BronchitisWhat are the Symptoms and Treatments

Many people know that in order to live a normal and productive life, one must be physically healthy. However, there are some instances where you may suffer from diseases. You have to consider that it is normal for people to suffer from diseases caused by viruses and by bacteria infection inside the body. This is why people take all the necessary steps and are continuing to research and develop different kinds of medicines for different kinds of illnesses.

One kind of disease that is considered to be one of the most common diseases in the world is called bronchitis. This kind of diseases is a form of respiratory illness that can affect the way you live your daily life. First of all, there are mainly two kinds of bronchitis. One is the acute bronchitis, and the other is called chronic bronchitis. Bronchitis is an illness where the bronchial tube is inflamed due to viral infection.

Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus infection. However, there are some cases where bacteria and fungus infection can also cause bronchitis. You have to consider that you need to know about bronchitis in order for you to know how to treat it properly and also know how to manage it. Acute bronchitis is considered to be very easy to treat and manage. This kind of bronchitis will usually last for only 10 to 12 days and will also be followed closely by flu or cold. Acute bronchitis will contain the following signs and symptoms that you need to be aware of:

• Mild chest pain
• Hacking cough with mucus
• Mild fever
• Headaches
• Sinus congestion
• Squeezing sensation around the eyes
• Wheezing sound when breathing
• Fatigue
• Chest discomfort

These are the signs and symptoms of acute bronchitis that you should know about. It is important that you should consult your doctor immediately after you feel the mentioned signs and symptoms. They will be able to know what kind of infection you have or whether it is a viral, bacterial or fungal infection. With a proper diagnosis, the doctor will be able to give you the right kind of medicine.

Bronchitis caused by viruses doesn’t usually need medications, but you can consider taking medications for symptom relief, such as nasal decongestant, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Again, you first need to tell your doctor about your intentions of taking some medications as you may have allergies in certain kinds of drugs and some drugs are also considered to dangerous when combined, especially in pregnant women.

Today, research has found that some herbal medicines can help in alleviating the symptoms of bronchitis. One kind of herbal medicine that can help alleviate coughing associated with bronchitis is eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus oil helps loosen the phlegm to make it easier for the lungs to get rid of the mucus secretion inside. In fact, inhaling eucalyptus has been recommended by a lot of medical practitioners all over the world for bronchitis patients. To prevent bronchitis, or to at least minimize the chances of getting bronchitis, eating a lot of garlic is recommended. Garlic is filled with chemicals that kill virus and bacteria. In short, garlic is a natural antiviral and antibacterial herb.

Recent studies have found that the stinging nettle plant can treat bronchitis and other kinds of respiratory illnesses. The juice inside the roots and leaves mixed with honey or sugar can relieve the signs and symptoms that you can suffer from bronchitis.

Plants containing a good source of vitamin C can also help prevent and alleviate the symptoms of bronchitis. It is also recommended that you should eat plants containing magnesium as this can also help in alleviating the symptoms of bronchitis.

These are some of the herbal remedies that you can consider using if you have bronchitis. You can also try boiling oregano leaves and drink the juice.

It is recommended that you should not disregard if you are already seeing the early signs and symptoms of acute bronchitis. You have to remember that if you neglect it, it make likely develop into its chronic form that will cause permanent damage to your respiratory system.

The best thing that you can do to prevent bronchitis from affecting you is by changing your lifestyle by quitting smoking and drink alcohol in moderation. You should also exercise regularly to maintain your respiratory health.

Today, there are thousands of drugs available in the market, each with different illnesses to treat. One of the most common illnesses in modern society is respiratory illnesses. You have to consider that there are a lot of kinds of respiratory illnesses. Some are contagious and some are not. There are also different kinds of drugs for different kinds of respiratory illnesses.

The fact that you need a perfectly healthy body in order to function well in your daily activities, you have to know how to properly take care of it or at least know how to deal with it in case you get affected with a disease.

One of the most common diseases today is called bronchitis. This is a form of respiratory illness that can affect anyone at anytime. However, people who live in highly polluted areas, and people who smoke tobacco are usually affected as well as infant, children, the elderly and people who have weak lungs are also prone to bronchitis.

Bronchitis comes in two forms, one is acute bronchitis and the other is chronic bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is a short term bronchitis that requires little treatment. Usually, acute bronchitis doesn’t need any drugs at all. However, there are people who take expectorant in order to improve breathing. Some people take anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate the symptoms. Sometimes, bronchitis can also congest the sinuses and can be a painful condition. To alleviate the symptom, you can take some nasal decongestant drugs.

