Chronic Bronchitis Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

Chronic bronchitis is a disease of the lungs and airways. During this condition, the bronchi, and air passages of the lungs, become severely inflamed. Because of extreme swelling and inflammation, the bronchi started to make a large amount of mucus. This mucus then causes chronic cough and difficulty in breathing. The primary cause or reason behind chronic bronchitis is excessive smoking. There is no permanent cure for this disease; instead, with the help of medication, the symptoms can be decreased and less severe. Chronic bronchitis can also cause further complications such as :

• Disability

• You may catch infections frequently.

• Narrowing of bronchi

• You cannot breathe normally and efficiently.

Signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis:

If you are experiencing these symptoms, then you must consult your doctor:

• Extreme coughing.

• Yellow, green, or brown color sputum or mucus production, and sometime this sputum consists of blood as well.

• Tiredness or fatigue.

• Heavy breathing

• Mild fever

• Uneasiness in the chest.

If chronic bronchitis is not treated on time, it can cause further complications, which are:

• Bluish color nails and lips due to low oxygen levels on the body.

• Wheezing sound occurs when you breathe.

• Swelling in the feet

• Heart failure.

Causes of chronic bronchitis

Based on several researchers, experts conclude that 90% of the reason for chronic bronchitis is smoking. Some other causes of chronic bronchitis are:

• Smoking secondhand or low-quality cigarettes.

• Dust

• Fumes are another big reason behind chronic bronchitis, specially hairsprays. If you work in a hair salon, then there is a high chance that you may likely have chronic bronchitis.

• Air pollution

• Fumes of welding

• Exhaust of different automobiles.

• Coal

• Asthma is a disease of the lungs and airways, so it is a high chance it can further cause chronic bronchitis.

• Pulmonary emphysema can cause bronchitis.

• Sinusitis

• T.B., also known as tuberculosis, is a reason behind chronic bronchitis.

• Infections in the upper respiratory tract.

• Pulmonary fibrosis.

• Genetic disorder, which is known as Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.

Risk factors of chronic bronchitis

Several risk factors of chronic bronchitis can further cause more complications and increase the symptoms of this disease, such as

• Smoking is one of the most harmful agents in human life. It has so many dangers. Those females who smoke the most as compared to men are at high risk of chronic bronchitis.

• It further increases the chances of getting an infection swiftly and efficiently.

• If you are working in an atmosphere with fumes of any kind, you are at high risk of getting caught up by chronic bronchitis, allergies, and asthma.

• Gastric reflux can also cause chronic bronchitis. If a person suffers from severe heartburn, which also affects the throat and airways of the lungs.

Treatment of chronic bronchitis

There is no permanent cure for chronic bronchitis. However, the main focus of the treatment of the disease is to decrease the intensity of its symptoms. Treatment of chronic bronchitis involves the following steps:

• To decrease the extreme symptoms of chronic bronchitis, you must quit smoking. Smoking is one of the major reasons for this disease. Continuous consumption of smoking makes the symptoms of bronchitis more severe.

• Bronchodilator medications are those medicines that are very helpful in the treatment of chronic bronchitis. These medication helps to open up the airways of the lungs. This medication comes in the form of sprays or inhalers.

• Steroids are also very effective in the treatment of chronic bronchitis. It is mainly used as an aerosol. This steroid can cause some harmful effects, such as

• Bones weakness
• High blood pressure 
• Diabetes
• Cataracts

• Another treatment of chronic bronchitis also includes antibiotics. People who are suffering from chronic bronchitis gets infection very often. These antibiotics help to treat the infection.

• People with chronic bronchitis should take flu and pneumonia shots every seven years .these shots or vaccines control the frequent flu and pneumonia in chronic bronchitis patients.

• Oxygen therapy is a most beneficial treatment for patients with chronic bronchitis. This disease also lowers the oxygen level of the affected person. So oxygen therapy is used in the form of supplements and the form of other methods.

• Pulmonary rehabilitation is another major treatment of chronic bronchitis. In this method, a person who is suffering from this disease is provided with the following awareness methods:

1. Education or knowledge about chronic bronchitis.

2. Nutrition is important in the treatment of this disease.

3. Counseling.

4. Breathing techniques.

5. Guidance in quitting smoking.

6. Exercise.

Prevention of chronic bronchitis

This disease can be prevented with the help of following these steps:

• The very first and most important factor in the prevention of chronic bronchitis is to stop smoking. 90% of this disease is the result of excessive smoking.
• You must take flu shots every year and pneumonia shots every 6 or 7 years. Flu and pneumonia can cause more complications during chronic bronchitis.
• You must avoid those places where there is a probability of a large number of fumes.
• Prevent yourself from any dust because it can cause bronchitis and asthma.

Chronic bronchitis v/s emphysema

Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are both lung diseases. Their symptoms may match each other. However, there is a clear difference between them.

Emphysema is a condition in which air sacs, also known as alveoli, get severely damaged. The function of the alveoli is to deliver oxygen to the blood. If a person suffers from emphysema, the alveoli supply a low amount of oxygen to the blood.

The symptoms of emphysema are:

• Shortness of breath.
• Severe coughing
• Wheezing
• Higher rate of heartbeat.
• Weight loss
• Heart diseases
• Anxiety
• Discomfort in the chest
• Swelling on the feet

Chronic bronchitis is a condition in which the bronchi begin to inflame. The Celia, or hairs in the airways of the lungs destroyed during chronic bronchitis.

Noteworthy point 

Both chronic bronchitis and emphysema have the same symptoms, considering both are lung disorders. The main thing which you need to know is that these two diseases cannot be treated permanently. The symptoms can be controlled with lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and with the help of different medications.

Chronic bronchitis v/s COPD

COPD, also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a group or collection of lung disorders. While chronic bronchitis is a type of COPD, those people diagnosed with COPD are supposed to have either chronic bronchitis or emphysema.