HEALTH: TREATMENT OF - BRONCHITIS (BRONCHITIS

HEALTH: BRONCHITIS (SYMPTOMS & TREATMENT OF CHRONIC BRONCHITIS) Asthma>>

What is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs.

Bronchitis is a respiratory disease in which the mucous membrane in the lungs' bronchial passages becomes inflamed. As the irritated membrane swells and grows thicker, it narrows or shuts off the tiny airways in the lungs, resulting in coughing spells accompanied by thick phlegm and breathlessness. The disease comes in two forms: acute (lasting less than 6 weeks) and chronic (reoccurring frequently for more than two years). In addition, people with asthma also experience an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes called asthmatic bronchitis.

Acute bronchitis is responsible for the hacking cough and phlegm production that sometimes accompany an upper respiratory infection. In most cases the infection is viral in origin, but sometimes it's caused by bacteria. If you are otherwise in good health, the mucous membrane will return to normal after you've recovered from the initial lung infection, which usually lasts for several days.

Chronic bronchitis is a serious long-term disorder that often requires regular medical treatment.

If you are a smoker and come down with acute bronchitis, it will be much harder for you to recover. Even one puff on a cigarette is enough to cause temporary paralysis of the tiny hair like structures in your lungs, called cilia, that are responsible for brushing out debris, irritants, and excess mucus.

If you continue smoking, you may do sufficient damage to these cilia to prevent them from functioning properly, thus increasing your chances of developing chronic bronchitis. In some heavy smokers, the membrane stays inflamed and the cilia eventually stop functioning altogether. Clogged with mucus, the lungs are then vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections, which over time distort and permanently damage the lungs' airways. This permanent condition is called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Your doctor can perform a breathing test, called spirometry, to see if you have developed COPD.

Acute bronchitis is very common among both children and adults. The disorder often can be treated effectively without professional medical assistance. However, if you have severe or persistent symptoms or if you cough up blood, you should see your doctor. If you suffer from chronic bronchitis, you are at risk for developing cardiovascular problems as well as more serious lung diseases and infections, you should be monitored by a doctor. Treatment for bronchitis focuses on relieving your symptoms and easing your breathing.

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Also see: Emphysema Lung Cancer Asthma Allergies Pneumonia Sinuses Common Cold Influenza/Flu Swine Flu

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Health: Causes and Risk Factors of Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is generally caused by lung infections; approximately 90% of these infections are viral in origin, 10% bacterial. Acute bronchitis generally follows a viral respiratory infection. At first, it affects your nose, sinuses, and throat and then spreads to the lungs. The same viruses that cause colds often cause acute bronchitis. But you can also develop noninfectious bronchitis from exposure to your own or someone else's tobacco smoke and from pollutants such as household cleaners and smog.

Bronchitis may also occur when acids from your stomach consistently back up into your food pipe (esophagus) and a few drops go into your upper airway, a health condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). And workers exposed to certain dusts or fumes may develop occupational bronchitis, an acute disease that generally clears up when exposure to the irritant stops.

People with health risk for acute bronchitis include:

Elderly, infants, and young children
Persons with heart or lung disease
Smokers

Chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis may be caused by one or several factors. Repeated attacks of acute bronchitis, which weaken and irritate bronchial airways over time, can result in chronic bronchitis. Sometimes inflammation and thickening of the lining of your bronchial tubes become permanent. You're generally considered to have chronic bronchitis if you cough most days for at least three months a year in two consecutive years.

Industrial pollution is another culprit. Chronic bronchitis is found in higher-than-normal rates among coal miners, grain handlers, metal molders, and other people who are continually exposed to dust. But the chief cause is heavy, long-term cigarette smoking, which irritates the bronchial tubes and causes them to produce excess mucus.

Often, smokers with chronic bronchitis cough almost every day, even if it's just to "clear their throats" in the morning. The symptoms of chronic bronchitis are also worsened by high concentrations of sulfur dioxide and other pollutants in the atmosphere, such as dust, toxic gases in the environment or workplace.

Unlike acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis is an ongoing, serious disease.

Factors that increase your health risk of bronchitis are:

Cigarette smoke. People who smoke or who live with a smoker are at greatest health risk of both acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis. Children in households where someone smokes also are susceptible to bronchitis, as well as to asthma, pneumonia, colds and middle ear infections (otitis media).

Low resistance. This may result from another acute health condition, such as a cold, or from a chronic condition that compromises your immune system. Older adults, infants and young children have greater vulnerability to infection.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Stomach acids that persistently back up into your esophagus may cause a chronic cough.

Exposure to irritants on the job. You run the health risk of developing occupational bronchitis if you work around certain lung irritants, such as grains or textiles, or are exposed to chemical fumes from ammonia, strong acids, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide or bromine. The cough associated with occupational bronchitis may be dry (nonproductive). Occupational bronchitis usually clears up when you're no longer exposed to these substances. This type of bronchitis isn't related to any infectious agent, but the irritation of the airways makes you more susceptible to getting an infection.

