BE CLEAR with Bronchiectasis
  • Home
  • Book
  • Consultations
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Newsletter & Contact
  • FREE ongoing support and education

Mucus Plays an Important Role in Lung Health

7/19/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
Mucus plays a vital role in lung health. It contains mucins, which act like a sponge, absorbing water and creating a gel-like substance. This gel traps dust, germs, and toxins, protecting the airways. However, in bronchiectasis, the balance is disrupted.

The excess mucins in bronchiectasis make the mucus thicker and heavier. This overwhelms tiny hairs called cilia lining the airways. Normally, cilia act like miniature brooms, sweeping mucus upwards to be coughed out. But burdened by the dense mucus, they struggle to function effectively. This leads to mucus buildup, creating a breeding ground for infections and further inflammation.

Dr. McShane offers a reassuring message in her recent webinar sponsored by NTM IR.

“Scientists are working on fixing this problem based on drugs that target those receptors and target the mucin. We cannot fix that by our diet, so you’re not doing anything wrong. Keep living your life. And stay tuned because science is moving forward.”

In the meantime, we can do our best to help our ineffective cilia clear out mucus by using various airway clearance devices and modalities.

#AirwayClearance #Mucus #cilia #Bronchiectasis
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Linda Cooper Esposito, MPH is a health educator with bronchiectasis. She developed the BE CLEAR Method to Living with Bronchiectasis and writes with compassion  and humor about this chronic lung disease.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020

    Categories

    All
    Airway Clearance
    Eating And Drinking (Nutrition)
    General Information
    Reflux
    Treatment

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Book
  • Consultations
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Newsletter & Contact
  • FREE ongoing support and education