Treating and Managing NTM Lung Disease

How It's Treated

If you are diagnosed with NTM lung disease, you will work with your healthcare provider to make decisions about your treatment plan. How NTM is treated depends on the type of bacteria causing the infection, the severity of your symptoms and your health history. Because NTM can be challenging to get rid of, you should consider finding a pulmonologist or infectious disease specialist with experience treating people with NTM lung disease.

Managing the Disease

No matter what type of NTM lung disease you have, or how it is being treated, there are many things you can do to ease your symptoms and improve your overall health and well-being.

Taking care of your lungs is critically important to your recovery, especially if you also have bronchiectasis, COPD or another chronic lung disease. Some proven-effective recommendations are:

• Airway clearance techniques are used to reduce the mucus buildup in your lungs and airways. This helps prevent new infections, reduce uncontrolled coughing and improve breathing ability. Chest physical therapy, nebulized hypertonic saline, postural drainage, oscillation vests, chest percussion devices and controlled “huff” coughing can all be used to thin, loosen and expel thick mucus.
• Preventing infections through good hygiene and regular immunizations against influenza and pneumonia, both of which can cause severe complications for people living with NTM and other lung diseases.
• Avoiding exposure to smoke and other lung irritants helps to reduce inflammation that can worsen lung disease. If you are a person who uses tobacco it is especially important that you quit as soon as possible.

Other healthy behaviors that will help you manage your NTM disease include:

• Exercise to build your endurance, strengthen your breathing ability and lift your mood.
• A well-balanced diet to help you maintain a healthy weight and get the nutrients you need to fight your infection.

NTM lung disease is a serious infection that can have a significant impact on your life and that of your family and friends. Many people live with NTM experience depression and anxiety, and you should feel comfortable discussing these feelings with your provider and asking for help with treatment and support when you need it.

Reduce Exposure

You will also want to take some steps to reduce your exposure to NTM in your environment. Although it would be impossible to completely avoid these common organisms, there are some basic precautions you can take:

• Raise the temperature of your household water heater to at least 130° F. Be careful not to burn yourself or others if the water heater is set higher.
• Use a vent fan in your bathroom, kitchen and other steamy areas.
• Avoid hot tubs, spas and other indoor water sources that use an aerator or are recirculated.  
• Wear a good fitting dust mask when working in the yard.
• Wet down potting soil to reduce dust.

Finding Support

The Lung Association recommends patients and caregivers join our Living with Lung Disease Support Community to connect with others facing this disease. You can also call the Lung Association’s Lung Helpline at 1-800-LUNGUSA to talk to a trained respiratory professional who can help answer your questions and connect you with support.

Ask your healthcare provider about lung disease support groups in your area, or look online for a Better Breathers Club near you.

For More Information:

• Visit the NTM Info & Research website, the not-for-profit foundation for patients with NTM disease.