There is no cure for chronic bronchitis, but there are several medications to help relieve symptoms. It is also important to avoid smoking and smoky environments, as this can make your symptoms worse.
Read more about treating bronchitis. The bronchi are the main airways in your lungs, which branch off on either side of your windpipe trachea. They lead to smaller and smaller airways inside your lungs, known as bronchioles.
The walls of the bronchi produce mucus to trap dust and other particles that could otherwise cause irritation. Most cases of acute bronchitis develop when an infection causes the bronchi to become irritated and inflamed, which causes them to produce more mucus than usual.
Your body tries to shift this extra mucus through coughing. Smoking is the most common cause of chronic bronchitis. Over time, tobacco smoke can cause permanent damage to the bronchi, causing them to become inflamed. Read more about the causes of bronchitis. Pneumonia is the most common complication of bronchitis. It happens when the infection spreads further into the lungs, causing air sacs inside the lungs to fill up with fluid. Mild pneumonia can usually be treated with antibiotics at home.
More severe cases may require admission to hospital. Read more about the treatment of pneumonia. Acute bronchitis is one of the most common types of lung infection, and is one of the top five reasons for GP visits. Acute bronchitis can affect people of all ages, but is most common in younger children under the age of five. It is more common in winter, and often develops following a cold , sore throat or flu.
It is estimated that there are around 2 million people in the UK affected by chronic bronchitis. Most of these are adults over the age of The main symptom of bronchitis is a hacking cough.
It is likely that your cough will bring up thick yellow-grey mucus phlegm , although this does not always happen. Other symptoms of bronchitis are similar to those of other infections, such as the common cold or sinusitis , and may include:. If you have bronchitis, your cough may last for several weeks after other symptoms have gone. You may also find that the continual coughing makes your chest and stomach muscles sore.
Some people may experience shortness of breath or wheezing, due to inflamed airways. However, this is more common with long-term chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is often known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. The symptoms are often worse in the winter, and it is common to have two or more flare-ups a year. A flare-up is when your symptoms are particularly bad. The bronchitis infection can be caused by either a virus or bacteria, although viral bronchitis is much more common.
In most cases, bronchitis is caused by the same viruses that cause the common cold or flu. The virus is contained in the millions of tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. These droplets typically spread about 1m 3ft. They hang suspended in the air for a while, then land on surfaces where the virus can survive for up to 24 hours.
Anyone who touches these surfaces can spread the virus further by touching something else. Everyday items at home and in public places, such as door handles and keyboards, may have traces of the virus on them. Stopping smoking while you have bronchitis can also be the perfect opportunity to quit altogether. Find out more about stop smoking treatments.
You may also be at risk of chronic bronchitis and other types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD if you're often exposed to materials that can damage your lungs, such as:. This is sometimes known as occupational bronchitis.
It usually eases once you're no longer exposed to the irritant substance. Find out more about the causes of COPD. In most cases, acute bronchitis clears up by itself within a few weeks without the need for treatment. In some cases, the symptoms of bronchitis can last much longer.
If symptoms last for at least 3 months, it's known as chronic bronchitis. There's no cure for chronic bronchitis, but some lifestyle changes can help ease your symptoms, such as:. Medicines called bronchodilators and steroids "open up" the airways and can be prescribed as an inhaler or as tablets. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA has recommended that over-the-counter cough medicines should not be given to children under the age of 6.
As an alternative to an over-the-counter cough medicine, try making your own mixture of honey and lemon, which can help soothe a sore throat and ease your cough. Antibiotics are not routinely prescribed for bronchitis because it's normally caused by a virus.
Antibiotics have no effect on viruses, and prescribing them when they're unnecessary can, over time, make bacteria more resistant to antibiotic treatment. A GP will only prescribe antibiotics if you have an increased risk of developing complications, such as pneumonia.
If you're prescribed antibiotics for bronchitis, it's likely to be a 5-day course of amoxicillin or doxycycline. It happens when the infection spreads further into the lungs, causing the tiny air sacs inside the lungs to fill up with fluid.
Mild pneumonia can usually be treated with antibiotics at home. Bronchitis happens when a virus, bacteria, or irritant particles trigger an inflammation of the bronchial tubes. Smoking is a key risk factor, but nonsmokers can also develop bronchitis. Acute bronchitis can result from :. Chronic bronchitis results from repeated irritation and damage to the lung and airway tissues. The most common cause is smoking, but not everyone with bronchitis is a smoker. Exposure to pesticides may increase the risk.
People with asthma or allergies have a higher risk of both types of the disease. The best way to avoid chronic bronchitis is to avoid smoking. A doctor may advise a person with bronchitis to:. Taking OTC medication will help relieve a cough and ease any accompanying pain. In time, acute bronchitis will go away, often without treatment. The symptoms of chronic bronchitis may resolve or improve for a while. However, they will come back or become worse again, especially if there is exposure to smoke or other triggers.
Options that may help include :. Cough medicine : Coughing is useful for removing mucus from the bronchial tubes, but medication can help bring relief, for example, at night. Cough medicine is available for purchase online. Using a humidifier : This can loosen mucus, improve airflow, and relieve wheezing.
Mucolytics : These loosen or thin mucus in the airways, making it easier to cough up sputum. Anti-inflammatory and steroid drugs : These can help reduce inflammation that can cause tissue damage.
Oxygen therapy : In severe cases, a person may need supplemental oxygen to ease their breathing. Which home remedy is best for bronchitis? Doing breathing exercises, such as pursed-lip breathing, can help slow down breathing, and make it more effective.
Should people exercise when they have bronchitis? If acute bronchitis results from a bacterial infection, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Taking antibiotics may also help prevent a secondary infection, in some cases. Most doctors will not prescribe antibiotics unless they have identified bacteria as the cause of an illness. One of the reasons for this is concern about antibiotic resistance, as overuse of antibiotics makes it harder to treat an infection in the long term.
Find out more about antibiotics, their uses, and the problem of antibiotic resistance. A doctor will carry out a physical examination, using a stethoscope to listen for unusual sounds in the lungs. The most common complication of bronchitis is pneumonia. This can happen if the infection spreads further into the lungs.
In a person with pneumonia, the air sacs within the lungs fill with fluid. Pneumonia is more likely to develop in older adults, smokers, those with other medical conditions, and anyone with a weakened immune system. It can be life threatening and needs medical attention.
0コメント