| When you breathe in (inhale), small, bristly hairs | | | | Acute bronchitis is usually caused by viruses, and |
| near the openings of your nostrils filter out dust, | | | | it may occur together with or following a cold or |
| pollen, and other airborne particles. Bits that slip | | | | other respiratory infection. Germs such as viruses |
| through become attached to the mucus | | | | can be spread from person to person by |
| membrane, which has tiny, hair-like structures | | | | coughing. They can also be spread if you touch |
| called cilia on its surface. But sometimes germs | | | | your mouth, nose, or eyes after coming into |
| get through the cilia and other defense systems | | | | contact with respiratory fluids from an infected |
| in the respiratory tract and can cause illness. | | | | person. |
| Bronchitis can be acute or chronic. An acute | | | | Smoking (even for a brief time) and being around |
| medical condition comes on quickly and can cause | | | | tobacco smoke, chemical fumes, and other air |
| severe symptoms, but it lasts only a short time | | | | pollutants for long periods of time puts a person |
| (no longer than a few weeks). Acute bronchitis is | | | | at risk for developing chronic bronchitis. |
| most often caused by one of a number of | | | | What Do Doctors Do? |
| viruses that can infect the respiratory tract and | | | | If a doctor thinks you may have bronchitis, he or |
| attack the bronchial tubes. Infection by certain | | | | she will examine you and listen to your chest with |
| bacteria can also cause acute bronchitis. Most | | | | a stethoscope for signs of wheezing and |
| people have acute bronchitis at some point in their | | | | congestion. |
| lives. | | | | In addition to this physical examination, the doctor |
| Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, can be mild | | | | will ask you about any concerns and symptoms |
| to severe and is longer lasting — from several | | | | you have, your past health, your family's health, |
| months to years. With chronic bronchitis, the | | | | any medications you're taking, any allergies you |
| bronchial tubes continue to be inflamed (red and | | | | may have, and other issues (including whether |
| swollen), irritated, and produce excessive mucus | | | | you smoke). This is called the medical history. |
| over time. The most common cause of chronic | | | | Your doctor may order a chest X-ray to rule out |
| bronchitis is smoking. | | | | a condition like pneumonia, and may sometimes |
| Bronchitis (pronounced: brahn-kite-uss) is an | | | | order a breathing test (called spirometry) to rule |
| inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, | | | | out asthma. |
| the airways that connect the trachea (windpipe) | | | | Because acute bronchitis is most often caused by |
| to the lungs. This delicate, mucus-producing lining | | | | a virus, the doctor may not prescribe an antibiotic |
| covers and protects the respiratory system, the | | | | (antibiotics only work against bacteria, not viruses). |
| organs and tissues involved in breathing. When a | | | | The doctor will recommend that you drink lots of |
| person has bronchitis, it may be harder for air to | | | | fluids, get plenty of rest, and may suggest using |
| pass in and out of the lungs than it normally | | | | an over-the-counter or prescription cough |
| would, the tissues become irritated and more | | | | medicine to relieve your symptoms as you |
| mucus is produced. The most common symptom | | | | recover. |
| of bronchitis is a cough. | | | | In some cases, the doctor may prescribe a |
| People who have chronic bronchitis are more | | | | bronchodilator (pronounced: bron-ko-dy-lay-ter) or |
| susceptible to bacterial infections of the airway | | | | other medication typically used to treat asthma. |
| and lungs, like pneumonia. (In some people with | | | | These medications are often given through |
| chronic bronchitis, the airway becomes | | | | inhalers or nebulizer machines and help to relax |
| permanently infected with bacteria.) Pneumonia is | | | | and open the bronchial tubes and clear mucus so |
| more common among smokers and people who | | | | it's easier to breathe. |
| are exposed to secondhand smoke. | | | | If you have chronic bronchitis, the goal is to |
| Signs and Symptoms | | | | reduce your exposure to whatever is irritating |
| Acute bronchitis often starts with a dry, annoying | | | | your bronchial tubes. For people who smoke, that |
| cough that is triggered by the inflammation of the | | | | means quitting! |
| lining of the bronchial tubes. Other symptoms may | | | | If you have bronchitis and don't smoke, try to |
| include: | | | | avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. |
| - cough that may bring up thick white, yellow, or | | | | Smoking causes lung damage in many ways. For |
| greenish mucus | | | | example, it can cause temporary paralysis of the |
| - headache | | | | cilia and over time kills the ciliate airway lining |
| - generally feeling ill | | | | ciliated cells completely. Eventually, the airway lining |
| - chills | | | | stops clearing smoking-related debris, irritants, and |
| - fever (usually mild) | | | | excess mucus from the lungs altogether. When |
| - shortness of breath | | | | this happens, a smoker's lungs become even |
| - soreness or a feeling of tightness in the chest | | | | more vulnerable to infection. Over time, harmful |
| - wheezing (a whistling or hissing sound with | | | | substances in tobacco smoke permanently |
| breathing) | | | | damage the airways, increasing the risk for |
| Chronic bronchitis is most common in smokers, | | | | emphysema, cancer, and other serious lung |
| although people who have repeated episodes of | | | | diseases. Smoking also causes the |
| acute bronchitis sometimes develop the chronic | | | | mucus-producing glands to enlarge and make |
| condition. Except for chills and fever, a person | | | | more mucus. Along with the toxic particles and |
| with chronic bronchitis has a chronic productive | | | | chemicals in smoke, this causes a smoker to have |
| cough and most of the symptoms of acute | | | | a chronic cough. |
| bronchitis, such as shortness of breath and chest | | | | Prevention |
| tightness, on most days of the month, for | | | | What's the best way to avoid getting bronchitis? |
| months or years. | | | | Washing your hands often helps to prevent the |
| A person with chronic bronchitis often takes | | | | spread of many of the germs that cause the |
| longer than usual to recover from colds and other | | | | condition — especially during cold and flu |
| common respiratory illnesses. Wheezing, shortness | | | | season. |
| of breath, and cough may become a part of daily | | | | If you don't smoke, don't ever start smoking |
| life. Breathing can become increasingly difficult. | | | | — and if you do smoke, try to quit or cut |
| In people with asthma, bouts of bronchitis may | | | | down. Try to avoid being around smokers |
| come on suddenly and trigger episodes in which | | | | because even secondhand smoke can make you |
| they have chest tightness, shortness of breath, | | | | more susceptible to viral infections and increase |
| wheezing, and difficulty exhaling (breathing out). In | | | | congestion in your airway. Also, be sure to get |
| a severe episode of asthmatic bronchitis, the | | | | plenty of rest and eat right so that your body |
| airways can become so narrowed and clogged | | | | can fight off any illnesses that you come in |
| that breathing is very difficult. | | | | contact with. |
| Causes of Bronchitis- | | | | |