Acute bronchitis usually lasts for up to only 10 to 12 days if properly managed and treated. However, it will also vary on the kind of infection that the bronchitis has. If it is a viral infection, you don’t need to take any special drugs to treat it. All you need is plenty of rest, plenty of water, and avoid dusty and highly polluted areas. If you want to alleviate the signs and symptoms of acute bronchitis, you can take some anti-inflammatory drugs, some pain medication, expectorant and nasal decongestant drugs.

However, if the virus is caused by bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe some antibiotics or antibacterial drugs that will kill the bacteria infecting your bronchial tube and your respiratory system. On rare cases, bronchitis can also be caused by fungal infection and for this your doctor may prescribe antifungal drugs along with other medications to alleviate the signs and symptoms. It is very important to remember that you shouldn’t just but any over-the-counter drugs as you may some allergies and some drugs are dangerous if combined to any other kind of drugs. If you prefer to take medications for your bronchitis, it is important that you should first consult your doctor. He or she will refer to your medical history and find out if you are allergic to any kind of medications. The doctor can also give you prescription on the right combination of drugs and can give you instructions on the proper dosage and the proper time to take it.

In the chronic form of bronchitis, you have to consider that this is a long term treatment that will require long term and well-managed care. Chronic bronchitis will also require you to take different kinds of drugs to help alleviate the signs and symptoms and also help treat the illness.

However, the most important step in treating acute bronchitis is by quitting smoking. If you do this early enough, you can reverse the damage in your lungs. The doctor will also prescribe some medications to help you overcome chronic bronchitis which may include inhaled medicines, such as bronchodilators to open your airway and let you breath easily, steroids, and antibiotics to prevent infection. In some cases, people with chronic bronchitis have low oxygen levels. For this, the doctor may recommend that home oxygen should be used.

The chance for a full recovery for people with chronic bronchitis is poor. Always remember that the key to cure chronic bronchitis is detecting it at its early stages and changing your lifestyle, such as quitting smoking and reducing your alcohol intake.

These are the things that you should remember about bronchitis. Always remember that before you take any drugs, you should first consult your doctor who will tell you about the proper dosage and the proper drugs to take.

A severe type of bronchitis is often referred to as “chronic bronchitis,” where the main air passageway of your lungs continues to swell and commonly recurs. 

Smoking is the main culprit for the presence of chronic bronchitis. Firsthand smoking is at a high risk to develop the said illness. Moreover, even if you don’t smoke but you are prone to inhale smoke from cigarettes and belches or breathe in irritants then you are most likely to develop chronic bronchitis. 

Once you observe the following symptoms then it is best to consult with your physician for you may be suffering from chronic bronchitis:

? Productive cough with abundant mucus and sometimes there is blood in your cough.

? Difficulty in breathing which is triggered by slight activities.

? Infections in the respiratory systems. 

? Easily weakened by non-strenuous activity

? Swollen feet, ankle or leg

? Persistent headaches 

When the above-mentioned signs are observed by you or your physician, your doctor will request for a series of tests to determine proper treatments. Most medical practitioner states that there is no absolute cure for chronic bronchitis. What you can do is give aid to the discomfort, pain and symptoms brought by the said illness. There are specific treatments to help you deal with chronic bronchitis. 

1. Bronchodilators

The primary aim of this treatment is to help you breathe easier. What it does is open the air passageway in your lungs to alleviate the briefness of breath as well as wheezing. 

Bronchodilators are divided into three subgroups such as beta2-agonists, anticholinergics, and xanthines.

Beta2-agonists are used to reduce the symptoms brought by chronic bronchitis by relaxing the airways in your lungs. Salbutamol and Terbutaline are some common types of beta2-agonists.

Anticholinergics are drugs used to help patients with chronic bronchitis breathe easier. However, it works differently compared to beta2-agonists. “Atrovent” is an example of this drug.

Xanthine comes from the “alkaloids” group wherein it is utilized to treat the symptoms of bronchitis. Others conclude that Xanthine can reduce the swelling of the air passageway of the lungs. 

2. Corticosteroids 

To prevent too much swelling and irritation of bronchial tubes, corticosteroids may be used. It is usually taken by inhaling the drug. However, there are patients who are prescribed to take the said medication in tablet form. These patients are the ones who experience severe lung infection. 

Misuse or overuse of this drug may result to hazy vision, repeated urination and the need to drink plenty of liquids.

3. Supplemental Oxygen

Not all individuals with chronic bronchitis need to have supplemental oxygen. If you have extremely low oxygen in your blood or you have minor damage in the lungs, then it is recommended that you undergo this kind of treatment. 

A cylinder or concentrator is used to deliver the oxygen you need into your body. With a use of “nasal prongs” you will be able to breathe in the oxygen supply that is required for you to take.
 
