Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsChronic Bronchitis SymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Chronic Bronchitis Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Chronic bronchitisrefers to inflammation and irritation of the bronchial tubes. It is a type ofchronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), which is an umbrella term for lung diseases that make it hard to breathe and get worse over time.
The bronchial tubes carry air to and from the air sacs in yourlungs, also calledalveoli. The irritation of the tubes causes a slippery liquid calledmucusto build up. This mucus and swelling of the tubes make it harder for your lungs to move oxygen in and carbon dioxide out of your body.
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You may not have any symptoms at first, but as the disease gets worse, your symptoms will become more severe. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include:
In severe cases, chronic bronchitis can cause weight loss, weakness in your lower muscles, and swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs.
This may sound like a lot of other conditions, such as:
What sets chronic bronchitis apart from these other conditions is that your productive cough bothers you most days for at least three months over the past two years.
If you have a frequent or lasting cough, especially one that produces mucus, you should see your doctor.
When to Call 911If your cough is bothering you to the point where you cannot catch your breath, hear a loud wheezing sound when you breathe, or feel chest pain, you should go to the emergency room or call 911.
When to Call 911
If your cough is bothering you to the point where you cannot catch your breath, hear a loud wheezing sound when you breathe, or feel chest pain, you should go to the emergency room or call 911.
The cause of chronic bronchitis is usually long-term exposure to irritants that damage your lungs and airways.Cigarette smoke is the main cause of this disease in the United States. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke can also cause chronic bronchitis.
Exposure to other inhaled irritants can contribute to chronic bronchitis, including secondhand smoke, air pollution, and chemical fumes or dusts from the environment or workplace.
How to Prevent Acute and Chronic Bronchitis
If you have an ongoing cough that won’t go away, your doctor will first ask you about your overall health and family history. This will include questions about medical problems that your parents, grandparents, or siblings had, if you ever smoked, what type of work you do, and where you live.
A number of tests can then be used to check the health of your lungs, how your cough is affecting them, and the best way to manage your condition. Some tests that may be performed include:
These tests may be done not only to diagnose chronic bronchitis, but also to monitor the progress of the disease over time.
Differences Between Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
Treatment of chronic bronchitis focuses on several goals:
Medications that may be used to treat or control chronic bronchitis include:
Some lifestyle changes may also be able to help, such as:
A lung transplant may be recommended for people who have severe symptoms that have not improved with medications.
Living With COPD
You will go through periods where your condition is under control and other times when your symptoms will be worse. However, with the right interventions, you can increase your quality of life.
It’s important to work closely with your doctor to find a treatment regimen that works for you. This doesn’t only apply to medications. Your doctor can also advise you on diet, activities, and exercise, as well as other lifestyle changes that can help you manage chronic bronchitis.
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Managing your chronic bronchitis is a lifelong effort, but you can still have a good quality of life if you stick to the treatment plan you created with your doctor and make positive lifestyle changes like quitting smoking.
You may have to restrict certain activities that could expose you to irritants, and some exercises may be difficult. How well you fare with chronic bronchitis depends on the amount of lung damage you have and how well you prevent further damage.
Support is important in managing chronic bronchitis, and you may need to ask friends and family members for support, especially if they are smokers and expose you to secondhand smoke.
You can support your health and keep your chronic bronchitis from becoming worse if you:
Summary
A Word From Verywell
4 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.Dotan Y, So JY, Kim V.Chronic bronchitis: where are we now?Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2019;6(2):178-192. doi:10.15326/jcopdf.6.2.2018.0151Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.Cleveland Clinic.Bronchitis.
4 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.Dotan Y, So JY, Kim V.Chronic bronchitis: where are we now?Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2019;6(2):178-192. doi:10.15326/jcopdf.6.2.2018.0151Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.Cleveland Clinic.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.Dotan Y, So JY, Kim V.Chronic bronchitis: where are we now?Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2019;6(2):178-192. doi:10.15326/jcopdf.6.2.2018.0151Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.Cleveland Clinic.Bronchitis.
MedlinePlus.Chronic bronchitis.
Dotan Y, So JY, Kim V.Chronic bronchitis: where are we now?Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2019;6(2):178-192. doi:10.15326/jcopdf.6.2.2018.0151
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.
Cleveland Clinic.Bronchitis.
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