Overall Health and Wellness
The key to overall health and wellness is rooted in the basics such as getting adequate sleep, eating healthy foods, maintaining regular physician visits, limiting your alcohol intake, not using (or quitting) tobacco products, and maintaining up-to-date vaccinations, especially vaccines that protect against respiratory infections.

Nutrition and Hydration
Good nutrition helps support your overall health and your ability to fight infections. It also helps you maintain a healthy weight, which is important as being underweight can make it difficult to fight infections, while being overweight can make breathing more difficult. Drinking plenty of water is also important because it helps keep respiratory secretions thinner and easier to clear from your airways. If you are underweight, with a BMI less than 18.5, consider making an appointment with a dietician to help develop a weight gain plan.
For more information on eating and living well with BE, visit ntminfo.org or beinfo.org.

Exercise and Physical Activity
Physical activity is crucial for overall health and wellness. Even simple exercise such as neighborhood walks or yoga stretching can help with airway clearance and benefit your body and mind.

If you’re not sure how to get started, a formal pulmonary rehabilitation program may be helpful. These programs combine supervised exercise with education, breathing techniques, and nutritional counseling and are very
effective in improving exercise capacity, reducing symptoms, and enhancing quality of life. Your care team can determine whether you qualify for a pulmonary rehabilitation program and provide you with a referral to a program in your area.

Mental and Emotional Health
When living with BE, some days and weeks may be harder than others, which is why taking care of your mental and emotional health is just as important as managing your lung health.

Support may include talking with a counselor, connecting with a support group, joining the NTM/BE Connect online patient forum, or sharing
concerns with a trusted friend or family member. Making time for yourself and doing activities that bring you joy, such as a hobby, can also help reduce stress. If emotional challenges begin to affect your daily life or treatment routine, talk with your healthcare provider.
Visit beinfo.org or ntminfo.org for more information