BronchitisWhat are the Symptoms and Treatments

I want to havebig lungs so I can run easier and do everything while breathing more easily. I want to be able to run far and fast without having to stop for air.

Like any body part, you can exercise your lungs to be more efficient and powerful. I'd recommend the following: go for a 15 minute walk once a day (you can do this exercise any time but it's most effective if you do it for 15 minutes or more at a time).

While you're walking, take a deep breath lasting about 4 steps, hold it for 4 steps, then exhale for 4 steps, then hold your lungs empty for 4 steps. Once you've done that, increase it to 5 or 6 steps. Keep doing that for the entire walk. It's harder than it sounds.

Make sure you breathe properly - expanding your stomach to let the diaphragm muscles do their work on the inhale. Try not to use your shoulders to breathe deeply, that's not as effective.

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Bronchitis is an ailment of the airways manifested by the existence of sputum production and cough for at least three months in each of two successive years. From the name itself, bronchitis is the inflammation and infection of the bronchial tree. The bronchial tree is composed of tubes that bring air to the lungs. When these get inflamed and infected, the tubes swell and produce thick mucus inside of them which makes it difficult to breathe.

There are basically two kinds of bronchitis: acute (meaning short term) bronchitis and chronic (meaning long term) bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is mainly caused by viruses and bacteria. Chronic bronchitis on the other hand is caused by smoking or environmental pollutants that causes an irritation on the airways.

During pregnancy the woman’s body undergoes a lot of changes. Her body now consumes oxygen and nutrients not just for her own well-being but for the baby inside her as well. The health of a pregnant woman with respiratory problems can be quite a predicament for physicians. There are major factors that are involved when dealing with the health of pregnant women such as their anatomical and physiological alterations to pregnancy, balancing both fetal and maternal needs, and the pregnant woman’s vulnerability to diseases. Although there may be modifications in the care of pregnant women with respiratory health problems, such as, bronchitis, management and treatment of the said health predicament is similar to those of nonpregnant individuals.

Respiratory health problems have the possibility to get worse in pregnancy because of the rising uterus tends to squeeze the diaphragm, decreasing the dimension of available space in the lungs and the size of thoracic cavity just when lung function is essential to supply sufficient oxygen exchange for the mother and the fetus.

Moreover, histologic evaluations of the upper respiratory tract during pregnancy expose hyperemia (increase amount of blood), glandular hyperactivity (increase workload of the glands), increased mucopolysaccharide content, and increased phagocytic activity. These alterations seem to be caused by the increase in estrogen levels. As a result, pregnant women experience nose bleeding and nasal stuffiness.

Being knowledgeable enough about the changes in respiratory physiology among pregnant women is crucial to their care and management when they become affected by a respiratory disease. As you may well know, these changes permit the mother-to-be to meet the metabolic needs of the unborn child.

The following are signs and symptoms of bronchitis:

? Fatigue
? Low grade fever
? Chest aches
? Wheezing
? Labored breathing or dyspnea which is worsened by physical exertion
? Cough with sputum or mucus
? Rales, these are abnormal lung sounds that can be heard in the lungs through the stethoscope

To diagnose the disease, tests are utilized by the doctors in addition to the obvious signs and symptoms in the confirmation of the disease such as pulmonary lung function tests, pulse oxymetry, arterial blood gas, chest x-ray, and sputum examinations

Treatment for bronchitis in pregnant women is similar to those individuals who are not pregnant. In any case, if the disease is caused by a virus then an antibiotic is useless (which is prescribed for bacteria-caused bronchitis). Acute bronchitis is usually self-limiting and may clear out within a week. General treatment is comprised of complete rest, lots of fluid intake, use of humidifiers to clear out the lung congestions, and avoiding air pollutants such as smoking. Although aspirin is prescribed to common individuals, pregnant women are not allowed to take this since it can cause bleeding and may induce complications.

