Chronic Bronchitis Related Symptoms Can Be Treated
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs. Bronchitis may be either acute or chronic. A common condition, acute bronchitis often develops from a cold or other respiratory infection. Chronic bronchitis, a more serious condition, is a constant irritation or inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, often due to smoking. Acute bronchitis usually improves within a few days without lasting effects, although you may continue to cough for weeks. However, if you have repeated bouts of bronchitis, you may have chronic bronchitis.

Causes

The same viruses that cause colds often cause acute bronchitis. But you can also develop noninfectious bronchitis from exposure to your own or someone elses tobacco smoke and from pollutants such as household cleaners and smog. Bronchitis may also occur when acids from your stomach consistently back up into your food pipe (esophagus) and a few drops go into your upper airway. And workers exposed to certain dusts or fumes may develop occupational bronchitis, an acute disease that generally clears up when exposure to the irritant stops.

Sometimes inflammation and thickening of the lining of your bronchial tubes become permanent -- a condition known as chronic bronchitis. You are generally considered to have chronic bronchitis if you cough most days for at least three months a year in two consecutive years. Often, however, smokers with chronic bronchitis cough almost every day, even if it is just to clear their throats in the morning. Unlike acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis is an ongoing, serious disease. Smoking is the major cause, but air pollution and dust or toxic gases in the environment or workplace also can contribute to the condition.

Western Medicine Treatment

The goal of treatment for bronchitis is to relieve symptoms and ease breathing. Sometimes, all you may need to recover from acute bronchitis may be:

1)Rest
2)Drinking fluids
3)Breathing in warm, moist air
4)Taking an over-the-counter (OTC) cough suppressant and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or aspirin (for adults)

Medications

In some circumstances, your doctor may prescribe medications:

1)Antibiotics. Bronchitis usually results from a viral infection, so antibiotics are not effective. However, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if he or she suspects that you have a bacterial infection. If you have a chronic lung disorder or if you smoke, your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to reduce your risk of a serious, secondary infection.

2)Cough medicine. It is best not to suppress a cough that brings up mucus, because coughing helps remove irritants from your lungs and air passages. If your cough keeps you from sleeping, use enough OTC cough medicine so that you can rest, but not enough to suppress your cough completely. If your cough is seriously depriving you of sleep, your doctor may recommend a prescription cough suppressant.

Adopted from Wei Laboratories, Inc.