Chronic bronchitis requires treatment in order to get better; medicines known as bronchodilators loosen mucus and improve breathing while anti-inflammatories help relieve coughs.
Your healthcare provider may order chest X-rays, nose and throat swabs or blood tests to identify what’s causing your symptoms, as well as look for infections. Pulmonary function tests or breathing tests could also provide valuable insight.
Symptoms
Bronchitis is the inflammation or irritation of your main airways (called bronchi) in your lungs. When these bronchi are inflamed, they produce thick mucus which obstructs breathing. A cough is the main symptom of bronchitis; coughed-up mucus may appear yellow or green in color with an unpleasant bitter flavor; chronic cases may require medication from a healthcare provider in order to ease symptoms.
Most cases of acute bronchitis, usually in wintertime and following influenza or another viral infection in the upper respiratory tract, are caused by viruses; however, other triggers for inflammation could include bacteria or irritation from things like smoke, pollution or having large tonsils and adenoids that have grown over time. Pneumonia is also often a complication associated with both acute and chronic forms of bronchitis.
Your doctor can typically diagnose bronchitis by listening to and examining your breathing, while also inspecting the areas around your nose, throat and lungs. They’ll ask about symptoms as well as duration. Chest X-rays may be done to check for pneumonia or whooping cough (also known as pertussis) while mucus samples will also be taken from you in order to check for infection signs as well as measure levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in your bloodstream.
Acute bronchitis typically resolves on its own within several weeks. If you are older or have chronic illnesses like heart trouble, asthma or COPD, however, medical intervention may be required. Your doctor may suggest medication to loosen mucus, cough medicine or an exercise program called pulmonary rehabilitation, antibiotics if they suspect you have a bacterial infection and even getting a flu shot; alternatively they could recommend getting one and avoid smoking or secondhand smoke while decreasing pollutants exposure; additionally they could suggest eating low sodium diet while encouraging sufficient restful sleep! If it becomes chronic however they might also prescribe inhaled steroids to prevent flare ups; additionally low sodium diet recommendations might also help in addition to getting enough restful restful rest!
Diagnosis
Healthcare providers can diagnose bronchitis by conducting a physical exam and listening to your breathing with a stethoscope, asking about past health, symptoms and risk factors and may order a chest X-ray or blood tests to check for pneumonia or other conditions that cause coughs; they might also test your mucus for bacteria using cough and spit into tubes; they could even perform pulmonary function tests which measure how well your lungs work.
Acute bronchitis can be caused by viruses that also cause colds or flus. Other triggers include tobacco smoke, dust or chemical fumes from work environments; chronic lung conditions like asthma or COPD may increase your likelihood of episodes of acute bronchitis more often than usual.
Your doctor will likely suggest rest and plenty of fluids. They may prescribe antibiotics if they suspect your bronchitis may have a bacterial source; however, antibiotics won’t help if its caused by viruses instead.
Bronchitis can develop into pneumonia when an infection spreads into the lungs, potentially being life-threatening for older adults, smokers or anyone living with chronic health conditions.
If your bronchitis is chronic, a specialist such as a pulmonologist might refer you for further care and recommend breathing exercise programs or medication to improve lung function and decrease inflammation and swelling of the lungs. An expert might also advise getting immunizations to protect against future infections, and quitting smoking, if applicable. You might need an inhaler if asthma or chronic obstructive bronchitis exist, too. You may require other prescriptions if you suffer from another lung or heart condition. For instance, if you suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, your doctor may suggest starting inhaled steroids in order to control inflammation and decrease flare-ups.
Treatment
Bronchitis occurs when the main airways of your lungs (bronchial tubes) become inflamed and swollen, producing mucus that causes coughing that usually brings up yellow-grey phlegm with streaks of blood, usually manifested through coughing. Acute bronchitis can be caused either by viruses (the most frequent cause) or bacteria infections; for bacterial infections antibiotics may be prescribed while with viral infections natural healing will have to take place in order to cure them of its symptoms;
Your healthcare provider should be able to detect bronchitis based on your description of symptoms and physical exam, using a stethoscope and listening carefully for any sounds from your lungs and throat as well as looking out for signs of infection such as fever or coughing. Phlegm from coughs may also be examined to see whether they were caused by viral or bacterial infection – the color of its sputum will help reveal this. A chest X-ray may be necessary in rare instances but is usually unnecessary when diagnosing bronchitis.
Acute bronchitis should clear up on its own within three weeks without medical intervention, but you should consult your physician if the symptoms last longer or recur repeatedly. Also see your physician if symptoms indicate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is an ongoing problem for you.
Rest, avoidance of smoking and plenty of fluid intake are the keys to treating bronchitis effectively. Home remedies which may reduce its symptoms include honey (which according to studies can shorten its duration), herbs and spices to soothe your cough as well as lifestyle modifications to open airways and decrease inflammation may help manage symptoms; other preventive measures include washing hands frequently as well as receiving flu and pneumonia vaccine shots.
Prevention
As they recover from acute bronchitis, patients should drink plenty of fluids and rest. Smokers and secondhand smokers should refrain from smoking to prolong coughs. Furthermore, avoid dust, fumes and pet dander which could irritate lungs further and hinder recovery efforts. This will allow their lungs to remain healthier while fighting infection more effectively.
If the symptoms of bronchitis do not improve or worsen, a visit to your physician is advised. They will perform a physical exam and question about symptoms before providing lung X-rays to check for pneumonia or other issues. They may also conduct blood tests to see how effectively your immune system is fighting off infection as well as conducting sputum cultures to determine whether mucus contains bacteria.
Acute bronchitis typically heals on its own within one to two weeks; chronic forms require long-term care. People can help avoid acute cases by getting adequate rest and washing their hands frequently with soap and water to clean away dirt or germs, getting their flu and pneumonia shots each year, avoiding dust, fumes or cigarettes smoke irritants like dust, fumes or smoke, using humidifiers or masks when necessary when in situations that expose them to chemical fumes or dust particles.
Symptoms of bronchitis include coughing that persists for more than three weeks and fever. Its main source is viral infection; however, bacteria such as Staph can also contribute to its development. Influenza (the flu), respiratory syncytial virus infection, adenoviruses, or coronavirus can all cause bronchitis; while also viral diseases like Influenza may be involved.
Acute bronchitis is highly contagious, spreading from one person to the next by breathing in infected air and sharing food or drinking bottles. Mother-to-infant transmission of acute bronchitis during labor or from sharing drinking bottles should also be considered transmission. Prevention involves regularly washing hands with soap, covering your mouth when coughing/sneezing and discarding used tissues quickly; additionally it’s beneficial to limit close contact with sick individuals, while using a face mask while traveling.