What Is Bronchitis?
Bronchitis (bron-KI-tis) is a condition in which the
bronchial tubes, the tubes that carry air to your lungs, become inflamed. (For
more information on the bronchial tubes and the airways, see the Diseases and
Conditions Index
How
the Lungs Work article.)
People who have bronchitis often have a cough that
brings up mucus. Mucus is a slimy substance made by the lining of the bronchial
tubes. Bronchitis also may cause wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when
you breathe), chest pain or discomfort, a low fever, and shortness of
breath.
Overview
There are two main types of bronchitis: acute (short
term) and chronic (ongoing).
Acute Bronchitis
Infections or other factors that irritate the lungs
cause acute bronchitis. The same viruses that cause colds and the flu often
cause acute bronchitis. These viruses are spread through the air when people
cough. They also are spread through physical contact (for example, on hands
that have not been washed). Sometimes bacteria cause acute bronchitis.
Acute bronchitis lasts from a few days to 10 days.
However, the cough that occurs may last for several weeks after the infection
is gone.
Several factors increase the risk for acute
bronchitis. Examples include tobacco smoke (including secondhand smoke), air
pollution, dust, and fumes. Avoiding these lung irritants as much as possible
can help lower your risk for acute bronchitis.
Most cases of acute bronchitis go away within a few
days. If you think you have acute bronchitis, see your doctor. He or she will
want to rule out other, more serious health conditions that need medical
care.
Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is an ongoing, serious condition.
It occurs when the lining of the bronchial tubes is constantly irritated and
inflamed.
Bronchitis is "chronic" if you have a cough with
mucus on most days for at least 3 months a year and 2 years in a row (without
another apparent cause). Smoking is the main cause of chronic bronchitis.
Viruses or bacteria can easily infect the irritated
bronchial tubes. When this happens, the condition worsens and lasts longer. As
a result, people who have chronic bronchitis also have periods when symptoms
get much worse than usual.
Chronic bronchitis is a serious, long-term medical
condition. Early diagnosis and treatment, combined with quitting cigarette
smoking and avoiding secondhand cigarette smoke, can help people live better
with this condition. The chance of complete recovery is low for people who have
severe chronic bronchitis.
Other Names for Bronchitis
- Acute bronchitis
- Chronic bronchitis
- Industrial bronchitis
What Causes Bronchitis?
Acute Bronchitis
Infections or other factors that irritate your lungs
cause acute bronchitis. The same viruses that cause colds and the flu are the
most common cause of acute bronchitis. Sometimes bacteria can cause the
condition.
Certain substances can irritate your lungs and
airways and raise your risk for acute bronchitis. For example, inhaling or
being exposed to cigarette or cigar smoke, air pollution, dusts, vapors, or
fumes raises your risk. These lung irritants also can make symptoms worse.
Being exposed to a high level of dust or fumes, such
as from an explosion or a big fire, also may lead to acute bronchitis.
Chronic Bronchitis
Repeatedly breathing in fumes that irritate and
damage lung and airway tissues causes chronic bronchitis. Smoking is the major
cause of this condition.
Breathing in air pollution and dust or fumes from
the environment or the workplace also can lead to chronic bronchitis.
People who have chronic bronchitis go through
periods when symptoms become much worse than usual. During these times, they
also may have acute viral or bacterial bronchitis.
Who Is At Risk for Bronchitis?
Bronchitis is a very common condition. Millions of
cases occur every year.
Elderly people, infants, and young children are at
higher risk for acute bronchitis than people in other age groups. People of all
ages can get chronic bronchitis, but it occurs more often in people who are
older than 45. Women are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with chronic
bronchitis as men.
Smoking and having an existing lung disease greatly
increase your risk for bronchitis. Contact with chemical fumes, vapors, and
dusts from certain jobssuch as those in coal mining, textile
manufacturing, and grain handlingalso increases your risk for the
condition.
Air pollution, infections, and allergies can worsen
the symptoms of chronic bronchitis, especially if you smoke.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Bronchitis?
Acute Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis caused by an infection usually
develops after you already have a cold or the flu. Symptoms of a cold or the
flu include sore throat, fatigue (tiredness), fever, body aches, stuffy or
runny nose, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The main symptom of acute bronchitis is a cough. The
cough may produce clear mucus (a slimy substance). If the mucus is yellow or
green, you may have a bacterial infection as well. Even after the infection
clears up, you may still have a dry cough for days or weeks.
Other symptoms of acute bronchitis include wheezing
(a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe), low fever, and chest tightness
or pain. If your acute bronchitis is severe, you also may have shortness of
breath, especially with physical activity.
Chronic Bronchitis
The signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis include
coughing, wheezing, and chest discomfort. The coughing may produce large
amounts of mucus. This type of cough is often called "smoker's cough."
How Is Bronchitis Diagnosed?
Your doctor usually will diagnose bronchitis based
on your signs and symptoms. He or she may ask questions about your cough, such
as how long youve had it, what youre coughing up, and how much you
cough.
Your doctor also will likely ask:
- About your medical history
- Whether youve recently had a cold or the
flu
- Whether you smoke or spend time around others who
smoke
- Whether youve been exposed to air
pollution, dust, or fumes
Your doctor will use a stethoscope to listen for
wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe) or other abnormal
sounds in your lungs. He or she also may:
- Look at your mucus to see whether you have a
bacterial infection
- Test the oxygen levels in your blood using a
sensor attached to your fingertip or toe
- Order a
chest
x ray,
lung
function tests, or
blood
tests
How Is Bronchitis Treated?
