Why is breath holding important during airway clearance?

Yes many have a family history of lung disease too. My mother was a Lung cancer patient and my grandpa got TB but lived up to 90+. I got many pneumonia as an infant too. There is a reason!

Repeated infections that aren’t treated properly can also cause Bronchiectasis. I surmise that a good percentage of what is deemed idiopathic BE is actually caused by serious infections that were not treated by the correct antibiotics. When doctors won’t prescribe sputum tests, it’s a bit of a gamble and when they believe coloured sputum shouldn’t be a concern, they aren’t reading the latest research from Europe (2023) which asserts that colour can absolutely indicate infection.
In otherwise healthy individuals, with no other risk factors, it will be interesting to see what new research might show. Other factors like having chronic sinusitis, a low BMI and being a woman over 60 puts people at risk. Hopefully more family doctors are more aware of this chronic disease, but I’m doubtful at this point. More education is needed, as more cases are now being diagnosed world wide. Grateful for this MAYO clinic and this group.

@becleartoday thanks for posting this! The video was very helpful. One follow up question and thought I had is: In addition to holding our breath during airway clearance using the Aerobika etc., I wonder also if it makes sense to at times hold our breath during the nebulizer treatment if doing so would allow the salinized air to get behind some of those blocked airways as well.

@jmny I agree with you completely. The first time my x-ray showed 'tree and bud nodules' prior to my diagnosis of BE, my primary care physician who is excellent prescribed me azithromycin because she assumed it was pneumonia which is a big 'no no' as those of us with BE now know. Even knowing I had BE, the recent ER attending also want to prescribe azithromycin so treatment protocols are not common knowledge. We have to advocate for ourselves. It would be great if there was some education campaign to inform primary care physicians—who are typically the first line of defense—of the condition and treatment protocols.

I'm a little confused now. I have MAC and bronchiectasis (BE) and am being treated with Azithromycin and IV Amikacin. Are you saying that Azithromycin wouldn't be good in the situation?

@beachsidesandy Hi there,
sorry to have alarmed you. it’s only when Azithromycin is taken alone that it’s an issue in our cases because MAC can build up resistance to it—it’s not effective on its own. In your case you’re taking it in combination with other things which is good!

Ah, ok. Thanks for the clarification!