Bronchitis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

By: Scott Gillespie
Submitted: 2008-10-30 12:38:15
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Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial (pronounced “brawn-kee-ull”) tubes, or bronchi. Bronchial tubes are the air passages that extend from the windpipe into the lungs.

What causes bronchitis?

A bad cold can cause a brief attack of bronchitis. Acid reflux (also know as gastroesophageal reflux disease), which is when stomach acid backs up into your food pipe, is another cause. Reflux can irritate the airways, leading to bronchitis. Air pollution, dusts, or fumes can also cause irritation leading to bronchitis. Second-hand smoke can cause bronchitis. In all of these cases, the bronchitis clears up when the irritant is removed.

Acute bronchitis also can be caused by breathing in things that irritate the bronchial tubes, such as smoke. It also can happen if a person inhales food or vomit into the lungs.

Some people who seem to have repeated bouts of bronchitis — with coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath — may actually have asthma.

Symptoms and Complications of Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis usually starts out as a dry cough, but within a few hours or days the cough starts to produce thick mucus. This phlegm typically has a yellow or greenish colour. Wheezing after coughing is usual, and there might be some chest pain as well. Other symptoms are similar to that of a common cold, such as muscle aches, tiredness, and sore throat. A mild fever of about 101°F (38.5°C) may last about four days.

Throbbing Cough - a cough is an abrupt and recurring contraction of the thoracic cavity which produces a distinct sound.

Runny Nose - studies show that a runny nose is a mere irritation to an individual who has acute bronchitis. When you are inflicted with a runny nose, gently blow from your nose.

It is also common that chronic sinusitis can cause mimic bronchitis. Chronic sinusitis is an ongoing infection in the lining of one or more of the cavities in the bone around your nose. This is because the signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis include a thick, yellow or green discharge and a chronic cough that's triggered when you try to clear your throat of mucus draining from your sinuses.

How Is Bronchitis Treated?

Lifestyle Changes

The first and probably the most important treatment is to stop smoking. Quitting smoking is a two-step process that includes getting over the physical addiction to nicotine and breaking the psychological aspects of the smoking habit.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation -- An important part of chronic bronchitis treatment is pulmonary rehabilitation, which includes education, nutrition counseling, learning special breathing techniques, help with quitting smoking and starting an exercise regimen. Because people with chronic bronchitis are often physically limited, they may avoid any kind of physical activity. However, regular physical activity can actually improve a patient's health and wellbeing.

Treat headaches, fever and aches and pains using painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin, However, ibuprofen is not recommended if you have asthma, and children under the age of 16 cannot take aspirin.

Article source: Expert Articles