Discussions
Discussions
Health Literacy Week
💙 HEALTH LITERACY DAY: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! 💙
Living with Bronchiectasis and NTM can sometimes feel like learning a whole new language. From sputum cultures and CT scans to antibiotics, airway clearance, and treatment decisions, there is a lot to learn! Health literacy means having the knowledge and confidence to find, understand, and use health information to make informed decisions about your care.
Listed below are a few ways to become a more informed BNTM patient:
✅ Ask questions! Never hesitate to ask your healthcare team to explain something you don’t fully understand.
✅ Learn what your sputum cultures, CT scans, pulmonary function tests, and other results mean for you.
✅ Understand your treatment. Ask about the benefits, risks, side effects, and alternatives before starting a new medication.
✅ Find reliable information. Use trusted medical resources and consult your healthcare team when something you read online raises questions.
✅ Be an active partner in your care. Share your concerns, discuss your goals, and make decisions together with your healthcare team.
You don’t have to know everything about BNTM to be an empowered patient. You just need to feel comfortable asking questions and seeking answers. Our BNTM community is here to learn, share experiences, and support one another. Sometimes, the question you ask today may help another patient tomorrow!
What is one thing you wish you had understood earlier in your BNTM journey? Share in the comments. Your experience may help someone else feel much better and not alone on this journey. Thank you in advance for sharing your comments.
It is not our intention to serve as a substitute for medical advice and any content posted should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. We make every effort to support our members, our medical professionals cannot and will not provide a diagnosis or suggest a specific medication; those decisions should be left to your personal medical team. While we encourage individuals to share their personal experiences with Bronchiectasis and NTM, please consult a physician before making changes to your own Bronchiectasis and NTM management plan.
Community posts are monitored by the 360social Community Manager, as well as staff respiratory therapists, educators, and other medical professionals.