Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchus, or the airway that leads to the lungs. When the bronchus swells up, it becomes harder for the person to take in air. The bronchi also contracts and produces mucus that makes it even harder for the person to breathe.
There are two kinds of bronchitis: Acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis is the type that comes from viruses and bacteria. Someone who gets acute bronchitis can usually recover after a few weeks and some medicine.
Chronic bronchitis patients, however, are those whose bronchitis is more or less permanent. They either have the bronchitis for three months every year, or they get acute bronchitis very often. Aside from the normal symptoms that bronchitis causes, chronic bronchitis can cause frequent respiratory infections, as well as the narrowing of the bronchial tubes. Some chronic bronchitis patients can even become disabled.
Chronic bronchitis can be caused by various things, like cigarette smoking, bacteria, viral infections, and pollution. It can also develop into other respiratory diseases like asthma, tuberculosis, respiratory infections, and pulmonary fibrosis.
It can be treated, or at the very least managed, but the treatments available to the patient depend on his or her age, health, medical history, extent of the bronchitis, and preference. The treatments can include oral medication, inhaled medication, lung transplant, or lung reduction surgery.
If you think you have bronchitis, whether acute or chronic, it's important to go to the doctor and have it treated immediately. Bronchitis can lead to other, even worse respiratory diseases, like pneumonia and asthma. You can even damage your lungs, or break your ribs from coughing.
Bronchitis can be avoided if you don't expose yourself to too much pollution and bacteria. Things like cigarette smoke can trigger bronchitis, especially in children. Adults who have chronic bronchitis and have gotten used to coughing all the time shouldn't allow their condition to get worse.
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