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BRONCHITIS NATURAL CURE AND PREVENTION
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Health: Symptoms of Bronchitis

The symptoms of either type of bronchitis, both acute or chronic may include the following:

Cough that produces mucus; if it's yellow-green, you are more likely to have a bacterial infection.
Production of mucus (sputum), either clear or white or yellowish-gray or green in color.
Shortness of breath, made worse by mild exertion.
Wheezing sound when breathing.
Fatigue and lack of energy.
Slight fever and chills.
Chest discomfort.

Even after acute bronchitis has cleared, you may have a dry, nagging cough that lingers for several weeks. However, the symptoms of bronchitis can be deceptive. You don't always produce sputum when you have bronchitis, and children often swallow coughed-up material, so parents may not know there's a secondary infection.
You can develop chronic bronchitis without first developing acute bronchitis. And many smokers have to clear their throats every morning when they get up, which, if it continues for more than three months, may be chronic bronchitis. The symptoms of acute bronchitis usually start 3 or 4 days after an upper respiratory tract infection. Most people get better in 2 to 3 weeks.

Pneumonia can have symptoms like acute bronchitis. Because pneumonia can be serious, it is important to know the differences between the two illnesses. Symptoms of pneumonia can include a high fever, shaking chills, and shortness of breath.

Symptoms of chronic bronchitis
If you have chronic bronchitis, long-term inflammation leads to scarring of the bronchial tubes, producing excessive mucus. Over time, the lining of the bronchial tubes thickens, and your airways eventually may become scarred.

Symptoms of chronic bronchitis may also include the following:

Cough that's worse in the mornings and in damp weather.
Frequent respiratory infections (such as colds or the flu) with a worsening productive cough.
Ankle, feet, and leg swelling.
Blue-colored lips from low levels of oxygen.

If you have chronic bronchitis, you're likely to have periods when your symptoms worsen. At those times, you may have superimposed acute bronchitis, either viral or bacterial, in addition to chronic bronchitis.

When to see your health care provider
Acute bronchitis usually resolves on its own in a few days. See your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms:

A chest cold that lasts for more than two weeks.
You have a low-grade fever that persists more than three days or a fever higher than 101 F (38.3 C), you're breathless, or you cough up bloody or yellow or green mucus. You may have pneumonia. Discolored mucus usually indicates a bacterial infection, which would respond to antibiotics. You also may have developed a bacterial sinusitis.
A severe cough that produced blood and prevents you from sleeping. Your doctor may recommend prescription cough suppressants to help you rest.
A shortness of breath or wheezing.

Your cough lasts more than three weeks. The inflammation from a chronic infection can lead to asthma in some people.

You have chronic lung or heart problems, including asthma, emphysema or congestive heart failure, and think you may have developed bronchitis. These conditions put you at greater risk of developing complications from bronchial infections.

You have repeated bouts of bronchitis. You may have chronic bronchitis or another serious health condition, such as asthma or bronchiectasis, a stretching of the respiratory passages caused by mucus blockage.

Health: Diagnosis and Tests of Bronchitis

Tests are usually unnecessary in the case of acute bronchitis, as the disease is easy to detect from your medical history and on examination. Your health care provider will simply use a stethoscope to listen for the rattling sound in your lungs' upper airways that typically accompanies the problem.

In cases of chronic bronchitis, the doctor will almost certainly augment these procedures with an X-ray of your chest to check the extent of the lung damage, as well as with pulmonary function tests to measure how well your lungs are working.

To diagnose bronchitis, your health care provider may take the following precedures:

Use a stethoscope to listen for wheezing and other abnormal sounds in your lungs.

Chest X-ray of your chest to check the extent of the lung damage.

Pulse oximetry helps determine the amount of oxygen in your blood. This quick and painless test uses a device that is placed onto the end of your finger. Arterial blood gas is a more exact measurement of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, but it requires a needle stick and is more painful.

Sputum samples may be taken to check for signs of inflammation or bacterial infection.

Pulmonary function test (PFT), to rule out other causes for your symptoms.

Pulmonary function test
This test checks for signs of asthma or emphysema. During a pulmonary function test, you blow into a device called a spirometer, which measures the volume of air in your lungs after you've taken a deep breath and blown it out. The spirometer also shows how quickly you can get air out of your lungs.

The test is painless and takes just a few minutes. If you have repeated bouts of bronchitis and your doctor doesn't suggest a pulmonary function test, ask to have one done.

Health: Conventional Treatment for Bronchitis

Conventional treatment for acute bronchitis may consist of simple measures such as getting plenty of rest, drinking lots of fluids, avoiding smoke and fumes. Most people can treat symptoms of acute bronchitis at home. Use an over-the-counter cough medicine with an expectorant if your doctor recommends it. This can help you bring up mucus when you cough. Suck on cough drops or hard candies to soothe a dry or sore throat. Cough drops won't stop your cough, but they may make your throat feel better. Most people don't need antibiotics for acute bronchitis.

If your symptoms of bronchitis do not improve, your doctor may prescribe an inhaler to open your airways. If your doctor thinks that you have a secondary bacterial infection, antibiotics will be prescribed.

