Living With Bronchitis, What to Expect?

Breathing is the most basic function that runs life.  Hence, medical conditions that hamper a basic function of the body like Bronchitis can often be difficult to deal with.  Susceptibility to respiratory attacks keeps the patients in constant fear as the suffering involved is immense and painful. 

What is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis is a medical condition characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi), the air passages that extend from the trachea into the small airways and alveoli. It is a respiratory condition that could worsen in no time, compelling the patients to seek medical care.

There are two types of bronchitis, acute bronchitis being the more common form.  It develops from a cold or a respiratory infection. Chronic bronchitis on the other hand is a more serious condition.  It causes constant irritation or inflammation of the bronchial tube linings resulting in a wheeze.  Chronic bronchitis is often a result of long term smoking.

What happens in Bronchitis?

In Bronchitis, typically the mucus membranes found in the bronchial passage of the lungs get inflamed.  As a result of this inflammation, the irritated membrane becomes thicker eventually narrowing or shutting off the tiny airways in the lungs. This further leads to constant coughing accompanied with mucus or phlegm and wheezing or breathlessness.

There are two types of Bronchitis, namely: acute bronchitis that lasting from one to three weeks and chronic bronchitis that is more long term lasting at least 3 months of the year for two years in a row.

People with asthma may have what is known as asthmatic bronchitis.

Acute vs. Chronic Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is generally caused by lung infections, most of which are triggered by a viral infection. It is short term and gets subsided almost in no time.  To a large extent acute bronchitis is seasonal in nature. Relapses and repeated attacks of acute bronchitis could weaken and irritate bronchial airways over time thereby resulting in chronic bronchitis. Industrial pollution is another primary reason for acute bronchitis.

Chronic bronchitis is found in higher-than-normal rates among coal miners, grain handlers, metal molders, and other people who are continually exposed to dust and fumes. However the main cause remains heavy and long-term cigarette smoking, which irritates the bronchial tubes and causes them to produce excess mucus.

Signs and symptoms

A complete history must be obtained, including information on exposure to toxic substances and smoking. Symptoms of bronchitis include the following:

• Productive cough producing thick mucus (the most commonly observed symptom)
• Discolored mucus
• Fever which is generally an indicative of the underlying infection like influenza or pneumonia
• Nausea and vomiting accompanied with diarrhea in some cases
• Chest pain
• Dyspnea and cyanosis which is seen only in case of COPD or other lung impairing diseases
• Sore throat which can be quite painful
• Stuffy nose
• Headache, muscular and body aches
• Muscle aches
• Extreme fatigue and tiredness

When should one see a doctor?

Normally bronchitis develops into a severe condition when left undiagnosed.  One must seek medical advice in the initial stage of the illness so as to prevent the disease from spreading and infecting the lungs further.  One must immediately visit a doctor for a detailed investigation, if one or more symptoms are seen:

• If the symptoms are seen beyond three weeks, with no significant improvement in the condition
• Inability to sleep at night due to severe coughing
• There is a fever of over 104 deg F
• Mucus is thick, greenish in color or discolored
• There are strains of blood found in the mucus
• There is discomfort due to wheezing or shortness of breath

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Bronchitis is the most important key to timely and effective treatment of the disease.  Following diagnosis may be conducted by the doctor to confirm bronchitis along with a test for possible infection causes viruses that are responsible for the disease.  Some of the diagnostic measures are:

• Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray is essential to diagnose symptoms like pneumonia that may explain the symptoms of cough.
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• Sputum tests: In case of bronchitis a patient produces mucus that needs to be tested for the bacteria and virus causing the illness.  Once the mucus is tested and the bacteria known, doctors are in a better position to recommend antibiotics that help fight the infections.
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• Pulmonary function test: During a pulmonary function test, one blows into a device which is known as a spirometer.  This device primarily tests the capacity of the lungs, by testing the amount of air the lungs can hold and how quickly they can get it out.

Treating Bronchitis

There are a number of treatments available that help in the management of the disease.  This ranges from prescribing antibiotics that fight the bacteria causing the illness to various therapies that are recommended by doctors to improve the body’s resistance to infections and improve the lung condition.  Following are some of the lines of treatments usually undertaken in bronchitis:

• Antibiotics:  If a patient is suffering from bronchitis which is caused by a virus, then antibiotics do not really work in subsiding the infection since typically a viral settles in its own due course of time.  However if the doctor suspects a bacterial infection to be the primary cause of the infection, then antibiotics to kill the bacterial infection may be prescribed.
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•  Cough medicine:  In a bronchitis scenario, patients produce large amount of mucus.  If the body is unable to throw out this mucus, it can block the lung airways, leading to pneumonia.  Hence, the best way to treat bronchitis is to get the mucus out of the body through cough.  Bronchodilators are an important part of treating bronchitis infection as they help in thinning the mucus, opening up the airways thereby facilitating the removal of mucus from the body and lungs.  Cough suppressants may be recommended if the cough is disturbing at nights.
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• Other medications:  Inhalers, nebulizers and other forms of medications are prescribed when the patient is diagnosed with other allergies or asthma.  Inhalers and nebulizers help in opening up of the blocked and narrowed airway passages.

Therapies

In case of a chronic bronchitis, pulmonary rehabilitation is extremely essential in the line of treatments.  Breathing exercises taught by a respiratory therapist help the patients strengthen their lungs making breathing easier.  As one exercises, the lung capacity also increases thereby effectively minimizing the bronchitis symptoms.

Alternative Treatment to Bronchitis

• Steam:  Inhaling steam is the most effective way to treat bronchitis.  Either by using the steam machines or under hot shower, inhaling steam is the best way to loosen the secretions in the lungs and removing them from the system.
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•  A few drops of eucalyptus or pine oil to the water:   Eucalyptus oil has antiseptic and healing properties that help in softening the mucus and removing it out of the obstructed airways.  This helps in opening up the airways, thereby improving the breathing. Pine oil is known to act as an expectorant bringing out the phlegm from the lungs.
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• Using a humidifier:  A humidifier is a great way to moisten the air while the patient sleeps.  The warm air from the humidifier helps the patients breathe better, helping them sleep more peacefully.  However, when using a humidifier, care must be taken to follow the instructions and keep the device clean to avoid any bacteria and germs build up.
• Staying hydrated:  Drinking plenty of fluids is important in managing bronchitis effectively.  Water is important to thin down the mucus so that the body is able to get rid of it easily.  Hence, it is extremely important to stay hydrated.
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• Avoiding alcohol:  Alcohol and caffeinated drinks tend to dehydrate the system making the mucus tougher to dislodge, thus worsening bronchitis symptoms.
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•  Avoid milk products: Milk stimulates the production of mucus in the upper and lower respiratory tract and in the intestines and hence should be avoided.

Preventing the occurrence of bronchitis

To reduce the risk of bronchitis, following steps must be followed”

• Avoid cigarette smoke: Cigarette smoke is one of the most prominent causes of bronchitis and hence must be strictly avoided.
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•  Get vaccinated: Many cases of acute bronchitis result from influenza virus.  One must get yearly vaccines that prevent the occurrence of a number of diseases and protect from deadly infections and viruses.
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• Wash your hands: To reduce the risks of catching viral infections, one must maintain good hygiene standards such as washing and sanitizing hands regularly.  Such healthy habits go a long way in preventing the occurrence of a number of diseases.
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• Wear a surgical mask: Those who are prone to infections must consider wearing surgical masks when moving about in crowds or public.  This prevents acquiring any infections and transmitting the infection to others as well.