A Blackburn man said he struggles to climb the stairs and is often left feeling breathless, due to an “awful” lung condition that is thought to affect one in 100 people.

Usman Ashraf was diagnosed with asthma when he was aged 10, but despite his condition, he enjoyed a variety of sports including football, cricket, cycling, and swimming.

However, 10 years ago Usman contracted pneumonia, causing his asthma to develop into a severe form called bronchiectasis.

Bronchiectasis is a long-term condition where the airways of the lungs become widened, leading to a build-up of excess mucus that can make the lungs more vulnerable to infection.

Usman’s lungs function at about 20 per cent, leaving him breathless and limiting his oxygen intake, which can leave him feeling tired and lethargic.

Living with Bronchiectasis has been quite a challenge for Usman. On the bad days, he struggles to get out of bed.

Usman is no longer able to participate in the activities he once enjoyed when he was younger, and it also forced him to change his job.

These changes took a toll on Usman’s mental health, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when he had to isolate from his wife and three children to avoid getting the virus.

It was during these difficult times that Usman discovered a Facebook group where people living with similar conditions shared their success stories.

Reading about others gaining control of their condition inspired him to take steps to improve his health, not only for his own sake but to be able to support his family and care for his elderly parents.

Once the pandemic restrictions eased, the father-of-two was proactive and joined a men’s support group organised by charity One Voice Blackburn.

He contacted physiotherapists who taught him new breathing techniques, giving him the confidence to take control of his situation.

He started taking short walks of a few hundred metres several times a day to visit his parents and neighbours.

For Usman, being active and walking short distances has been life-changing. It has allowed him to continue to breathe naturally, without relying on an oxygen tank, he can work, support his family and live a happy, fulfilling life.

He said: “When I first got ill I was always coughing. I couldn’t put two letters together never mind have a conversation.

“I struggle to go up and down stairs and with lifting. I [now go out on] brisk walks.

"It’s important to me to be physically active because I want to support my family and look after my elderly parents.

“If I don’t get moving and get my steps in I know I am going to get ill a lot quicker and my lung capacity will decrease and I will have to take the offer of an oxygen tank.

“It’s an awful condition but I have managed to live with it. I am mobile, I am happy and my mental health is a lot better than it was.”

Bronchiectasis is thought to be fairly uncommon. It's estimated around one in every 100 adults in the UK have the condition.

It can affect anyone at any age, but symptoms do not usually develop until middle age.

The damage caused to the lungs by bronchiectasis is permanent, but treatment can help relieve symptoms and stop the damage from getting worse.

The main treatments include:

  • exercises and special devices to help you clear mucus out of your lungs
  • medicine to help improve airflow within the lungs
  • antibiotics to treat any lung infections

Surgery is usually only considered for bronchiectasis in rare cases where other treatments have not been effective, the damage to your bronchi is confined to a small area, and you're in good general health.

Complications of bronchiectasis are rare, but they can be serious.

One of the most serious complications is coughing up large amounts of blood, caused by one of the blood vessels in the lungs splitting.

The most common symptoms of bronchiectasis include:

  • a persistent cough that usually brings up phlegm (sputum)
  • shortness of breath

The severity of symptoms can vary widely. Some people have only a few symptoms that do not appear often, while others have wide-ranging daily symptoms.

The symptoms tend to get worse if you develop an infection in your lungs.

For information about how to move more, even with chronic health conditions, visit: weareundefeatable.co.uk