With the presence of oxygen, you will be able to sustain the normal level of oxygen in your blood which your body needs. Additionally, it enables you to breathe easier. 

4. Flu and pneumonia shots 

Flu shot is a vaccine to safeguard individuals from the “influenza virus.” The shot is commonly administered in the arms every year. Equally important is a pneumonia shot. With this vaccine, you will be protected from the infection “pneumococcal.”

There are short-term side effects when you get the above-mentioned shots such as reddishness of the injected body part, swelling or soreness. However, these are temporary side effects as reaction of the body to the vaccine. 

5. Antibiotics 

Antibiotics for chronic bronchitis are used to treat secondary bacterial infection. Telithromycin with a brand name “Ketek” is a widely used antibiotic for chronic bronchitis.

Apart from the suggested medication as chronic bronchitis treatment, it is also helpful to practice the following steps:

? You need to stop smoking, if you are a smoker. If you are non-smoker, you need to stay away from an environment with smokes and irritants. 

? You need to change your lifestyle by properly eating variety of foods from the food pyramid, getting enough exercise as well as getting ample of rest.

? It may be helpful if you can join support group programs. By doing so, you will be able to fully understand and accept your condition. It will also help you encounter other treatment methods which you can try.

Bronchitis is defined as a disease with acute inflammation of the respiratory tract. The term is basically coined from the Greek words bronchos, which means windpipe, and itis, meaning inflammation. Bronchitis takes place when the trachea or windpipe and the bronchi (both small and large) become inflamed which is likely caused by an infection or other factors.

Bronchitis has two types, acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis is mainly caused by viral or bacterial infections and from the acute word itself, it is only for a short period of time, but that is another story.

Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, is a long term bronchial inflammation consequently followed by a raise in the production of mucus. It is also a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a group of respiratory diseases that hampers with normal breathing.

Chronic bronchitis can be caused by no specific factor but cigarette smoking is believed to be the major culprit of the illness. Following smoking, other causes may include environmental pollution (especially air pollution) and bacterial or viral infections.

To be considered as chronic bronchitis, the patient must experience cough and expectorations (meaning with phlegm or sputum) for no less than 3 months in a year for two successive years. Furthermore, other factors that may cause symptoms such as TB (tuberculosis) or other respiratory health problems must be excluded.

As a category of COPD, primary symptoms of chronic bronchitis are mucus expectoration, cough, and dyspnea or labored breathing during physical exertion. These symptoms commonly deteriorate over time. Persistent cough and mucus expectoration usually come first years before the development of aberrations in the airflow of the respiratory tract.

Dyspnea or labored breathing, due to its severity, more often than not causes interference in the patient’s day to day activities. Loss of weight is fairly not uncommon since eating needs a certain amount of physical exertion and the sometimes only breathing itself can be energy consuming for the patient.

There will come a time when the patient will find it difficult to even participate in mild exercise because of dyspnea. As bronchitis progresses, labored breathing will be experienced by the patient even at rest. Then the patient will become in danger of acquiring more respiratory infections and respiratory insufficiency, which consequently raises the danger for both chronic and acute respiratory failure.

Other warning signs of chronic bronchitis may include swelling of the feet, abnormal lung signs, heart failure, and bluish discoloration of the lips and skin.
Symptoms may be similar to other respiratory problems; therefore it is advisable that the patient should consult a physician. This is due to the fact that chronic bronchitis is frequently associated with other diseases of the respiratory system such as asthma, tuberculosis, sinusitis, pulmonary emphysema, and other upper respiratory infections.

Moreover, there are numerous examinations that are utilized by the medical professionals to identify chronic bronchitis. These tests or examinations may include the following:

? Pulmonary function tests, which assist in calculating the lungs’ capacity to appropriately exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide through use of a spirometry and peak flow monitoring (PFM). Spirometry is an apparatus that is used by the doctor to evaluate the function of the lungs. PFM is a tool that is utilized to determine the greatest speed in which an individual can exhale or blow air out of the lungs. PFM helps in assessing how the malady is being controlled

? Pulse Oximetry. This is a small apparatus that measures the quantity of oxygen in blood.

? Chest X-ray. This fairly common diagnostic test is used to create images of the internal tissues, organs, and bones unto a film.

? Arterial Blood Gas or ABG. This is a blood test that is employed to assess the lungs’ capacity to supply with oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide. This also helps in measuring the acidity of the blood.

? CT Scan or Computed Tomography. This is an amalgamation of x-rays and computer technology to produce sectional imagery of the body. This imaging device illustrates a comprehensive picture of any part of the body.

