Could Your Cough Be Bronchitis?
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What is Bronchitis?
- Bronchitis is an inflammation in the lungs that some people call a chest cold.
- It can be a miserable, but minor, illness that follows a viral illness like the common cold or
it may follow a more serious condition like a chronic smoker's hack. - Bronchitis can also be caused by exposure to smoke, chemical irritants, or bacteria.
- A cough, phlegm & feeling tired are typical symptoms of bronchitis, but these are also
symptoms of other illnesses, so getting the right diagnosis & treatment is important.
Bronchitis: Inside Your Lungs
- When the bronchial tubes that carry air deep into your lungs become inflamed, the inner
lining swells & grows thicker, narrowing the breathing passages. - These irritated membranes also secrete extra mucus, which coats and sometimes clogs
the small airways. - Coughing spells are the body's way of trying to clear out these secretions for easier breathing.
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Symptoms of Bronchitis
The main symptom of bronchitis
is a productive cough that persists several days to weeks .
Other symptoms that may occur are:
- Fatigue
- Wheezing sounds when breathing
- Tightness or dull pain in the chest
- Shortness of breath
Fever is unusual & suggests pneumonia or flu.
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Acute Bronchitis: How Long Does It Last?
- Acute bronchitis often develops three to four days after a cold or the flu.
- It may start with a dry cough, then after a few days the coughing spells may bring up mucus.
- Most people get over an acute bout of bronchitis in two to three weeks, although the cough
can sometimes hang on for 4 weeks or more. - If you're in otherwise good health, your lungs will return to normal after you've recovered
from the initial infection.
Repeated Bouts: Chronic Bronchitis
- Doctors suspect this illness when you have a cough with phlegm on most days for at
least three months in a year, for two years in a row. - Chronic bronchitis is a serious condition that makes your lungs a breeding ground for
bacterial infections & may require ongoing medical treatment. - It's one form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe.
- The 'smoker's cough' is sometimes a sign of bronchitis & COPD.
Bronchitis or Something Else?
- The symptoms of bronchitis are often the same as those of other conditions, such as
asthma, pneumonia, allergies, the common cold, influenza, sinusitis & gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD) & lung cancer. - See your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis.
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Causes of Acute Bronchitis
- This form of bronchitis is more common in winter & 9 out of 10 cases are caused by a virus.
- Irritants, like tobacco smoke, smog, chemicals in household cleaners, even fumes or dust
in the environment, can also cause acute bronchitis.
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Smokers & Bronchitis
- Smoking is by far the most common cause of chronic bronchitis.
- A smoker who gets acute bronchitis will have a much harder time recovering.
- Even one puff on a cigarette can cause temporary damage to the tiny hair-like structures
(cilia) in the airways that brush out debris, irritants & excess mucus. - Further smoking continues the damage & increases the chances of chronic bronchitis,
which can lead to increased risk of lung infection & permanent lung damage. - It's time to quit smoking!
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Causes of Chronic Bronchitis
- Workplace exposure to dust & toxic gases is a also a cause of bronchitis for miners & grain handlers but is less common cause than smoking.
- Air pollution can make symptoms worse for people with chronic bronchitis.
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How is Acute Bronchitis Diagnosed?
- Doctors usually diagnose acute bronchitis by reviewing how your symptoms have
developed over time &through a physical examination. - Using a stethoscope, your doctor will listen for any abnormal sounds produced within
your lungs when you breathe.
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When to Call the Doctor
Check in with your medical provider if you:
- Feel short of breath or wheeze
- Cough up blood
- Have a fever greater than 101 F (38 C)
- Have a cough lasting more than four weeks
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How is Chronic Bronchitis Diagnosed?
- Your doctor may recommend pulmonary function testing after doing a medical history
& physical exam. - Pulmonary function tests like spirometry measure how well the lungs are working.
- A chest X-ray may also be done.
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Treatment: Acute Bronchitis
- The only treatment generally needed for acute bronchitis is symptom relief:
1. Drink lots of fluids
2. Get plenty of rest
3. Avoiding smoke & fumes. - A non-prescription pain reliever may help with body aches.
- Your doctor may prescribe an expectorant to help loosen mucus so it can be more easily coughed up or an inhaled bronchodilator medicine to open your airways.
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Treatment: Chronic Bronchitis
- If you have chronic bronchitis related to smoking, the most important thing to do is to quit smoking to prevent ongoing damage to your lungs.
- Unless your doctor advises against it, get a pneumococcal vaccine & an annual flu vaccine.
- Treatment may include bronchodilators & steroids (inhaled or by mouth).
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Chronic Bronchitis & COPD
- Chronic bronchitis & emphysema are the 2 main forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Doctors may prescribe bronchodilators, which are drugs that help open constricted airways.
- Oxygen therapy helps some people breathe better & a pulmonary rehab program can
improve your quality of life. - Quitting smoking is a must to stop further lung damage.
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How to Avoid Bronchitis
- It's no surprise that the best way to decrease your risk is not to smoke or allow others to
smoke in your home. - Other ways include:
1. Avoiding colds
2. Staying away from things that irritate your nose, throat & lungs, such as dust or pets.
3. Also, if you catch a cold, get plenty of rest and take your medicine as directed.
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