Bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial tubes causing inflammation, difficulty breathing, and coughing. Acute bronchitis is often caused by a virus and can be treated with rest and fluids. Chronic bronchitis is caused by smoking and can be improved by quitting.
Bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial tubes that carry air from the throat to the lungs. When these tubes become infected, they become inflamed, making breathing difficult, and they produce mucus, which causes coughing. Other symptoms may include a low-grade fever, sore throat, muscle pain when breathing, and wheezing. It’s also possible, during acute bronchitis, to cough so hard that the explosive vacuum created in the lungs can crack or otherwise damage the ribs, which makes the cough even more painful. There are two forms: chronic and acute.
Acute bronchitis is often the result of a cold or the flu. This disease is most often caused by a virus, rather than a bacterium, so taking antibiotics won’t help cure it; it usually goes away on its own. The best treatment is bed rest and fluids. Because bronchitis causes mucus to build up, an expectorant cough syrup can help thin out the mucus and make coughing easier. Drinking fluids will also help with this, as well as replace fluids a patient loses due to infection. People who have this infection should see a healthcare professional if they still have symptoms after two weeks, because they may have another respiratory problem.
The best way to avoid acute bronchitis is the same way a person would try to avoid a cold. People should wash their hands frequently, sanitize as needed during cold weather, and avoid crowded or confined spaces if there is something “around”.
Chronic bronchitis is a more frequent condition in smokers. This is a more permanent inflammation of the bronchi caused by the irritation of cigarette smoke. The chronic condition is like a less severe case of ongoing acute bronchitis. The bronchi are always slightly inflamed, mucus is always produced, and the result is the “smoker’s hack”. The best cure for this disease is to quit smoking, but if it’s too difficult, even just reduce the stress on the bronchial tubes and allow them to recover a bit.
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