Although once a person acquires chronic bronchitis, which usually lasts a lifetime, this illness can be controlled. Treatments are utilized mainly to alleviate the symptoms. Nevertheless, the patient can still live a comfortable life if provided with a proper management of the symptoms. It may not be curable but it is manageable.

A medical diagnosis manifested by a productive cough of the sputum occurring for more than three months can be deemed as chronic bronchitis. It can occur consecutively for two years along with the obstruction on air passages. Pulmonary testing helps in proper diagnosis through documentation of reversible characteristics of airways obstruction.

The current foundations of chronic bronchitis management are sympathomimetic agents and inhaled ipratropium bromide. Although theophyllinne is a very important therapy, its usage is only limited to narrow therapeutic effects. Orally taken steroids are reserved from patients demonstrating improvements in airflow. Antibiotics also play an important role for alleviating acute exacerbations. Others include smoking cessation, nutritional and hydration support, supplemental oxygen, and strengthening respiratory muscles.

Chronic bronchitis is considered one of the most common COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) illnesses. In fact, this is the fourth major death cause in the U.S. There are approximately ten million Americans who are affected by COPD to some extent causing 40,000 deaths in a year.

The major risk factor in developing chronic bronchitis is cigarette smoking. More than ninety percent of the patients have smoking histories, although fifteen percent of cigarette smokers are diagnosed ultimately with obstructive disease of the airways. Studies revealed that persistent active markers of airway inflammation upon bronchial specimen’s biopsy are found in symptomatic ex-smokers, even if these people already halted their smoking habit for thirteen years.

There are three major bacterial pathogens found in people with chronic bronchitis. It includes Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Haemophilus influenzae. A speculative explanation between chronic bronchitis and infection interactions is due to the low colonization density of infectious agents on the lower respiratory tract which cause inflammatory reaction and triggers succeeding acute exacerbations.

Documentation which supports this concept is taken from various studies of patients affected by chronic bronchitis. The bacteria associated with IgE circulate in the body of the patients triggering histamine release after exposure to similar cultured bacteria of the lower respiratory tracts.  Added mechanisms including neurogenic inflammation is then developed causing chronic bronchitis symptomatic flare-ups. Thus the disease may continue because inflammatory mediators are sustained.

Diagnostic testing on the obstruction of the air passages must be done. Pulmonary function testing is recommended to determine how the patient responds to inhaled therapy such as bronchodilators. The obstructive disease of the airway is defined by the measured FEV1 (forced expiratory volume)/ FVC (forced vital capacity) ratio.

Most adults over their mid-life years, physiologic changes related to their age and elasticity of their lungs can cause a 30mL FEV1 decline in a year. Progressive declines of FEV1 rates means prolonged suffering from chronic bronchitis. The obstruction in the air passages caused by excessive sputum production can confirm chronic bronchitis diagnosis.

1. Blood tests. Advanced chronic bronchitis is determined through blood sampling taken from the artery. Usually, hypoxemia is very common characterized by ventilatory failure next to inflammation and bronchospasm. If ventilatory exchange of gas worsens, the condition is called concomitant hypercapnia. Testing through blood samples can also determine mild polycythemia.

2.  Chest radiograph. This tests although correlate poorly with chronic bronchitis symptoms in many patients, still, findings can be determined such as blebs, hyperinflation, bullae, peribronchial markings, and diaphragmatic flattening.

3. Electrocardiogram. This test is able to recognize disturbances in the supraventricular rhythm which include atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation, atrial tachycardia having “P” pulmonale.  Airway biopsy findings also include submucosal and mucosal inflammation, hyperplasia of goblet cell, and increased muscle smoothness on the small noncartilaginous air passage. 

4. Sputum cultures. This is limited for patients that have never been admitted in hospitals but displays acute chronic bronchitis exacerbations. It is because cultures of samples never reflect any presence of the organisms in bronchial distal levels. The sputum’s gram stain is a way of determining if antibiotic therapy is needed. Protected-tip sputum cultures are suggested for hospitalized patients especially if atypical organisms cause the exacerbation.

The whole ten years of mortality rate after the chronic bronchitis diagnosis is fifty percent. Respiratory failure after acute exacerbation is often the most terminal event. It is because bacterial infections often follow, characterized by fever, purulent sputum, and worst poor ventilation symptoms. Other precipitants include seasonal changes, infections of the upper respiratory, medications, and prolong exposure to pollutants and irritants.  However, understanding the role of mediators which cause inflammation in chronic bronchitis led on a better management of the disease.

The most common disease associated with respiratory system is bronchitis. It is often accompanied by a cold or flu and affects people regardless of age. If your immune system is weak or you are a chain smoker, then you are greatly exposed to develop chronic bronchitis. In few cases, developing asthmatic bronchitis is also possible.