The main goals of treating acute and chronic
bronchitis are to relieve symptoms and help make breathing easier.
If you have acute bronchitis, your doctor may
recommend rest, plenty of fluids, and aspirin (for adults) or acetaminophen to
treat fever.
Antibiotics usually aren't prescribed for acute
bronchitis. This is because they don't work against virusesthe most
common cause of acute bronchitis. However, if your doctor thinks you have a
bacterial infection, he or she may prescribe antibiotics.
A humidifier or steam can help loosen mucus and
relieve wheezing and limited air flow. If your bronchitis causes wheezing, you
may need an inhaled medicine to open your airways. You take this medicine using
an inhaler. This device allows the medicine to go right to your lungs.
Your doctor also may prescribe medicines to relieve
or reduce your cough and treat your inflamed airways (especially if your cough
persists).
To lower your risk of getting bronchitis, your
doctor also may suggest a flu shot and/or a
pneumonia
vaccine (if you're aged 60 or older).
If you have chronic bronchitis and have also been
diagnosed with
COPD
(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), you may need medicines to open your
airways and help clear away mucus. These medicines include bronchodilators
(inhaled) and steroids (inhaled or pill form).
Sometimes people who have chronic bronchitis need
oxygen therapy to help them breathe better and get enough oxygen to their
bodies.
One of the best ways to treat acute and chronic
bronchitis is to remove the source of irritation and damage to the lungs. If
you smoke cigarettes, it's very important to quit. Talk to your doctor about
programs and products that can help you quit smoking. Try to avoid secondhand
smoke. Also, try to avoid places with a lot of dusts, fumes, vapors, or air
pollutants.
How Can Bronchitis Be Prevented?
You can't always prevent acute or chronic
bronchitis. However, you can take steps to lower your risk for both types of
the condition. The most important step is to quit smoking or not start
smoking.
Try to avoid other lung irritants, such as
secondhand smoke, fumes, air pollution, and dust. For example, wear a mask over
your mouth and nose when you use paint, paint remover, varnish, or other things
with strong fumes. This will help protect your lungs.
Wash your hands often to reduce exposure to germs
and bacteria. Get a flu shot every year, especially if you have lung problems.
Get a
pneumonia
vaccine as your doctor advises if youre aged 60 or older.
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.
Key Points
- Bronchitis is a condition in which the bronchial
tubes, the tubes that carry air to your lungs, become inflamed.
- People who have bronchitis often have a cough
that brings up mucus. Mucus is a slimy substance made by the lining of the
bronchial tubes. Bronchitis also may cause wheezing (a whistling or squeaky
sound when you breathe), chest pain or discomfort, a low fever, and shortness
of breath.
- There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and
chronic. Infections or other factors that irritate the lungs cause acute
bronchitis. The condition lasts from a few days to 10 days. However, the cough
that occurs may last for several weeks after the infection is gone. Chronic
bronchitis is an ongoing, serious condition. It occurs when the lining of the
bronchial tubes is permanently irritated and inflamed.
- The same viruses that cause colds and the flu are
the most common cause of acute bronchitis. Exposure to lung irritants also
raises your risk for acute bronchitis. Examples of lung irritants include
tobacco smoke, air pollution, dusts, vapors, and fumes.
- Smoking is the major cause of chronic bronchitis.
Breathing in air pollution or dust or fumes from the environment or workplace
also can lead to chronic bronchitis.
- Bronchitis is a very common condition. Millions
of cases occur each year. Elderly people, infants, and young children are at
higher risk for acute bronchitis than people in other age groups. Smoking and
having an existing lung disease greatly increases your risk for
bronchitis.
- Signs and symptoms of bronchitis are a cough that
produces mucus, wheezing, low fever, and chest tightness or pain.
- Your doctor usually will diagnose bronchitis
based on your signs and symptoms. Tests also may be used to diagnose
bronchitis.
- Treatment for acute bronchitis may include rest,
fluids, aspirin (for adults) or acetaminophen to treat fever, and avoiding lung
irritants. You also may need medicines or treatments to open your airways, help
clear away mucus, and help you stay as healthy as possible. Treatment for
chronic bronchitis may include medicines or oxygen therapy. One of the best
ways to treat acute and chronic bronchitis is to remove the source of
irritation and damage to the lungs.
- You can't always prevent acute or chronic
bronchitis. However, you can take steps to lower your risk for both types of
the condition. The most important step is to quit smoking or not start smoking.
Also, avoid other lung irritants, wash your hands often, and talk to your
doctor about getting a yearly flu shot and a
pneumonia
vaccine.
- If you have chronic bronchitis you can take steps
to control your symptoms. Don't smoke and avoid other lung irritants; wash your
hands often and stay away from people who have colds or the flu. Follow a
healthy diet and be as physically active as you can. Take all of your medicines
as prescribed, and talk to your doctor about whether other treatments or
therapies can help you.
Links to Other Information About Bronchitis
NHLBI Resources
- COPD
(Diseases and Conditions Index)
Non-NHLBI Resources
Clinical Trials
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