Helping Yourself – What the New Bronchiectasis Guidelines Mean for Us
- Becky Side
- Oct 4
- 2 min read
When the European Respiratory Society released the new 2025 guidelines for managing bronchiectasis, I found myself reading them not just as a patient, but as a mum. Between school runs, laundry mountains and the occasional lost inhaler, I know how easy it is for routines to slip — especially when “just one missed physio” turns into three.
But this year’s guidelines feel different. They put the person at the centre of care, not just the condition.
“We recommend that patients with bronchiectasis should be taught airway clearance techniques.” – ERS 2025
That might sound technical, but what it really means is this: learning how to clear your airways effectively isn’t a luxury — it’s the cornerstone of living well. The new guidance emphasises that every patient should be taught a personalised routine, ideally by a respiratory physiotherapist, and that no single technique is “best.” It’s about finding your way — the one that fits your life, your body, and your time.
For me, that balance only came when I started logging my treatments and symptoms in what became Living Well with Bronchiectasis. I used to think I’d remember what I’d done — spoiler: I didn’t. But once I started writing it down, things changed. I became more consistent, more aware of triggers, and oddly, more forgiving of myself on the off days.
And it’s not just me. Research from the British Journal of Health Psychology found that people who record their daily health actions are 42% more likely to stick with them. Habit tracking isn’t glamorous, but it works — because it turns effort into evidence.
The ERS also strongly recommends pulmonary rehabilitation for those who struggle with breathlessness or exercise tolerance. It’s not just about treadmills — it’s about education, pacing, and movement that helps you breathe easier. The guidelines even call for bronchiectasis-specific programmes that include airway clearance training, so if your hospital doesn’t offer this yet, you have every right to ask for it.
And that’s the other big shift in these guidelines: empowerment. The authors encourage a “treatable traits” approach — recognising that no two people with bronchiectasis are the same. We all have different triggers, comorbidities, and life loads. Asking questions, tracking your own data, and understanding your patterns are no longer “extras” — they’re part of best practice.
So, if you’ve ever felt guilty for not being the “perfect patient,” take heart. The experts now officially agree that care must be personal, flexible, and built around your reality — not an idealised version of it.
Because yes, I’m a mum. I forget things. I sometimes prioritise the dishwasher over my physio. But the act of writing it down keeps me grounded. It reminds me that progress isn’t perfection — it’s persistence.
And that’s the spirit of both the new guidelines and the book. Helping yourself doesn’t mean doing it alone — it means understanding your own needs so that your care team, family, and body can all work together.
Let’s keep breathing, learning, and logging — one small tick box at a time.
📚 Reference:Chalmers JD et al., European Respiratory Society Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Adult Bronchiectasis, Eur Respir J, 2025.
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