Smoking is considered to be a serious cause of bronchitis which can lead to other complications like pneumonia. The substances found in cigarettes as well other tobacco causes bronchial tubes irritation. Environmental pollution and exposures to chemicals can also lead to developing chronic bronchitis. In addition, second-hand smokes as shown in some studies can also cause chronic bronchitis.

Mostly, chronic bronchitis is diagnosed among metal molders, grain handlers, coal miners, and other dust-related occupation. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis worsen if air pollutants and sulfur dioxide also increases.

However, bronchitis is brought about by viruses. Within a few days, these viruses may disappear without medications. If bacteria is the cause of bronchitis, then antibiotics is needed to completely overcome it.

Bronchitis can either be chronic or acute. Acute bronchitis generates extreme symptoms. It normally clears up immediately if viruses caused it. Chronic bronchitis produces milder symptoms but later on can aggravate. This is often persistent with recidivating character. Chronic bronchitis requires continuous treatment to prevent symptoms from recurring.

Bronchitis manifests different symptoms including coughs, breath shortness, soreness, discomfort, excessive mucus production, headache, wheezing, chest pain, and fever. Fever is present due to bacteria infections posing any possible complications.

Among the COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases) illnesses, bronchitis mostly affects more people. And despite its large affected population, it is usually misdiagnosed. Insufficient clinical examination can misinterpret bronchitis with allergies, asthma, and sinusitis.

The doctor will ask your medical background which includes pervious and recent smoking habits. Your endurance is also questioned whether or not it is easy for you to climb stairs or walk a long distance. Using a stethoscope, the doctor will examine your chest and back and listen to your normal breathing. In this way, signs of bronchitis can be determined.

However, the best way to confirm the presence and seriousness of bronchitis is to undergo PFT or pulmonary function tests. Keep in mind that these tests can be done if causes are known. It includes:

1. Spirometry. An instrument called spirometer is utilized to measure the air inhaled and exhaled from your lungs. Air volumes are measured to determine the ability of your lungs to hold and exhale air.

2.   Peak flow meter. It measures the PEFR (peak expiratory flow rate). PEFR is the maximum quantity of air that you can exhale upon forced exhalation.

3. Chest x-ray. This is suggested by a doctor to know if pneumonia problems are present. Mild x-ray changes can be a sign of chronic bronchitis.

4. ABG (arterial blood gas) test. This determines the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in your blood. A blood is drawn from your artery. The procedure can make you very uncomfortable. Analysis of your blood gas is useful if oxygen therapy can be advised in case your blood oxygen is very low.

5. Additional tests are necessary if other problems related to your health are involved. If infections are present, sputum and blood tests as well as cultures are conducted to determine the causes of infections.

There are different factors when considering treatments for bronchitis. If it is not caused by bacteria, unblocking the obstruction from the airways is done. Medical treatments inhaled medications helpful in unblocking the air passages of your respiratory tract. Bronchodilators are widely used for asthmatic bronchitis and chronic bronchitis.

Bronchitis inflamed the bronchial tubes, mucous membrane, and other tissues and organs associated with the breathing process. Once these fragile organs of the respiratory get irritated and inflamed, excessive mucus is produced so that external agents such as irritants and dusts cannot penetrate. Excess mucus clogs the air passage and blocks the air from going into the lungs. This is the time when a person experiences cough, wheezing, or breathing difficulty.

Basically, bronchitis is not easy to diagnose. It is because its symptoms are also present in other respiratory diseases such as asthma and sinusitis. But these careful laboratory analyses and physical examinations help a lot.

Cough and colds are considered ordinary illnesses by many individuals. However, it is unusual if it persists for more than a week. It may be something else. It may be bronchitis. 

Bronchitis is a respiratory condition wherein the bronchial tubes are irritated and swelled which is most of the time is accompanied by pain.

There are two types of bronchitis – acute and chronic. A viral infection is the primary cause why an acute bronchitis develops. It usually arises after a sore throat or cold and last for one to two weeks.

You need to watch out for the following symptoms of acute bronchitis:

? 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.
? Wheezing – there is obscurity in breathing with a distinct wheezing sound.
? Sore throat – this is a pain or scratchiness in one’s throat.
? Recurrent headache – this is a condition wherein pain is felt in the head. Sometimes pain can be felt in the neck or upper back.
? Chills – with this condition you may feel cold with quivering and paleness. There are instances that chills are accompanied by a sudden increase in temperature in the body. 
? Slight fever – sometimes termed as “pyrexia,” wherein there is a raise in the temperature of your body. A fever is considered slight or low grade if it falls between 38 to 39 °C.
? Malaise – this is a general term to describe an individual’s uneasiness, fatigue or ill health.
? Back pain – this is a condition where there is the presence of soreness in the back area which occur from the bones, nerves, muscles or joints. 
? Muscle pain – medically termed as “myalgia,” wherein there is soreness in the muscles in your body. 