The goal of treatment for bronchitis is to relieve symptoms and ease breathing. Sometimes, all you may need to recover from acute bronchitis is:

Rest
Drinking fluids
Breathing in warm, moist air
Taking an over-the-counter (OTC) cough suppressant and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or aspirin (for adults)

In severe cases of chronic bronchitis, inhaled or oral steroids to reduce inflammation and/or supplemental oxygen may be necessary. Alternative choices, by and large, help relieve the accompanying discomfort but do not treat infections.

In healthy people who have normal lungs and no chronic health problems, antibiotics are not necessary, even when the infection is bacterial. The productive (phlegm-producing) coughing that comes with acute bronchitis is to be expected and, in most cases, encouraged; coughing is your body's way of getting rid of excess mucus. However, if your cough is truly disruptive -- that is, it keeps you from sleeping or is so violent it becomes painful -- or nonproductive (dry and raspy sounding), your doctor may prescribe a cough suppressant. In most cases, you should simply do all the things you usually would do for a cold: Take or acetaminophen for discomfort and drink lots of liquids.

If you have chronic bronchitis, your lungs are vulnerable to infections. However, the most important and most successful treatment for chronic bronchitis and COPD is smoking cessation. Your doctor may also prescribe steroids to reduce inflammation in the airways.

In severe cases of chronic bronchitis with COPD, if your body's ability to transfer oxygen from your lungs into the bloodstream is significantly handicapped, your doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy, either on a continuous or on an as-needed basis. Oxygen-delivering devices are widely available. If you use an oxygen tank at home, be sure to take special care not to expose the apparatus to flammable materials (alcohol and aerosol sprays, for example) or to sources of direct heat, such as hair dryers or radiators.

If you smoke, your doctor will urge you to quit. Studies show that people who kick the habit even in the advanced stages of chronic bronchitis and COPD not only can reduce the severity of their symptoms but also can increase their life expectancy.

In some circumstances, your health care provider may prescribe medications:

Antibiotics. Bronchitis usually results from a viral infection, so antibiotics aren't effective. However, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if he or she suspects that you have a bacterial infection. If you have a chronic lung disorder or if you smoke, your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to reduce your health risk of a serious, secondary infection.

Cough medicine. It's best not to suppress a cough that brings up mucus, because coughing helps remove irritants from your lungs and air passages. If your cough keeps you from sleeping, use enough OTC cough medicine so that you can rest, but not enough to suppress your cough completely. If your cough is seriously depriving you of sleep, your doctor may recommend a prescription cough suppressant.

Other medications. If you have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), your doctor may recommend an inhaler and other medications to reduce inflammation and open narrowed passages in your lungs.

Therapies
If you have chronic bronchitis, talk to your doctor about pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a breathing exercise program in which you work with a respiratory therapist to help you learn to breathe more easily and increase your ability to exercise.

Health: Prevention of Bronchitis

For acute bronchitis:

During the acute phase of your illness when you are experiencing fever, shortness of breath, or wheezing, stay at home, keep warm, and drink plenty of fluids. You don't necessarily need to stay in bed, but don't overextend yourself. Consider using a vaporizer, or try inhaling steam over a sink full of hot water.

For chronic bronchitis:

Avoid exposure to paint or exhaust fumes, dust, and people with colds. Consider using a vaporizer or inhaling steam over a sink full of hot water. Dress warmly in cold, dry weather. Get help to quit smoking

These health measures may help prevent bronchitis and protect your lungs:

Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. Tobacco smoke increases your risk of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Try to avoid people who have colds or flu. The less you're exposed to the viruses that lead to bronchitis, the lower your health risk of getting it. Avoid crowds during flu season.

Get an annual flu vaccine. Many cases of acute bronchitis result from influenza, a virus. Getting a yearly flu vaccine can help protect you from getting the flu, which in turn, may reduce your health risk of bronchitis.

Ask your doctor about a pneumonia shot. If you're older than 60 or you have risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease and emphysema, consider having a pneumonia shot. In addition, a vaccine known as Prevnar can help protect young children against pneumonia. It's recommended for all children under age 2 and for children 2 to 5 years old who are at particular health risk of pneumococcal disease, such as those with an immune system deficiency, asthma, cardiovascular disease or sickle cell anemia. Side effects of the pneumococcal vaccine are generally minor and include mild soreness or swelling at the injection site. If you had a pneumonia shot five or more years ago, your doctor may recommend that you get another one.

Wash your hands or use hand sanitizers regularly. To reduce your health risk of catching a viral infection, wash your hands frequently and get in the habit of using hand sanitizers. And don't touch the inside of your nose or rub your eyes.

When practical, wear a mask. If you have to spend a lot of time around other people who are coughing and sneezing, it's a good idea to wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose to reduce your health risk of infection.

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Disclaimer: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner. Therefore any content of this site is strictly intended for educational and informational purpose only. Any access to this site is strictly on a voluntary basis and at the sole discretion of the user. No content of this site is intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor constitute the practice of any medical profession or health care provider. The information provided on this site is here to educate visitors on health issues that may affect their lives. Otherwise, always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. And never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.

Sources: NIH News In Health/National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine/Dept of Health and Human Services

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