One of the most common diseases among adults as well as in children is bronchitis. About 5% of affected adults and 6% of children in a year are making this as one of the most common contagious diseases. People usually suffer from cough and cold for a long period of time and don’t even know that it can be a viral infection as they are not aware about what is bronchitis. It is caused by a virus followed by short term illness. This is a respiratory disease wherein the mucus membrane present in the bronchial passages gets inflamed. As this irritated membrane swells, it grows thicker and it narrows or shuts off the small airways in the lungs, which results in coughing spells that can also be accompanied by phlegm and difficulty in breathing causing breathlessness.
The disease is in two forms: acute (duration of one to three weeks) and chronic (duration of least 3 months of the year for two years in a row). One of the most common causes of chronic bronchitis is cigarette smoking as well as exposure to pesticides. Usually chest X-ray, lung function testing and blood testing are used to diagnose bronchitis. Symptoms of bronchitis are very similar with common cold, coughing, mucus production which can be clear, white, yellowish-gray or green in color — rarely, it may be streaked with blood, fatigue, fever and blocked or runny nose.
In acute bronchitis, one may have a nagging cough that can linger for several weeks after the inflammation reduces. While chronic bronchitis is defined as a persistent cough that lasts for at least three months, with recurring stretches occurring for at least two consecutive years. In chronic bronchitis, it is possible to have periods when the signs and symptoms worsen. At those times, one can have acute bronchitis along with your chronic bronchitis. As people don’t recognize the difference between what is bronchitis and what is common cold, it tends to lead to serious conditions especially in case of asthma patients. Hence one should visit the doctor if common cold lasts too long with such symptoms.
Ideally the conventional treatment consists of taking plenty of rest, drinking and consuming lots of fluids, avoiding smoke and fumes, and if required getting a prescription for a bronchodilator and/or cough syrup from a physician. Chronic bronchitis treatment can include oral steroids in order to reduce the inflammation and/or supplemental oxygen may be required. Do not take/consume an over-the-counter cough suppressant medicine to treat chronic bronchitis. In chronic bronchitis, the lungs are vulnerable to multiple infections.
On doctor’s advice, get a yearly flu shot as well as a vaccination against pneumonia. There are some home remedies available as well which can be used like keeping yourself warm, taking steam, using vaporizer and avoiding smoke and pollution. As the major causes of bronchitis are viral or bacterial infections, the other causes also include irritants like tobacco, smoke, air pollution, or chemicals. In order to take precautions ask, the doctor about what is bronchitis, and how is it different from common cold.
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