It is important to understand the basics of drug formularies, offered by different insurance companies. The formulary lists the drugs by tiers or levels, with tier 1 being the least expensive and the higher tiers being more expensive. Often, your health …

Interested in hearing the experience of others with sleep apnea and their treatment for it

The you tube video below , featuring Jonnie Korinko, COPD Foundation and Emily Whicheloe, Director of Education, Medicare Rights Center presents a comprehensive overview of enrollment in a Medicare plan. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1zBMrG5ieoE This …

Below is an article from Harvard Health on the advantages and disadvantages of telehealth: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/telehealth-the-advantages-and-disadvantages We would love to hear your comments on both the pros and cons of …

Health care providers use these term frequently. The article below , from the Cleveland Clinic defines the terms, hypoxia, hypoxemia, their causes , symptoms and treatment options: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17727-hypoxemia

Fluzone is the stronger flu vaccine recommended for people over the age of 65, those on long term immunosuppressants and transplant patients. I usually get my vaccination in mid October; it can take a few weeks to reach a higher level of effectiveness in …

Hi - I have had a history of bronchiectasis since 2005. The thing the doctors told me was to be careful if you catch a cold or flu as that can turn into pneumonia. Fast forward to fall of 2014, I had been having night sweats for years but now I felt …

A few vaccinations just have initials , not a completely spelt out name. The link below, from the CDC reviews vaccination recommendations throughout our lifeand the diseases that they protect us against. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz …

I have been diagnosed with Mycobacterium abcessus and Mycobacterium chelanae. Has anyone ever been cured from this? Does anyone know what life expectancy is? I am only 51 years old.

Poor air quality can really take a toll on respiratory patients, leading to increased inflammation, wheezing, shortness of breath in some individuals. The link below provides a guide for you to better understand the different air quality flags: …

Below is an excellent webinar, designed for respiratory therapists. You can listen and learn a lot from this video if you are not a respiratory therapist. Elevating Awareness of Bronchiectasis Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0RBqnIu …

It is good to have a tool for guidance in the management of NTM Lung Disease. The link below provides information and the tool that you can print out and use regularly. https://www.bronchiectasisandntminitiative …

It has been extremely warm on the East Coast over the past week. Weather reports can be confusing for many people. Humidity numbers may not be too high but the dew points are high. The How to Geek link below differentiates the two terms, humidity and dew …

NTM questio

I was diagnosed,6 days with bronchitis.What type food can i avoid? 2.What type of exercise should I do? 3.When shall i visit my Doctor. Note: The medication really stopped the bleeding and mucus but I still have little cough.

I only have Bronchiectasis, not NTM

The NTM Lung Disease Management Tool can assist you on your NTM journey: https://www.bronchiectasisandntminitiative.org/Portals/0/DownloadsLibrary/Files/NTM_Management_Tool.pdf

Below is the link: https://www.bronchiectasisandntminitiative.org/Portals/0/DownloadsLibrary/Files/ActionPlanEnglish.pdf The plan will assist you on your Bronchiectasis journey. Let us know if you have any specific questions.

We live off-grid. Does anyone know if NTM bacteria can be found in rainwater.

On one of my asthma support groups a 2 yr old was diagnosed I never heard of one that young.

Managing chronic lung conditions like bronchiectasis and NTM can be an all-encompassingtask. Many patients’ primary concern is clearing their airways. What other things do you do daily or weekly that you believe help manage your condition orimprove your …

The link below provides a calculator to determine the heat index. Please take action steps, in advance to keep cool, well hydrated and stocked up on any medications you may need. https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/heatindex.shtml

Using a pillbox lessens the chance of forgetting to take your medication or taking too much medication. Filling the pillbox on a weekly basis also allows you to see if you need to call for a medication refill in a timely manner. The link below reviews …

Please assist our BNTM community in increasing public awareness of Bronchiectasis. Sign up for our awareness toolkit . Help us raise awareness in your own network with our free toolkit. It's packed with social media posts, resources, and tips to help …

I occasionally get blood in the sputum. For severe cases my pulmonologist prescribes antibiotics, but this time it is not that severe, and seems to be getting better. Can this issue resolve on its own??