Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsChronic BronchitisAcute BronchitisAt-Risk GroupsDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Chronic Bronchitis
Acute Bronchitis
At-Risk Groups
Diagnosis
Treatment
Thebronchial treeis a complex system of passageways that most people don’t think about until it becomes inflamed or filled with mucus—a condition generally calledbronchitis. Bronchitis can be acute (coming on suddenly)—sometimes referred to as a chest cold—or chronic (continuing or recurring). Symptoms for each are similar, but how each develops and the impact each has on your health are different.
To understand the difference between acute and chronic bronchitis, it’s important to understand how the bronchial tree works. Whilelungsget a lot of credit for helping us breathe, the bronchi serve as the functional passageway for air to travel from the mouth into the body and back out of the body again.
After you breathe air in through your nose and mouth, the air travels down thetrachea(also called a windpipe)—the tube in the throat that carries air to the bronchi. The bronchi then pass that air into the left and right branches of the bronchial tree and, in turn, into the left and right lungs, where it moves through a series of smaller passageways: lobar bronchi, segmental bronchi, terminal bronchioles, and finally respiratory bronchioles.
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Chronic bronchitisis one of the two primary types ofchronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). The other isemphysema, which occurs when the alveoli are damaged and can no longer exchange oxygen effectively, causing shortness of breath. Whereas emphysema affects the alveoli, chronic bronchitis is irritation and inflammation of the bronchial tubes that make it difficult to breathe.
The term “chronic” is given to this form of bronchitis because it can cause an ongoing cough that lasts for several months or even years. The cough is usually productive, meaning it brings upmucus. In chronic bronchitis, the lining of the airways is constantly inflamed, causing the lining to swell and produce more mucus, which can make it hard to breathe.
One study estimates that chronic bronchitis affects about 10 million people in the United States, most of whom are between 44 and 65 years old.
The risk factors of chronic bronchitis include:
Chronic bronchitis usually occurs in people who smoke, but it can affect nonsmokers as well.
Mucus production is the most common symptom of chronic bronchitis. Other symptoms include:
Differences Between Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
Acute bronchitis causes the same inflammation and irritation as chronic bronchitis, but acute bronchitis is short term. Viral infections, such as the cold or flu, are usually the cause of acute bronchitis. Occasionally, acute bronchitis is due to a bacterial infection.
The most common viral causes of acute bronchitis include:
Bacteria that can cause acute bronchitis—especially in people with other health problems—include:
An infection that causes acute bronchitis may clear in just a few days, but the cough that results from the irritation that has developed can last for weeks.
Symptoms of acute bronchitis include:
When to Get HelpYou should see a healthcare provider if you experience the following symptoms or complications while having acute bronchitis:A fever of 100.4 F or higherA cough that brings up bloody mucusShortness of breath or trouble breathingSymptoms lasting more than three weeksRepeated episodes of bronchitis
When to Get Help
You should see a healthcare provider if you experience the following symptoms or complications while having acute bronchitis:A fever of 100.4 F or higherA cough that brings up bloody mucusShortness of breath or trouble breathingSymptoms lasting more than three weeksRepeated episodes of bronchitis
You should see a healthcare provider if you experience the following symptoms or complications while having acute bronchitis:
There are some people who are at greater risk of both acute and chronic bronchitis than others. Smoking is a big risk factor for both forms of bronchitis, particularly chronic bronchitis (as well as the other primary form of COPD, emphysema). Previous injuries to the lungs from childhood respiratory diseases, asthma, or allergies can also make you more susceptible to both acute and chronic bronchitis. People who work with airborne chemicals or dusts for long periods of time are also at a higher risk of developing either form of bronchitis.
The risk of chronic bronchitis increases with age, and it is more common in women than in men.
The term “smoker’s cough” is an actual condition. In fact, 75% of people with chronic bronchitis are current or former cigarette smokers.Quitting smoking will not cure chronic bronchitis, but it may help you avoid flare-ups, or exacerbations.
To diagnose bronchitis, your healthcare provider will ask you questions about your cough and general health. Examples of questions your healthcare provider may ask include:
To diagnose your bronchitis aschronic, your healthcare provider will usually look for a cough that lasts longer than three months as well as if you have a history of frequent bouts with acute bronchitis over a period of two years.
Tests
At first, your healthcare provider may use a stethoscope to listen to your lungs to confirm a diagnosis of bronchitis. Additionally, your healthcare provider may also order tests to learn more about your bronchitis—or rule out other problems, including:
What Is Sputum?
Treatment of bronchitis depends on whether you have acute or chronic inflammation. Acute bronchitis usually goes away on its own without needing treatment. Even when bacteria are the cause of bronchitis, there is little evidence supporting the use of antibiotics. Instead, treatment for acute bronchitis focuses on managing your symptoms using the following medications:
Other things you can do to alleviate your symptoms include:
For chronic bronchitis, symptom management is also key, but for different reasons. Chronic bronchitis has no cure, but reducing risk factors and avoiding triggers can help prevent flare-ups.Quitting smokingis a major step toward treating chronic bronchitis. Other treatments that might provide relief include:
How Bronchitis Is Treated
A Word From Verywell
Acute bronchitis can be painful but passes fairly quickly. If you suffer from repeat episodes of bronchitis or have been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, just remember that you can still achieve good quality of life. Proper management and a change in lifestyle like quitting smoking can help you avoid exacerbations and may even help prevent further damage to your lungs. Chronic bronchitis can’t be cured, but it can be managed with the proper diagnosis and treatment.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dotan Y, So JY, Kim V.Chronic Bronchitis: Where Are We Now?Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2019 Apr 9;6(2):178-192. doi:10.15326/jcopdf.6.2.2018.0151National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Bronchitis.MedlinePlus.Chronic bronchitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Acute bronchitis (chest cold).American Lung Association.Chronic bronchitis.University of Utah Health.Acute & chronic bronchitis.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dotan Y, So JY, Kim V.Chronic Bronchitis: Where Are We Now?Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2019 Apr 9;6(2):178-192. doi:10.15326/jcopdf.6.2.2018.0151National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Bronchitis.MedlinePlus.Chronic bronchitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Acute bronchitis (chest cold).American Lung Association.Chronic bronchitis.University of Utah Health.Acute & chronic bronchitis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Dotan Y, So JY, Kim V.Chronic Bronchitis: Where Are We Now?Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2019 Apr 9;6(2):178-192. doi:10.15326/jcopdf.6.2.2018.0151National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Bronchitis.MedlinePlus.Chronic bronchitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Acute bronchitis (chest cold).American Lung Association.Chronic bronchitis.University of Utah Health.Acute & chronic bronchitis.
Dotan Y, So JY, Kim V.Chronic Bronchitis: Where Are We Now?Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2019 Apr 9;6(2):178-192. doi:10.15326/jcopdf.6.2.2018.0151
National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Bronchitis.
MedlinePlus.Chronic bronchitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Acute bronchitis (chest cold).
American Lung Association.Chronic bronchitis.
University of Utah Health.Acute & chronic bronchitis.
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