Living With Chronic Bronchitis
If you have chronic bronchitis, you can take steps
to control your symptoms. Lifestyle changes and ongoing care can help you
manage the condition.
Lifestyle Changes
The most important step is to quit smoking or not
start smoking. Avoid other lung irritants, such as secondhand smoke, fumes, air
pollution, and dust. This will help keep your lungs healthy.
Wash your hands often to lower your risk for a viral
or bacterial infection. Also, try to stay away from people who have colds or
the flu. See your doctor right away if you have signs or symptoms of a cold or
the flu.
Follow a healthy diet and be as physically active as
you can. A healthy diet includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains. It also includes lean meats, poultry, fish, and fat-free or low-fat
milk or milk products. A healthy diet also is low in saturated fat,
trans fat, cholesterol, sodium (salt), and added sugar.
For more information on following a healthy diet,
see the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes
Aim for a
Healthy Weight Web site,
"Your
Guide to a Healthy Heart," and
"Your
Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure With DASH." All of these resources
include general advice about healthy eating.
Ongoing Care
See your doctor regularly and take all your
medicines as prescribed. Also, talk to your doctor about getting a yearly flu
shot and/or a
pneumonia
vaccine.
If you have chronic bronchitis, pulmonary
rehabilitation (rehab) may help improve your breathing. Pulmonary rehab is a
breathing exercise program that's supervised by a respiratory therapist. This
is a health care worker who knows about lung treatments. Talk to your doctor
about whether rehab may benefit you.
People who have chronic bronchitis often breathe
fast. Talk to your doctor about a breathing method called pursed-lip breathing.
This breathing method may help you feel better because it slows down your
breathing. To do pursed-lip breathing, take a deep breath. Then, slowly breathe
out through your mouth. At the same time, hold your lips as if you're going to
kiss someone.
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