brief.study@ncl.ac.uk
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If you have forgotten your password for the site please contact the William Leech Centre on 0191 2231148 who can remind you of your existing password or provide you with a new one. Alternatively please email katy.hester@ncl.ac.uk for assistance.