Furthermore, prevention is still better than the cure. And being in a vulnerable state, pregnant women should always be careful with their bodies like always wash their hands (to avoid bacterial or viral bronchitis) and stop smoking or avoid smokers. It is also recommended that pregnant women obtain a flu vaccine especially if they are going to be pregnant during the influenza season.  Although the vaccine will not wholly prevent the woman from getting afflicted with bronchitis, it will at least shield her from certain strains of virus caused respiratory illnesses.

Any respiratory predicament can create serious damage to the unborn child if allowed to progress until the mother’s oxygen- carbon dioxide exchange is altered and heavily compromised.

Bronchitis conditions are usually viral infections and are known for being contagious since it can be acquired through contact with a person suffering from such infection and it can travel by air. This infection can be a stepping stone for other branching infections or complications such as pneumonia and emphysema, not to mention that it can also lead to lung cancer should an individual not be treated and further exposed to factors that may worsen the condition of the patient.

This kind of respiratory disease is where the mucus membrane in the lungs’ bronchial passageway is inflamed. This causes the membrane to become irritated which will grow and swell thicker. In turn, the lungs’ tiny airways narrows down and/or shuts off, which results in breathlessness and coughing spells that is usually associated with thick phlegm.

There are a couple of treatments that are used to cure this condition, however because of the fast advancement of our technology, nowadays, the cure can now be found in just capsules or inhalers provided that you use the cure within the prescribed duration and should not be used without the consent of your doctor.

Some doctors advice their patients to use Albuterol and Ipratropium inhalers, these drugs are both by prescription. If the patient has fever and discolored phlegm, then the doctor may advise antibiotics. However, some persons who has experience such condition recommend a Z pack. It is usually taken 5 pills a day for not less than 5 days. It should stop the congestion but a cough will still be there so your doctor may write you a cough syrup that will help you get rid of the left cough and get you some rest.

Another solution to bronchitis is that if you are smoking the best treatment to the condition is to stop smoking although it is easier said than done, your doctor may also give you some Mucinex it is an over the counter kind of medicine at any drugstore and you will also have to take in more fluids like water, even sodas and juice will do but not coffee. Should a cough occur with your bronchitis, Codeine will help you stop it but if you are sick of tablets and capsules, you should try mixing lemon juice and honey, it works, not as well as Codeine though.

Meanwhile, if you have chronic bronchitis, what helps a lot is to have a cool mist steamer running while sleeping. You may also try some Chinese food remedies like the following:

1. 500 mg unpeeled pear or radish (crushed and soaked in honey).
2. Make a soup out of boiled licorice in water over low heat.
3. Put a peeled grapefruit inside the chicken cavity. Cook by steaming the chicken in a pan by adding a little water. Drink the chicken broth and eat the chicken.
4. For older patients with chronic bronchitis, It is recommended that they should eat seafoods and yam.

According to some sources there are so many ways to cure it, like by drinking onion juice mixed with honey, or onion decoction which is said to give relief from coughing that is usually associated with bronchitis. You can also try boiling pepper powder in milk and then drinking it or you can also lick pepper powder mixed with ghee and sugar. Bronchitis can also be cured by drinking a mixture of 2 teaspoons of green ginger juice and 1 teaspoon of honey.

Bronchitis is also cured by drinking roasted asafetida mixed in warm water. One should also try the combination of raisins and sugar kept ion mouth while sucked.

The condition can also be treated by sucking on pomegranate fruit skin. Eating some dates while drinking warm water can dilute and remove the cough, thereby relieving the symptoms of bronchitis. One should also try drinking mint juice or licking approximately one half tola honey up to four times a day; or drinking tulsi juice along with sugar. Tea also has its own curing substance that acts as bronchodilator. Here are more natural ways to cure bronchitis. Put warm castor oil planet leaves on a pan. Cool and spread on the chest for the night (Caution: castor oil planet is poisonous). You can also try mixing mustard powder and equal amount of flour and water, and then smear it on the chest. However some people may have sensitive skin that applying mustard might sting, test on a small area first to know whether you have sensitive skin or not.

There are yet more ways to cure bronchitis however, if we do not take good care of our bodies and continue to do things that may weaken our immune system, infections such as bronchitis will always be there to threaten us.

