Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Unlikeacute bronchitisthat lasts for a short period, chronic bronchitis occurs at least three months a year for at least two years in a row.
Chronic bronchitis falls under the umbrella ofchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a group of lung diseases that block airflow and create ongoing breathing-related problems.
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Symptomsoften start out mild and get worse over time.
Symptoms can include:
Symptoms of severechronic bronchitisinclude:
When to Seek Emergency TreatmentWhenCOPD symptomssuddenly get worse or become severe, it is called COPD exacerbation (or flare-up) and can be a medical emergency. Contact your doctor, go to the nearest emergency room, or call 911 if:Your symptoms are more severe or prolonged than your usual day-to-day COPD symptoms.You have extreme shortness of breath.You have chest pain.You become agitated, confused, or drowsy.
When to Seek Emergency Treatment
WhenCOPD symptomssuddenly get worse or become severe, it is called COPD exacerbation (or flare-up) and can be a medical emergency. Contact your doctor, go to the nearest emergency room, or call 911 if:Your symptoms are more severe or prolonged than your usual day-to-day COPD symptoms.You have extreme shortness of breath.You have chest pain.You become agitated, confused, or drowsy.
WhenCOPD symptomssuddenly get worse or become severe, it is called COPD exacerbation (or flare-up) and can be a medical emergency. Contact your doctor, go to the nearest emergency room, or call 911 if:
Exposure to cigarette and other tobacco smoke is the main cause of chronic bronchitis. At least 75% of people who have chronic bronchitis smoke or used to smoke.Secondhand smokecan also contribute to chronic bronchitis.
Other risk factors include:
Todiagnose chronic bronchitis, a healthcare provider will do a physical examination that usually includes:
Diagnostic tests may also be run.
Pulmonary Function Tests
These tests use tools or devices that you breathe into to measure the lungs’ ability to move air in and out of the lungs.
They may include:
Other Tests for Chronic Bronchitis
Other tests and procedures that may be used indiagnosing chronic bronchitisinclude:
First and foremost,treatment for chronic bronchitisbegins with removing the exposure to the irritant or irritants causing the problem. In most cases, this is tobacco smoke such as cigarettes.
Chronic bronchitis cannot be cured, but it can be managed.
Lifestyle Changes
Medications
Medications for chronic bronchitis include:
Bronchodilators
Usually taken through an inhaler, these medications relax the muscles around the airways, which opens the airways and makes breathing easier. The inhaler may also contain steroids to reduce inflammation in more severe cases.
One type ofbronchodilator, beta-adrenergic agonists, comes in short-acting form and long-acting form.
Types of short-acting beta-adrenergic agonists include:
Types of long-acting beta-adrenergic agonists include:
Symbicortis a two-in-one medication that combines formoterol with an inhaled corticosteroid known as budesonide.
Vaccines
People with chronic bronchitis should get the flu and pneumococcal pneumonia vaccines to help avoid the serious problems of these diseases for which they are at higher risk.
Antibiotics
Oral Medications
Oral medications are sometimes prescribed to open airways and help clear away mucus.
Oxygen Therapy
Oxygen therapy is also known as oxygen and supplemental oxygen.
Oxygen therapyinvolves oxygen being administered through tubes resting in the nose, a face mask, or a tube placed in the trachea (windpipe). The goal of oxygen therapy is to increase the amount of oxygen the lungs receive and deliver to the blood, thus increasing blood oxygen levels in people whose blood oxygen is too low.
Oxygen therapy can be administered in the hospital or given at home, depending on needs and accessibility. It can be for short-term or long-term use.
The oxygen is supplied either from a storage tank that is filled professionally and delivered or using a device called an oxygen concentrator, which uses oxygen in the air.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitationis a supervised program for people who have lung conditions or breathing problems.
The program may include:
Pulmonary rehabilitation can be done in the hospital or a clinic, or physical therapy and/or breathing exercises may be done at home.
Activity monitors or smartphone-based lessons or monitoring may also be used.
Lung Transplant
This procedure, which involves replacing diseased lungs with healthy donor lungs, can be used as a last resort for people who have severe chronic bronchitis.
Although chronic bronchitis/COPD cannot be cured, quality of life can be improved through symptom management.
Outlook for the future depends on the symptoms, the severity of the condition, how well the lungs are working, and response and commitment to the treatment plan.
In addition to a medical treatment plan, ways to help manage chronic bronchitis at home include:
A Word From Verywell
Without proper treatment, chronic bronchitis can worsen and greatly impact your quality of life.
Thankfully, although it can’t be cured, treatments such as medications, oxygen therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation can help keep symptoms at bay and allow you to continuing doing the things you love.
If you think you might have chronic bronchitis, it is important to see a healthcare provider promptly to slow the progression of the condition.
The best thing you can do to both prevent and treat chronic bronchitis is to quit smoking (or never start) and avoid others when they are smoking.
9 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.MedlinePlus.Chronic bronchitis.The Allergy Group.Chronic bronchitis.Johns Hopkins.Chronic bronchitis.COPD.com.Understanding COPD exacerbations.Family Doctor.What is occupational respiratory disease?National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Oxygen therapy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Pulmonary rehabilitation.Cleveland Clinic.Bronchitis.My Health Alberta.Learning about chronic bronchitis.
9 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.MedlinePlus.Chronic bronchitis.The Allergy Group.Chronic bronchitis.Johns Hopkins.Chronic bronchitis.COPD.com.Understanding COPD exacerbations.Family Doctor.What is occupational respiratory disease?National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Oxygen therapy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Pulmonary rehabilitation.Cleveland Clinic.Bronchitis.My Health Alberta.Learning about 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.
MedlinePlus.Chronic bronchitis.The Allergy Group.Chronic bronchitis.Johns Hopkins.Chronic bronchitis.COPD.com.Understanding COPD exacerbations.Family Doctor.What is occupational respiratory disease?National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Oxygen therapy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Pulmonary rehabilitation.Cleveland Clinic.Bronchitis.My Health Alberta.Learning about chronic bronchitis.
MedlinePlus.Chronic bronchitis.
The Allergy Group.Chronic bronchitis.
Johns Hopkins.Chronic bronchitis.
COPD.com.Understanding COPD exacerbations.
Family Doctor.What is occupational respiratory disease?
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Oxygen therapy.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Pulmonary rehabilitation.
Cleveland Clinic.Bronchitis.
My Health Alberta.Learning about chronic bronchitis.
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