Understanding Chronic Bronchitis Symptoms and Treatments

Chronic bronchitis is a condition that causes the airways to become inflamed and produce excess mucus. This can cause infections but this type of COPD does not usually do so. If there is an infection, acute bronchitis can develop and last a few days or a week. Some people develop chronic bronchitis which lasts several months or more.

Your airway linings are supposed to produce mucus to catch irritants and organisms causing diseases. The cilia, which are small hairs, help the mucus move through the airway where it is removed by coughing or swallowing. This is how your body gets rid of dangerous substances.

With chronic bronchitis, excess mucus is produced and the cilia become weak and can't handle the mucus. That results in a chronic cough, which produces phlegm that can be white or clear. If you see green or yellow phlegm, you may have an underlying infection.

Chronic bronchitis is often referred to as a "smoker's cough" but you don't have to smoke to get this illness. Smoking does increase your chances of developing chronic bronchitis, though; so does being exposed to hazardous chemicals like ammonia and sulfur dioxide. Bronchitis from chemical exposure generally goes away after the exposure ends. Usually, coughing is worse when you get up because of the mucus having built up overnight. Severe cases of chronic bronchitis may make it hard to sleep but sitting up while sleeping is helpful.

To diagnose chronic bronchitis, doctors use pulmonary function tests (PFT) to help them rule out asthma, emphysema, and other lung problems. Your doctor may also have an x-ray done but that is only effective for severe chronic bronchitis and to make sure the problem is not lung cancer. A better test is a CT or PET scan, which shows doctors what the airways look like.

No cure exists for chronic bronchitis. Occasionally it goes away on its own but usually it gets worse over time. There is no reason chronic bronchitis should be fatal because you can live with moderate chronic bronchitis and have a fairly normal life span. Chronic bronchitis usually occurs after the age of 50.

Corticosteroids and other medications can help relieve symptoms but may have side effects if used for too long so your doctor will have to decide if they are safe for you or not. Other medications can help as well.

People with chronic bronchitis need to change their life in many ways including quitting smoking and avoiding second hand smoke. They can still exercise to keep their lungs healthy but only in moderation.