Chronic bronchitis is the other type of the said illness. Compared to acute, when an individual has chronic bronchitis it denotes that the he has too much phlegm in the air passageway causing a successive and prolific cough. After three months of successive and prolific cough and other related symptoms, then you are most likely positive for a chronic bronchitis.

The above-mentioned symptoms of acute bronchitis are also applicable for chronic bronchitis; however the symptoms are more severe. Apart from the above-mentioned symptoms, here are the distinct symptoms of chronic bronchitis: 

? Cyanosis – it is a condition wherein the skin turns into a bluish color. The bluish color is due to the presence of “deoxygenated hemoglobin” in the vessels of your blood. 
? Edema – it is a condition where an organ or tissue swells because of excessive fluid in the lymph. Feet and ankles are the most common sites for edema to occur. 
? Heart failure – it is a condition where there is function disorder in the cardiac which results to the inability of heart to pump adequate amount of blood throughout the body.
? Clubbed fingers – it is a condition associated with heart and lung problems wherein the fingers and fingernails are deformed.
? Dyspnea – it is a condition where you will experience difficulty and shortness in breathing. 
? Shortness of breathing due to exertion (exercising or overworking)
? Too much airway mucus secretion
? Abnormal lung signs
? Repeated infections in the lungs and respiratory tract

There are some symptoms of bronchitis which resembles other respiratory problems. With this regard, it is best to consult with your physician to identify if you are indeed suffering from either acute or chronic bronchitis. Your physician will then assess your medical history as well as evaluate the physical exam he will do. To further assess the condition, other tests may be prescribed by your physician. 

An ordinary cough or cold should not be taken for granted; it must be cured as soon as possible to prevent other severe illnesses such as bronchitis to occur. You are one unfortunate individual if you will be inflicted with chronic bronchitis since there you will have to undergo long-term treatment. Medical studies show that there is no cure for chronic bronchitis.

Bronchitis is a common respiratory disorder that can occur to any age. It is usually associated with flues and colds. When the complication is left uncured, this can lead to pneumonia. Bronchitis attack the immune system of a vulnerable person especially the smokers.

Bronchitis can be classified as acute bronchitis or chronic bronchitis, depending upon the span of the occurrence of the symptoms. Pulmonary specialists give detailed diagnosis and the treatments to particular types of bronchitis.

Acute bronchitis has the shorter duration of symptoms. It is accompanied by symptoms like flu, persistent cough, difficulty in breathing, congestion, and wheezing. The wheezing sound is common to people suffering from acute bronchitis. This occurs when the air in the bronchial tubes are hindered by the inflammation.  Acute bronchitis can either be caused by bacteria or viruses. These elements infect the breathing passages, thus constricting the proper function of the respiratory system.

However, acute bronchitis can be cleared up for days.  With proper medication and sufficient treatment, the patient suffering from acute bronchitis can be cured.

On the other hand, chronic bronchitis is the long term occurrence of the symptoms. It can last for some months or even years. Certain environmental factors can trigger the chronic bronchial infection such as dust, certain odor and cigarette smoke. Unfortunately, not only the smokers are exposed to bronchitis, but those who can inhale their spute out.

Chronic bronchitis also requires intense and persistent treatment until the full recovery of the patient. If this ailment is not properly addressed, the symptoms can reoccur and even aggravate to a certain degree of complication. The treatment of chronic bronchitis shall depend on the triggering factor.

In any manner, bronchitis has primer symptoms. These are coughing, excessive mucus, fever, pains in the chest, inflammation, discomfort, and wheezing. The symptoms of bronchitis can also lead to other respiratory problems such as sinusitis, asthma and complicated pneumonia.

Although bronchitis is a common respiratory disease, it is also often misdiagnosed. Because of this, Para clinical and physical examinations must be conducted in order to establish the accurate diagnoses. With the help of the laboratory analysis and pulmonary tests, the most vital signs of bronchitis become eminent.

In any case, bronchitis must be given attention before its further damage. When the cause of the infection is bacteria, antibiotics can work best to cure this respiratory illness. Fever is a chief indication that the bronchitis is due to bacteria. About 80% of patients prescribed with antibiotics can successfully find relief in five to ten days. However, only the physician can prescribe the right medication according to the diagnosis and laboratory tests. It must be noted that the improper administration of antibiotics can harm the patient.