Every year, you may suffer from a disease that can render you sick and disabled. Diseases that you cross paths with can immobilize you and can stop you from going to work to earn money, or will not allow you to go to school and catch up with the latest lessons. You have to consider that in order to get back to work or to school as soon as possible, you have to cure the disease in order to become a productive member of society again.

This is why you should be aware of the common diseases today and know about their symptoms so you can take the necessary action to prevent it from becoming worse. As soon as you notice the signs and symptoms, you can consult with your doctor immediately and will provide you with the medications and advice that you need in order to get cured as soon as possible.

First of all, one of the most common diseases affecting humans today is called bronchitis. You have to consider that there are two kinds of bronchitis where one is acute bronchitis, and the other is chronic bronchitis. In acute bronchitis, treatment is usually quick and will not require any special medications for it. This is because acute bronchitis is commonly caused by virus infection which can go away in a matter of 12 to 14 days.

However, it is still recommended that you should consult your doctor once the signs and symptoms of bronchitis. This is because bronchitis can also be caused by bacterial and fungal infection that will need medications, such as antibiotics and antifungal drugs. You have to consider that there is no way of knowing if the bronchitis is caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungus unless proper laboratory examination is done.

So, before your bronchitis becomes worse and do more damage to your lungs, you have to know what the signs and symptoms is associated with bronchitis in order to detect it early on. First of all, bronchitis is mainly the swelling of the bronchial tubes. Because of the swelling, the bronchial mucosa cannot get rid of mucus anymore. This will cause you to cough, and have difficulty in breathing.

Here are the other signs and symptoms of bronchitis and what you can do to relieve it:

• Coughing with thick phlegm
• Breathlessness
• Pain on the throat
• Tightness feeling around the chest
• Pain and swelling around the eyes
• Slight fever
• Difficulty in breathing

These are the signs and symptoms you should watch out for with bronchitis. Here are more signs and symptoms usually associated with bronchitis in order for you to identify if you have one and know when to consult a doctor:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Excessive sweating
• Chest pain

It is very important that you should pay close attention to the signs and symptoms associated with bronchitis in order for you to know when to visit the doctor immediately. You should also know that there are also other signs and symptoms associated with the chronic form of bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis can include all the symptoms associated with acute bronchitis but in a more severe form. There are cases where chronic bronchitis sufferers will suffer from coughing excessive mucus with blood due to the laceration of the bronchial tube.

Chronic bronchitis will require a long term treatment in order to completely cure it. This is because chronic bronchitis means that there is already a permanent damage to your respiratory system that can heal quite slowly. It will require inhaled medications, such as bronchodilators to open up the airways and let you breath properly, it will also require you to keep yourself away from dusty places.

It is recommended that you should humidify your room by installing a room humidifier or just have wet towels or blankets placed all over the room.

Always make sure that you are well-aware of the signs and symptoms of acute and chronic bronchitis. This is because if either acute or chronic bronchitis is caused by bacteria or fungus and is left untreated, it can lead to severe complication, which will include pneumonia.

Always remember that early detection of bronchitis will mean early diagnosis and early proper treatment and management which will prevent you from suffering from severe complications.

Coughing, most often, is the onset symptom of bronchitis. Being knowledgeable on matters regarding coughing can be most helpful in combating bronchitis especially chronic bronchitis. 

A cough is an abrupt, frequently recurring contraction of the “thoracic cavity,” which results in an aggressive discharge of air from the lungs that comes with a distinguishing sound. 

When the air passages in your body are irritated, a cough takes place to do away with the irritants.

Causes of Cough

There are two reasons why cough occurs – physiological and psychological. The psychological aspect of cough is termed as “habitual coughing.” In a medical perspective it is referred to as “steruphilia” wherein an individual loves the sound of coughing or sneezing that is why he practices the said condition. On the other hand, there is also a physiological reason why cough is evident to humanity. 

The “vagus nerve” which flows through the lungs into the brain has a major role in the physiological act of coughing. Under this type, the following are broken down into sub-causes:

? Infection – the presence of bacteria, virus from a common cold or fungus triggers humanity to develop a cough. 

