4 Frequently Asked Questions About Chronic Bronchitis Cough
A type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis is caused by the inflammation of lungs. When the symptoms go away in two to three weeks, it is known as acute bronchitis. A person is diagnosed with chronic bronchitis cough when there is coughing with mucus for days in a month. The ailment may last for three months to two years.
Chronic bronchitis cough has been known to affect nearly 3.7% of the adult population not critical, it can lead to severe damage to the lungs if left untreated for long or if it is poorly managed.
Treatments involve taking medications to manage the symptoms. However, there is no permanent cure for this respiratory illness. Read on to know more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of chronic bronchitis cough.
What are the causes of chronic bronchitis cough?
- One of the major causes of causes of chronic bronchitis cough is persistent cold and flu. The probability increases if the flu is accompanied by an upper respiratory infection.
- Another major cause of chronic bronchitis cough is smoking. Second-hand smoking has also known to cause chronic bronchitis cough.
- Infection caused by viruses and bacteria such as influenza A and B, staph, strep, and Mycoplasma pneumonia also cause chronic bronchitis cough.
- Constant exposure to and inhalation of harmful particulate matter, fumes, and dust can aggravate chronic bronchitis cough. Exposure to chemical solvents has also been observed to cause chronic bronchitis cough.
What are the symptoms of chronic bronchitis cough?
- Persistent and heavy coughing that produces mucus is one of the most visible symptoms of chronic bronchitis cough. The mucus is can be white, yellow, or green. The person may experience sinus congestion as well.
- If not diagnosed soon, the amount of mucus in the lungs increases and there is a buildup in the bronchial tubes that block normal airflow. Due to this, a person will experience shortness of breath, which becomes worse during any physical activity.
- A person with chronic bronchitis may feel feverish and experience chills.
- Due to difficulty in breathing and production of mucus, there can be bad breath as well.
Who is highly susceptible to chronic bronchitis cough?
- People whose work involves constant exposure to harmful fumes and particles are at a high risk of getting chronic bronchitis cough.
- Patients with the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are prone to episodes of chronic bronchitis cough.
- Individuals with a weak immune system are also susceptible to this respiratory ailment.
- Elderly persons and smokers are two groups that have a high probability of being afflicted with chronic bronchitis cough.
How do you treat chronic bronchitis cough?
- Doctors prescribe medications to suppress coughing or to loosen the mucus from the bronchial tubes. In case of severe cough spells, a doctor can recommend stronger cough suppressants.
- To deal with wheezing and open up airways, bronchodilator inhalers are often advised by doctors.
- Nebulizer treatments are also recommended for the treatment of chronic bronchitis cough.
- To alleviate the inflammation of lungs, corticosteroids in the inhaled form or oral form are prescribed.
- If chronic bronchitis cough is caused by an infection or if the person also suffers from chronic lung problem, an antibiotic treatment may also be recommended. Usually, antibiotics are not prescribed for the treatment of chronic bronchitis cough.
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