Our grateful thanks to Professor Tony De Soyza for his input to our radio report which you can hear again at the bottom of this page via our audio player. For further help and support visit the Asthma + Lung UK website via our Links Page.
Bronchiectasis: The Lung Condition You May Never Have Heard Of. It may not be a household name, but it affects an estimated 340,000 people across the UK. Despite being one of the most common long-term lung conditions, many people have never heard of it until they or someone they know is diagnosed.
Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition in which the airways of the lungs become permanently widened and damaged. This makes it difficult to clear mucus from the lungs, allowing it to build up and creating an environment where bacteria can thrive. As a result, people with bronchiectasis often experience repeated chest infections, a persistent cough and increasing breathlessness.
What are the symptoms? The symptoms can vary from person to person, but commonly include:
Many people assume they simply have "a bad chest" or recurrent infections, which can delay diagnosis.
What causes bronchiectasis? Bronchiectasis can develop for a number of reasons. Previous severe chest infections such as pneumonia, problems with the immune system, childhood illnesses, or underlying conditions such as cystic fibrosis can all damage the airways. In many cases, however, no single cause can be identified.
Why is early diagnosis important? The damage caused by bronchiectasis cannot be reversed, but early diagnosis and treatment can help slow the progression of the disease, reduce infections and improve quality of life. Doctors usually diagnose the condition with a specialised CT scan of the lungs alongside breathing tests and sputum analysis.
How is it treated? Although there is currently no cure, treatments can help people manage the condition effectively. These include:
Many people with bronchiectasis lead active lives when their condition is well managed.
Why is bronchiectasis back in the spotlight? A new report from Bronchiectasis Policy Network UK warns that many patients face long delays before receiving a diagnosis and that access to specialist care varies widely across the country. The report says these inequalities mean many people experience avoidable lung damage, repeated hospital admissions and a poorer quality of life.
The report also highlights the growing impact on the NHS. In 2024/25, emergency care relating to bronchiectasis cost almost £36 million in England, while more than 2,000 people died from the condition in England and Wales in 2023—a significant increase compared with a decade earlier.
The authors are calling for better awareness among healthcare professionals, earlier diagnosis, improved access to specialist services and closer collaboration between hospitals and GP practices to identify people who may have bronchiectasis but remain undiagnosed.
When should you seek medical advice? If you have a persistent cough that produces mucus, repeated chest infections, or breathlessness that isn't improving, it's important to speak to your GP. While these symptoms can have many causes, identifying bronchiectasis early can make a significant difference to long-term health.
The message from respiratory specialists is simple: don't ignore a persistent cough or recurrent chest infections. Early diagnosis, specialist care and effective treatment can help people with bronchiectasis stay healthier for longer and reduce the risk of serious complications.
Listen to this weeks radio report
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