Antibiotics have reported side effects such as diarrhea, rashes and abdominal pains. These side effects cannot be neglected as they can cause another set of discomfort to the patient. Nevertheless, they can be accepted during absolute necessity and the useful effects are denser.

When bronchitis is caused by viruses and other agents, antibiotics don’t work. The only way to deal with such case is to rest longer, maintain the patient’s humidity at a higher level, and keep the body hydrated by taking in more fluids. This will last for some days and if the symptoms persist for two weeks, a doctor must already be called. The condition could have drastically stirred to become pneumonia or asthma bronchitis.

Other than bacteria and viral infections, there are other causes of bronchitis. These are the obstructions in the bronchial tubes due to the inflammation in the respiratory tract, organs, tissues and mucous membranes. Because of the irritation, the secretion of mucus is increased. The mucus gather in the bronchial tubes causing the difficulty in breathing, coughing and the wheezing sound.

Bronchodilators are drugs administered to those who had difficulty in breathing. They help in reestablishing the respiration process. They are mostly used for patients suffering from chronic bronchitis and asthma.

Indeed, it is important to know the cause of the bronchitis. Such knowledge will lead to the proper treatment of the illness. While certain medications can be administered to the patient as first aid measure, the doctor must still be consulted. It is also proper to notify him about those medications given to the patient.

When the inside layer of your bronchial tubes begin to swell, you are most likely to develop bronchitis. Once this happen, your air passageway will be filled with mucus or phlegm. 

Bronchitis itself cannot be cured. What you need to do is treat the symptoms of bronchitis as well as alleviate the discomfort and pain which comes with the symptoms. 

These days, there are suggested and prescribed medicines to combat bronchitis.

Antibiotic

Antibiotic is used to slow down or destroy the development of bacteria. Recently, medical studies show that Telithromycin is an alternative choice to treat bronchitis.

It is believed that antibiotics help relieve the symptoms which come together with bronchitis such as reducing cough and colds.

There are adverse side effects if your body is not used to taking antibiotics such as irritated stomach, loose bowel movement, and skin irritations and to some extent seizures.

Bronchodilators

Bronchodilator is a medication which is breath into the mouth to treat bronchitis. This is done to open the bronchial tubes or the air passageway of the lungs. Some of the common brand names of this drug are Ventolin, Albuterol and Primatene.

Such medicine may act to give short or long term effect to the one taking it. Short effects aim to give speedy aid from the discomfort and pain. On the other hand, long-term effects help control and on some cases put off symptoms.

The amount of dosage varies from one patient to the other, depending on the severity of bronchitis. Your physician will prescribe you the proper dosage which you will need.

The possible side effects once this medication was taken may include nervousness, tremors in the muscle, fast heartbeat and queasiness.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids belong to the group of “steroid hormones.” This type of medication is utilized to help the patient suffering from bronchitis breathe easier.

Intake of this drug comes into two different forms. It can be given by mouth or it can be given intravenously.

Use of this medication has long-term side effects such as persistent infections, thinning of the skin, ulcers, and to some extent osteoporosis and cataracts. On the other hand, short-term side effects of Corticosteroids may include increase in weight, mood swings and increase in blood sugar and blood pressure.

This type of medicine should be taken under a direct and close supervision of your doctor.

Cough Suppressants and Expectorants

A cough suppressant is given to individuals who are suffering from bad cough without congestion in their nose. “Dextromethorphan” is an active ingredient of most cough suppressant. Some examples of cough suppressants are Vicks Formula and some Robitussin products. 

Over dosage of cough suppressants may result to vomiting, irritated stomach and sleepiness. 

Alternatively, cough expectorants works in a way wherein it thins the mucus which blocks air passageway. With cough expectorants, it is uncomplicated for you to cough. “Guaifenisin” is the major ingredients in cough expectorants which come in several brand names.  

You may encounter the following side effects upon intake of some cough expectorants which may include vomiting, headache, faintness and skin rashes. 

Although cough suppressants and expectorants can be readily bought over-the-counter, it is still best to consult a physician for prescription which will be suited to your condition.

Ibuprofen

Most physicians prescribe Ibuprofen to alleviate the discomfort and pain experienced by someone who is suffering from the symptoms of bronchitis. Some of the common brand names of Ibuprofen are Advil, Midol and Motrin.

Taking too much of this drug can lead to side effects which may include tight bowel movement, bloating, faintness, anxiety and a feeling of buzzing in the ears. 

Mucolytics

Mucolytic is a type of medication which liquefies thick mucus so that an individual suffering from bronchitis will have a reduced difficulty in breathing.

