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Bronchitis

Chronic Bronchitis

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Facts

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the airways between the windpipe and the lungs (bronchial tubes). The lining of these tubes produces large amounts of mucus, triggering a lingering cough. About 1 in 20 people in North America suffers from chronic bronchitis. Women are more at risk than men.

Bronchitis can be acute or chronic, with symptoms like persistent cough and mucus production. Acute bronchitis often follows a viral infection, while chronic bronchitis is mainly caused by smoking.

Causes

There are 2 types of bronchitis:

Acute bronchitis comes on rapidly, usually after a virus has invaded the upper respiratory tract. Sometimes there is a bacterial infection as well. Viruses most likely to trigger acute bronchitis are those responsible for influenza (the flu) or the common cold. The germs that cause measles and whooping cough can also cause acute bronchitis. In these cases, it is called acute infectious bronchitis. The condition is called acute irritative bronchitis when it is caused by inhaling dust, fumes, or smoke.

Chronic bronchitis is defined as a mucus-producing cough that lasts for at least 3 months in 2 consecutive years. The most important cause by far is smoking. Exposure to some pollutants can also contribute to chronic bronchitis. A growing number of specialists believe that some kind of infection is a necessary final trigger of chronic bronchitis.

Typically, people with chronic bronchitis are smokers over 45 years of age. Certain jobs such as coal mining, welding, asbestos work, and grain handling also increase the risk of developing bronchitis.

Treatment and Prevention

For acute (infectious) bronchitis:

  • Antibiotics are normally only prescribed if the bronchitis is caused by bacteria. If a virus is the problem, the infection will generally go away by itself.
  • Over-the-counter painkillers are used to control the fever symptoms of a viral infection. Children should never take ASA* (acetylsalicylic acid) for a viral infection of the respiratory tract. It can cause Reye’s syndrome, which is a rare and lethal inflammation of the brain.
  • Cough medications used may be suppressants that control the cough, or expectorants that thin the bronchial secretions.
  • Bronchodilators are inhaled medications that help open up the airways. They are usually taken as a "puffer" (metered-dose inhaler) or as a mist used with a mask (nebuliser).

Non-medication remedies for acute bronchitis include:

  • drinking lots of fluids – this makes mucus easier to get rid of
  • using a cool or warm moist-air humidifier to help thin the mucus blocking the air passages

For chronic bronchitis:

  • Inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids used regularly may open the airways, decrease inflammation, and improve health-related quality of life.
  • Anticholinergic medications may help reduce the amount of coughing.
  • Corticosteroids pills such as prednisone are sometimes given when chronic bronchitis suddenly becomes worse – these medications help reduce the inflammation and swelling of the airways.

Non-medication remedies for chronic bronchitis include:

  • drinking plenty of fluid, which help to thin out the mucus so it is easier to get rid of
  • using a cool or warm moist-air humidifier to thin the mucus blocking the air passages (humidifiers should be cleaned according to the manufacturer’s directions to make sure bacteria or mould does not build up inside the machine)
  • exercising regularly
  • in some cases, taking oxygen therapy – this may be recommended for severe chronic bronchitis, especially when the symptoms suddenly worsen (many chronic bronchitis sufferers find that "home oxygen therapy" is helpful when they have difficulty breathing: this therapy is only useful if a measurement of oxygenation shows that the oxygen level in your blood is low)

If you already have chronic bronchitis and there has been some damage to the airways, quitting smoking slows down the disease and also lessens the chances of getting lung cancer. Seeking counselling from a health professional and joining a support group are the best ways to help you quit smoking.

Quitting smoking is also the best way to prevent bronchitis. Another important preventive measure is to be vaccinated against influenza, pneumonia, and pertussis. These vaccinations are recommended for seniors, people with certain medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease), and everyone with chronic bronchitis or COPD.

*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Bronchitis

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