? External factors – cough is evident when an individual is allergic to irritants such as dust, smoke from cigarettes or belches, pollens and some medicinal drugs. 

? Internal factors – as diseases in heart, ear, sinuses especially in the lungs progresses it causes a person to cough.

Types of Cough

1. Dry cough

Dry cough or sometimes termed as non-productive cough is described to be arid, stiff and exasperating. Apart from being bothersome, dry cough gives you a wearing and strenuous time.

2. Chesty coughs

Chesty coughs are commonly known as “productive coughs.” The common cause of this type of cough is infection from a virus or bacteria.

Phlegm is being taken away from the respiratory channels so that unwanted mucus and germs can be eradicated in the body. By doing so, your breathing will be normalized. 

Effects of Cough in Chronic Bronchitis

There are a lot of consequences if cough is persistent and productive especially if you have chronic bronchitis. When you cough you will experience any of the following: 

? There is aggravation in the “anus” which can worsen piles or crevices from within it. 

? Headache oftentimes occur with persistent or aggressive coughing. 

? Stomach-strain heightens which may lead to “hernia” or “scrotal sac.” 

? There is increased pressure in your chest. Having so, “air emphysema” may occur. 

With the above-mentioned consequences, it is best to know important ways for coughing to be reduced. 

1. Medical studies show that smoking is the main culprit for the development of chronic bronchitis. Hence, if you are a smoker, it is highly recommended for you to stop smoking. Breathing for you will be easy if you decide to stop smoking. It is not only cough that will be reduced but you will have better lungs as well by putting an end to smoking cigarettes. 

2. If you are a non-smoker yet you encounter people around you smoking, it is best to stay away from them because according to some medical findings secondhand smoking is more serious than firsthand smoking.

3. You need to avoid irritants. Some common irritants which can worsen cough are aerosol products, fumes from chemical substances and dust. 

4. When there is a high possibility that you will be exposed to irritants, it is a must for you to wear masks so that there is less chance for you to breathe those. 
 
A visit to your physician is recommended for you to recognize the type of cough you have. The physician will also tell you if your cough is associated with chronic bronchitis or a symptom of other illnesses. Moreover, it is he who will tell you the means and ways for you to treat as well as prevent the cough you have.  There is no need for you to delay a consultation with your physician. Cliché, as it may be “the sooner…the better.”

To some, coughing is but an ordinary illness. However, no one can tell when cough is mild or fatal. When health is being talked about, you need to be extremely concern about it for life is just but once.

I'm considering stopping smoking weed after heavy smoking (all day every day) for about a year and a half. Is there any tar buildup in my lungs? And is there any permanent damage to my lungs?

its possible that there is some damage that may not be detected later in life. Unlike the kidneys which heal themselves in a way if you just automatically stop drinking. I think its a good decision to stop smoking. May God see you through this journey as you put away the smoking addiction.

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They can't have cough drops, or over the counter "cough" medicine anymore. I try and coax him to drink water, but that doesn't even really work. Can I use Vicks vapor rub on his nose/throat?
This is even hard because I can't always find a solution to stop by coughing tickle, so I'm really struggling to find a method that works for my son.
We already have a humidifier going in his room… I'm sure its helping, but not stopping the cough!

Vicks is perfectly safe for little ones. Use some on his chest/neck, and back, and then cover the soles of his feet with it, and put socks on him. It works wonders (even on adults)! Also, try Triaminic thin strips (they dissolve on the tongue) and work pretty well for my kids. The Vicks on the feet, though, works better than anything I've ever tried.

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We just purchased her (Penelope) today at the pet store. She was just about to become snake food, but we arrived just in time! She seemed happy and healthy and obviously pregnant as confirmed by the pet shop expert. Within one hour after we got home she started coughing and sneezing up blood! It's now two hours later and she has stopped coughing up and sneezing blood, she is now calmly nesting.

Because she is PREGNANT!!!!!

