All you need to know about Bronchitis

Experiencing a cold or flu happens to everyone around the year depending on the change of weather. It normally gets treated in a couple of weeks. However a normal flu can even lead to bronchitis. This disease happens when your bronchial tubes, whose purpose is to transport air to your lungs, gets swollen or infected. In this case you will notice that you will be experiencing heavy coughing and a lot of mucus.

According to medical researches, there are two types of bronchitis:

• Chronic bronchitis: in this case the condition keeps on coming back or does not go away at all. It is a serious case which can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

• Acute bronchitis: This one is a more common condition among patients. The symptoms tend to last for a few weeks and you will never hear from them again.

What causes bronchitis?

Most of the time it is the same viruses which causes flu which turn into bronchitis. Sometimes, bacteria found in your body are to be blamed. In both cases, as your body works hard to fight those germs, your tubes swell and causes more mucus than a normal cold. By doing so, your air openings become smaller which makes it difficult to breathe.

When are you at risk to suffer from bronchitis ?

• When you have a weak immune system. This applied to old people who suffer from ongoing diseases as well as babies and infants.

• Smokers and people who stay with smokers.
• When you work around chemical fumes or dust.
• If you are traveling to a place with a lot of pollution.

What are the symptoms?

Cough is an inevitable symptom as well as difficulty for breathing properly.

• Shortness of breathing
• A cough along with a lot of mucus which can be yellow, white, clear or green
• A whistling sound when you breathe
• Chest congestion

You may also notice

• A low fever
• A runny or stuffy nose
• A sore throat
• Feeling “wiped out”
• Body aches and chills

While you start getting better, all your symptoms will be gone except for the cough which can last for a few weeks. Your bronchial tubes need to heal and the swelling must go down.

When to see a doctor?

Immediately call your doctor if your cough brings up blood, keeping you awake all night or lasts more than 3 weeks.