Chest infections - Asthma

[Mecca2009]

Hi. I am 30yrs, male and very active, involved in sport at quite a high level. The last few years i have been getting chest infections with increasing frequency. This year, i have had 8/9 chest infections, last year it was about 7/8 etc. It started about 8 years ago and has been getting worse every year. I am told i am borderline asthmatic, however I would never need to rely on the use of an inhaler, but at the same time i find the ventolin helps clear the phlem generated when i get the infections. I have been prescribed the seritide preventer inhaler also over the last few years.
When i get the chest infection, my chest get quite tight and wheezy and I would get quite caught up with phlem. Only a trip to the GP followed by a course of Antibiotics (ie. Augmentin Duo / Klasid)  and steroids (ie. prenedislone)  will clear the infection.
My GP is absolutely puzzled by me! I don't smoke, eat well and healthy.  I have had chest x-rays and blood tests- nothing showed up.
Only thing that springs to mind as to been a trigger is alcohol. As i am so caught up in sports, i don't end to be drinking much, not on a day to day basis anyway! Recently i didnt touch a drink for one and a half months. Then at a wedding i had a few drinks - within 3 days i felt my chest tightening again, usual symptoms progressing on to bad chest infection. I have suspected alcohol before also.
My GP and even a respiratory specialist doesnt seem to think that alcohol could be causing it. The said when i did not drink, i did not change my diet also so i was not cutting out the ingredients that are in alcohol out fully anyway.

Apologies for the long winded description. Any help or advice would be VERY much appreciated. I am frustrated as hell, especially as it is effecting my sporting performance more and more as each time i get the chest infection, it sets me back as i dont have the same lung capacity.
At my wits end!

[Victoireh]

Hi John,

Physical chest therapy is the mainstay treatment for many lung disorders, in particular, cystic fibrosis and severe COPD. It helps to remove the  excess mucous. With the build up of mucous in your airways, it creates the perfect environment for bacteria to flourish. Also antibiotics is given on a regular basis to some, such as in bronchiectasis and CF in order to keep the infections at bay. I have found that the easier it is for me to cough up excess lung mucous, the less likely they get infected. It's important for the mucous to keep moving out from your lungs.

You should consult your pulmonary specialist on this, as frequent chest infections can create further damage to your airways, which perpetuates even more infections.

[Mecca2009]

Hi. I replied to the previous post but not sure that it sent? Anyway, (once again) many thanks for taking the time to reply.
Further to some of your suggestions (1) Hydration - I would be quite good on this front, always something i would have been aware of and followed, especially due to its importance when exercising. Maybe ill try and increase this a bit, see if it makes a difference but would usually be sipping away at the water throughout the day!
(2) Physical chest therapy -  I have not tried this before and will definitely give it a go. Nothing to lose.

Regarding a Chest CT scan. I had one of those done about 2 yrs ago and they found nothing really - just indicated a touch of Bronchiectasis. The specialist didn't seem to be worried about it put it that way!

I do find exercise does help in removing the excess mucous - if i didnt get my lungs going for a week I would be feeling quite clogged up! Still though, because my chest keeps getting so caught up, its getting more difficult to do any proper training as i am simply not up to it too often. My lung capacity just drops and my body is under too much pressure to get through exercises properly.

Any further suggestions or thought would be more that appreciated.
Many thanks, John

[Victoireh]

It sounds like you are more a mucous producer then anything else with your asthma. I also tend to produce copious amounts of it, and have noticed it is very important to drink plenty of fluids regularly through out the day. Alcohol dehydrates the body, so I"m not surprised that you notice the congestion after drinking some. And if you are already dehydrated regularly, then your mucous is constantly thicker and more difficult for your lungs to expel. As a result it just builds up to the point that there is enough present to create an excellent environment for the bacteria to grow.

Exercise is an excellent way to help remove the excess mucous, but you must try to keep yourself hydrated. If this still doesn't help, then perhaps trying physical chest therapy a few times per week would help clear the excess secretions, and thereby reducing your lung infections.

I also think that you should get a chest CT-scan to get a clearer picture of what is going on in your lungs. Bronchiectasis sometimes can only be seen this way. Airway remodeling will cause mucous to pool and make a person very prone to infection. Not saying that you have it, nor am i a doctor. But with the frequency of your infections, you should try to pin point down the cause of them.