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Whenever the word ‘bacteria’ is mentioned, most people will think about it negatively. The truth is there are bad bacteria as well as good bacteria. Bad bacteria often cause illnesses or diseases; and the good ones help in keeping the body healthy.
Did you know that the largest class of all creatures on earth is bacteria? They are single cells that eat and reproduce. Of all infecting agents, the bacteria are the most common cause of hospitalized illnesses and infections, especially in developing countries. Most short term illnesses are caused by bacteria, but with the right antibiotic, it can easily be stopped.
Most illnesses are caused by bacteria and viruses. In the case of bronchitis, it is most commonly caused by viruses which bring about acute or chronic bronchitis. Bacteria though can also cause bronchitis, but cases like this are not that common. Bronchitis is the irritation and inflammation of the respiratory passages. If you’re experiencing persistent cough, perhaps you need to consult a doctor because you might have bronchitis. Although this is just a mild to moderate illness, it needs proper treatment to avoid any complications and secondary bacterial infections.
If bronchitis is caused by bacteria, the treatment will include antibiotic use. There are a lot of bacteria that cause illnesses and diseases. Bronchitis is a very common disease among children and adults. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is said to cause bronchitis. It is a minute bacterium that belongs to Mollicutes class. Unlike other bacteria that have cell walls, this organism doesn’t have any. It is composed of a membrane that incorporates compounds. Antibiotics, particularly the beta-lactam, and penicillin disrupts cell walls; and so it can’t be used to treat mycoplasma pneumoniae since it lacks a cell wall.
These bacteria thrive as parasites just like viruses; they are not free-living. It has genomes with 816 kbs and proteome that are fully characterized. M. pneumoniae uses a distinctive genetic code like mitochondria and is unable to make essential compounds because it doesn’t have cellular machinery.
M. pneumoniae spreads through droplet transmission in the respiratory system. Once it is attached to the host organism, the bacteria extract nutrients and grow. It also reproduces through binary fission. The respiratory tract is the usual attachment site of these bacteria.
If your bronchitis is caused by M. pneumoniae, it can be easily identified because of the slow progression of the symptoms, blood test on cold-hemaglutinins with positive result, lacks bacteria in sputum sample (gram stained), and lacks blood agar growth.
The effective medications for this type of bacteria are macrolide antibiotics and quinolones (both second generation). Bronchitis caused by these bacteria is usually mild. Others experience moderate symptoms.
When bacterial infection occurs in a person with bronchitis, it is usually treated with antibiotics and should take the medication prescribed. The infection will return if the antibiotic is stopped. A lot of people stop antibiotics when they feel better; but this should not be done because the bacterial infection will just come back. You have to strictly follow what the doctor prescribed to kill all existing bacteria and prevent the disease from coming back.
Antibiotics used are usually:
- trimethoprim or sulfamethoxazole
- azithromycin
- clarithromycin
- for children: amoxicillin

Bacteria are life forms, and in order to stay alive, it performs chemical processes. They manufacture structural elements, digest nutrients, assimilate, and replicate themselves. They multiply and at the same time guard themselves against hostile elements. Antibiotics are able to hinder such processes to occur, thereby killing the bacteria.
Bad bacteria are a lot like poisons and acids. The body has its own defenses and when the bacterium irritates the system, it can go overboard. In this manner, the bacteria and host tissues are attacked, which is not that good so careful attention and medication must be given to patients with bacterial infections.
Illnesses and diseases are here to stay. And perhaps the lifestyle of many people has something to do with their getting sick. All individuals must live a healthy and clean lifestyle. With all medical costs soaring high nowadays, no one would want to get sick. So the best way is to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and other healthy foods. And if you do have symptoms of bronchitis, make sure that you consult your doctor immediately.

I've noticed that every single time my cat starts to purr, he'll go into a coughing fit and have to stop. Is this caused by heart worms? Are heart worms transferable to humans? What should I do? I honestly do NOT have the money to take him to a veterinarian. I wish I did, but I don't. He was a stray and he was fine at first, but now he's displaying this weird symptom.

I'm not saying that this is what's wrong with your cat, but our cat was diagnosed with asthma and is now on steroids to control it. He was coughing a lot, sounding like he was working on a hairball, but there was no hairball. Fortunately, if this is the problem with your cat, it is treatable and the steroids are not very expensive.

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