Chronic bronchitis is characterized by inflamed airway tissue and excessive mucus production. This leads to a persistent, productive cough for several months each year. The inflammation causes the large and small airways of the lungs to become narrowed, and the lining of the passageways may become scarred. This makes it hard to move air in and out of the lungs, resulting in shortness of breath.
Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis symptoms include mucus, cough, wheezing and inflammation or irritation of the lining of bronchial tubes. You may also have chills and fever with chronic bronchitis. Smoking is a common cause, but not the only cause. Air pollution may also be a cause.
When bronchitis symptoms last a long time, the condition is serious. Antibiotics, inhalers, and cough medicines are all used to help treat chronic bronchitis. Sometimes a course of respiratory therapy is also used.
Recently Answered
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Parkland Medical Center answeredIf it gets to an advanced stage, chronic bronchitis can lead to a life-threatening illness. When the bronchial tubes and lungs become weak enough, it becomes more likely that you will experience respiratory failure, develop lung cancer or a heart or lung disease. You also have a heightened risk for pneumonia. About one percent of people with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease like chronic bronchitis die from their condition every year. -
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Parkland Medical Center answeredChronic bronchitis affects the bronchial tubes, which bring air to your lungs. It is caused by a long period of smoking or inhating other types of irritants. When you have bronchitis, the glands in your bronchial tubes inflame and begin to release more mucus than usual. The swelling restricts airflow, making it more difficult to breathe. After a while, constant inflammation takes a toll on your bronchial tubes, causing the glands to scar and create permanent damage to the lining of the tubes. Bronchitis is said to be chronic when it goes on for most days of the month for three months for two or more consecutive years, with no other underlying cause.
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Parkland Medical Center answeredPeople who smoke or are frequently around smokers increase their risk for chronic bronchitis, and children are particularly susceptible. If you have a job that exposes you to dust or other air pollution on a regular basis, you are also at risk. White people are more likely than other races or ethnicities to die from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and older people tend to develop the condition more than younger people.
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Parkland Medical Center answeredIf you experience a persistent, mucus-producing cough that doesn't seem to go away or get better, see your doctor right away. Chronic bronchitis can lead to permanent damage to your bronchial tubes and may eventually lead to serious respiratory problems. Since chronic bronchitis is almost always caused by environmental factors, your doctor can help you identify the underlying cause and give you strategies to avoid those factors and improve your condition. If your chronic bronchitis is one of the more than 80 percent of cases caused by smoking, your doctor can provide you with information to help you quit.
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Parkland Medical Center answeredChronic bronchitis and emphysema are the two diseases classified as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. It is estimated that more than 12 million Americans are currently diagnosed with COPD, and the condition is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Fifteen percent of cigarette smokers will wind up developing COPD, and more than 80 percent of chronic bronchitis cases are caused by smoking.
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Parkland Medical Center answeredGenerally, chronic bronchitis is caused by environmental factors like smoking and can be avoided by staying away from smoke. But family can play a role in the development of chronic bronchitis. As a child, if your family exposed you to secondhand smoke or other air pollutants, your risk for chronic bronchitis is increased. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), under which chronic bronchitis is classified, also seems to happen in some families more than others, and so researchers suspect that some type of inheritance may occur, but the relationship between families and chronic bronchitis is still unclear.
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Parkland Medical Center answeredWomen are much more likely to develop chronic bronchitis; for every man who is diagnosed, two women are diagnosed with the disease. When it comes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, historically, men were at higher risk than women. However, within the last several years that has been changing. Just recently, in 2011, the number of women diagnosed with emphysema surpassed the number of diagnosed men. When it comes to fatalities, COPD now claims the lives of more women per year than men.
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Parkland Medical Center answeredWhile the majority of cases of chronic bronchitis are caused by smoking, chronic bronchitis can be caused by exposure to other air pollutants. If you have a job that exposes you to a large amount of dust, paint fumes, paint thinner fumes, or other hazardous gases, your workplace might be putting you at risk for chronic bronchitis. If you do work in such conditions, make sure you're always wearing proper protection, like a mask over your nose and mouth. If you still find yourself experiencing symptoms of chronic bronchitis, a change in occupation may be advisable.
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Parkland Medical Center answeredOnce you've been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, you'll have to deal with the condition in one form or another for the rest of your life. If you discover the condition in an early stage, you will need to stop smoking or remove yourself from the underlying environmental cause, and then be very careful about maintaining healthy respiratory habits in the future. You must be constantly on guard to make sure you don't put yourself in situations that can worsen your condition. If your condition progresses to an advanced stage, you will likely need to majorly adjust your daily routine to minimize your physical exertion, and you will likely need a great deal of medical care for the rest of your life.