Some major types of mucolytics are referred to as “acetlycysteine, carbocisteine, and methylcysteine hydrochloride.”

If you are not attuned with this type of drug, you may develop the common side effects such as abrupt stiffness of the air passageway, fever, vomiting and sleepiness.

There are a wide variety of medicines to treat bronchitis or the symptoms causing the said illness. However, you should not instantly take the said medications without consulting your physician. By doing so, you will avoid possible side effects which can harm your life.

There are basically two kinds of bronchitis, acute and chronic bronchitis. These two may have the same last names but they vary from their causative effects and treatment prescribed to control the diseases.

Acute bronchitis is a short-term illness that becomes rampant during the cold seasons. It is usually followed by a viral infection and can go together with a bacterial infection. Acute bronchitis is self-limiting which clears itself within fourteen days but the cough may continue. Like any other upper respiratory tract infections, having acute bronchitis can raise chance of developing pneumonia.

People who are at risk of getting acute bronchitis are infants, very young children, and the old adults. This is due to the fact that infants and very young children still have underdeveloped immune systems, while the old adults, on the other hand, have immune systems that have become weaker due to ageing. Other group populations who are at risk are smokers and those with preexisting lung and/or heart ailments. People who are often exposed to pollution are also at risk of being afflicted with acute bronchitis.

Chronic bronchitis is also an inflammation of the respiratory tract with an accompaniment of phlegm expectoration and coughing. But in chronic bronchitis, the signs ands symptoms are at hand for no less than 3 months for two successive years.

Chronic bronchitis may be caused by the inhalation of respiratory airway irritants. Airway irritants may be in the form of cigarette smoking or pollution or a combination of both. Because this disease advances gradually, middle aged individuals and the elderly are expected to be diagnosed with this malady.

The main objective for the treatment of both acute and chronic bronchitis is to alleviate the symptoms.

For acute bronchitis, treatment consists of lots of intake of fluids, quitting smoking, taking a break, humidifying the home environment, and medications (in case of fever and pain). Acetaminophen is the most prescribed medication to fight pain and fever. Another is aspirin, but this is contraindicated for children and pregnant women due to the fact that this drug is suspected to be the cause of Reye’s syndrome among children. For women, it may cause severe bleeding.

Anti-cough medicines are taken when the sufferer experiences dry cough (cough without phlegm). But if the individual is experiencing cough with phlegm, then it should be left as it is and let the phlegm come out naturally. This is because if cough is suppressed and the phlegm is contained within, then it will eventually accumulate in the air passages which will cause an obstruction and may become a hotbed for dangerous microorganisms.

Expectorants, on the other hand, are medications that help liquidify or thin out the thick mucus in the lungs to make it easier to cough out.

Moreover, if the physician has detected a bacterial infection then an antibiotic medication may be prescribed. Intake of antibiotic medications should be done religiously as the physician ordered because any lapse may only cause the return of the disease or worse, the bacteria may produce a strain that could become immune to the medication.

Antibiotic medications may include the following:
? azithromycin
? trimethoprim or sulfamethazole
? clarithromycin
? tetracycline or ampicillin
? amoxicillin (for children below eight years of age due to the fact that tetracycline causes discoloration on the teeth that have not come out)

As for chronic bronchitis, treatment is a bit more multifaceted than acute bronchitis. The physician would need to carefully evaluate the patient for other health problems before a treatment plan can be employed to control the disease. Including in the treatment plan are changes in lifestyle that will involve stoppage of smoking and keeping away from polluted environments. Regular exercise may also help in the control of the disease.

Medications for chronic bronchitis include anti-inflammatory medications and bronchodilators. Anti-inflammatory drugs decrease the inflammation in the respiratory tract tissues.

The following are commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs:
? Corticosteroids (i.e. prednisone, can be taken either as an oral medication or through IV)
? Ipratropium (also reduces the amount of mucus produced)

Meanwhile, bronchodilators help loosen up the bronchial muscles which then permits increase air flow in the respiratory passages. These can be taken in orally or by inhalation through a nebulizer (an apparatus that transport medication to the respiratory tract). Bronchodilators may include the following:
? metaproterenol
? albuterol

With the advancement of chronic bronchitis, the individual afflicted may eventually require supplemental oxygen. And in the later stages of the disease, the patient may need to be in the hospital if he or she developed severe complications.

In addition to conventional medications, herbal medicines can be also included in the treatment plan. Herbal medicines may be inhaled (like eucalyptus) or taken as tea made from mullein or Verbascum thapsus, coltsfoot or Tussilago farfara, and anise seed or Pimpinella anisum.

There are numerous medications out there and it is best to consult the physician to know which drug can best help treat and/or control bronchitis.