BRONCHITIS
Bronchitis is when your bronchial tubes, which carry air to your alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs, get irritated and swollen such that you end up with a nagging cough and mucus.
There are two types:
1. Acute bronchitis. This is more common. Symptoms last for a few weeks, but it doesn’t usually cause problems past that.
2. Chronic bronchitis. This one is more serious. It keeps coming back or doesn’t go away.
In both of these cases, as your body fights the germs, your bronchial tubes swell and make more mucus. That means you have smaller openings for air to flow through, which can make it harder to breathe.
Symptoms of both acute and chronic bronchitis include breathing problems, such as:
1. Chest congestion, when your chest feels full or clogged
2. A cough that may bring up mucus that’s clear, white, yellow, or green
3. Shortness of breath
4. A wheezing or a whistling sound when you breathe
Causes of bronchitis include:
1. Breathing in air pollution and other things that bother your lungs, like chemical fumes or dust, over time.
2. Smoking or breathing in secondhand smoke for a long time.
To lower your chances of getting acute bronchitis or a flare-up of chronic bronchitis: Say away from cigarette smoke; get the flu vaccine if you can; Wear a mask when you’re around things that bother your lungs, such as paint fumes.
Treatment will depend on the cause and the degree to which you are struggling with breathing. Always seek the help or attention of your doctor to avoid poor outcomes.
(Image by Ayurspace)
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