Chronic bronchitis

Pronunciation

KRAH-nik bron-KY-tis

Chronic bronchitis

What is chronic bronchitis?

A lung condition that develops over time in which the bronchi (large air passages that lead to the lungs) become inflamed and scarred. This causes the bronchi to make large amounts of mucus and can lead to a chronic cough and breathing problems.

Causes

The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is cigarette smoking. It may also be caused by infection or by breathing in secondhand tobacco smoke, chemical fumes, or other forms of air pollution.

Diagnosis

A simple test, called spirometry, can be used to measure pulmonary—or lung—function and detect COPD in anyone with breathing problems.3,13

Depiction of a person suffering from Bronchitis

Treatment

Treatment of COPD requires a careful and thorough evaluation by a physician. COPD treatment can alleviate symptoms, decrease the frequency and severity of exacerbations, and increase exercise tolerance. Treatment options that your physician may consider include:

• Quit smoking.
• Avoid tobacco smoke.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation.
• Avoid lung infections.
• Certain vaccines, such as flu and pneumococcal vaccines
• Respiratory infections should be treated with antibiotics, if appropriate.
• Use supplemental oxygen.

Complications

• Compared to adults without COPD, those with this disease are more likely to:
• Have activity limitations like difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
• Be unable to work.
• Need special equipment like portable oxygen tanks.
• Not engage in social activities like eating out, going to places of worship, going to group events, or getting together with friends or neighbors.
• Have increased confusion or memory loss.
• Have more emergency room visits or overnight hospital stays.
• Have other chronic diseases like arthritis, congestive heart failure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, or asthma.
• Have depression or other mental or emotional conditions.
• Report a fair or poor health status.

Prognosis

Chronic bronchitis usually does not go away completely.

Frequently asked questions

• Can a person be cured of chronic bronchitis?

• How do you know if you have chronic bronchitis?

• Is Chronic Bronchitis serious?

• How long does chronic bronchitis last?

• Does chronic bronchitis shorten lifespan?

• What triggers chronic bronchitis?

• What is the best treatment for chronic bronchitis?

• How do you get rid of chronic bronchitis fast?

• Can bronchitis damage your lungs?

• How do people live with chronic bronchitis?

• Why do I keep getting bronchitis every year?

• Does chronic bronchitis lead to COPD?

• Is chronic bronchitis reversible?

• How do you deal with chronic bronchitis?

• What happens when you have chronic bronchitis?

Other names

It is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Chronic bronchitis Resources
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