Comprehensive Guide on Bronchitis Disease

Symptoms

Bronchitis may cause a range of symptoms, such as:

• Persistent cough with mucus

• Sore throat

• Blocked nose

• Wheezing

• Shortness of breath

• Feeling fatigued

• Chest pain and congestion

• Low fever

• Runny nose

• Frequent headaches

• Body pain

Causes

There are two types of bronchitis – acute and chronic. While acute bronchitis is viral and gets cured in a few days, the chronic one lasts for a long time. Let’s understand what causes acute and chronic bronchitis.

1. Acute Bronchitis:

This condition is caused by viral infections, such as influenza, the common cold, and the COVID-19 virus. A bacterial infection may also cause the condition.

2. Chronic Bronchitis:

This is a long-term condition that can be caused due to various reasons, such as —

• A family history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD

• Suffering from certain respiratory conditions, such as asthma, bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis

• Suffering from GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease

• Exposure to irritants, such as harmful fumes, cigarette smoke, etc.

Risk Factors

Some common risk factors of bronchitis are —

• Being over 60 years of age:

Senior citizens, especially those with low immunity, are at a greater risk of suffering from bronchitis.

• Smoking cigarettes:

Smoking tobacco can damage the lungs and airways and cause chronic bronchitis.

• Exposure to second-hand smoke:

Even if you don’t smoke, regular exposure to second-hand smoke can also increase your risk of suffering from the condition.

• Exposure to dust and fumes:

Regular exposure to irritants, such as dust and harmful fumes, can irritate the bronchial tubes and lead to bronchitis.

• Suffering from GERD:

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a condition that causes stomach acid to rise into the oesophagus. The condition irritates the throat, and repeated bouts increase the risk of bronchitis.

Diagnosis

If you are exhibiting the signs and symptoms of bronchitis, your doctor may advise the following tests to diagnose the condition —

1. Sputum test:

The sputum or mucous is tested to identify the presence of bacteria or any other harmful organism in the air passages or lungs. A sputum test can also help diagnose allergies.

2. Chest X-ray:

If you have a persistent cough, your doctor may recommend a chest X-ray to check for any other respiratory condition.

3. Pulmonary function test:

This test is done to check the functioning of the lungs. It uses a device called a spirometer to measure lung volume and capacity. This means the test helps check how much air your lungs can hold and how long. A pulmonary function test is commonly done to identify signs of asthma or emphysema.

4. CT scan:

If doctors are not convinced by chest X-rays, they may recommend a CT scan to obtain detailed pictures of the airways and lungs.

Treatment

Acute bronchitis usually goes away on its own or with some simple home remedies and precautions, such as:

• Taking a cough suppressant

• Staying hydrated with water, soups, juices and herbal teas to loosen chest congestion

• Taking steam

• Resting well

If you get diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, your doctor will prescribe medicines and suggest therapies that can help manage the symptoms. These include the following:

• Oral medication that can help reduce mucous production and open the airways

• Inhaled medications, such as steroids and bronchodilators

• Pulmonary rehabilitation to learn how to deal with breathing problems

• Using air humidifiers

• Using portable oxygen cylinders

• Working out regularly as staying active will help you cough up mucous better

Some severe cases of chronic bronchitis are treated with LVRS (i.e., lung volume reduction surgery). This surgery is done to remove the damaged areas of the lung. In case of severe damage, doctors may suggest a lung transplant.

Prevention Tips

The following are some tips that can help prevent bronchitis:

• Avoid close contact with people with symptoms of acute bronchitis

• Quit smoking

• Stay away from second-hand smoke and other irritants, such as dust, harmful gases, chemicals and other lung irritants

• Manage breathing conditions, such as asthma

• Avoid hair sprays, deodorants and other products that may irritate the airways

• Wear a mask when you are around lung irritants, such as chemical fumes, paints, varnish, etc.