Select your location to view local American Lung Association events and news near you. Our service is free and we are here to help you. Chronic Bronchitis. Your doctor may refer to your disease as either chronic bronchitis or COPD. Cigarette smoking is a major cause of chronic bronchitis. Other factors that increase your risk of developing this disease include exposure to air pollution as well as dust or toxic gases in the workplace or environment. It may also occur more frequently in individuals who have a family history of bronchitis.
To diagnose chronic bronchitis, your doctor will look for a productive cough producing mucus that lasts at least three months and happens multiple times over the course of at least two years.
Tests used to diagnose chronic bronchitis include pulmonary function tests, chest X-rays or CT scans. Chronic bronchitis is not curable but there are a number of treatments that can help you manage your symptoms. It can be chronic or acute.
The type of bronchitis you have determines how long it will last. Acute bronchitis typically lasts between 10 to 14 days, though you may experience symptoms up to 3 weeks in some cases. It can be brought about as the result of another illness, such as a cold or the flu.
It can also result from allergies. Chronic bronchitis is a long-lasting form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. Symptoms from chronic bronchitis last at least three months, and subsequent episodes of bronchitis can come and go for two or more years following your recovery from the initial episode.
Acute bronchitis usually lasts from 10 to 14 days, but some symptoms may last longer. For example, you may have a lingering cough that lasts for a month or sometimes longer.
This is true for both children and adults. Older adults may experience more severe symptoms over a longer duration of time. These symptoms can include rapid breathing and confused thinking. Elderly individuals may also be at a higher risk for complications, such as pneumonia. Chronic bronchitis is more common in adults than in children. People with chronic bronchitis can also experience bouts of acute bronchitis.
Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include long-term irritation and inflammation of the bronchial tubes, and a chronic, phlegmy cough that lasts for at least three months. This is followed by episodic bouts of bronchitis, which can come and go for two years or longer. Acute bronchitis can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if they suspect you have bacterial bronchitis. Antibiotics are not helpful for bronchitis caused by viruses. Chronic bronchitis is often caused by cigarette smoking.
It can also be caused by exposure to environmental toxins, such as air pollution or secondhand smoke. It can affect people who inhale secondhand smoke, as well as those who smoke themselves. People with chronic bronchitis often develop another smoking-related lung disease called emphysema, where the air sacs inside the lungs become damaged, causing shortness of breath. If you smoke, try to stop straight away as smoking aggravates bronchitis and increases your risk of developing emphysema.
Stopping smoking while you have bronchitis can also be the perfect opportunity to quit altogether. Find out more about stop smoking treatments. You may also be at risk of chronic bronchitis and other types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD if you're often exposed to materials that can damage your lungs, such as:.
This is sometimes known as occupational bronchitis. It usually eases once you're no longer exposed to the irritant substance. Find out more about the causes of COPD. In most cases, acute bronchitis clears up by itself within a few weeks without the need for treatment. In some cases, the symptoms of bronchitis can last much longer. If symptoms last for at least 3 months, it's known as chronic bronchitis.
There's no cure for chronic bronchitis, but some lifestyle changes can help ease your symptoms, such as:. Medicines called bronchodilators and steroids "open up" the airways and can be prescribed as an inhaler or as tablets.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA has recommended that over-the-counter cough medicines should not be given to children under the age of 6. As an alternative to an over-the-counter cough medicine, try making your own mixture of honey and lemon, which can help soothe a sore throat and ease your cough. Antibiotics are not routinely prescribed for bronchitis because it's normally caused by a virus.
Antibiotics have no effect on viruses, and prescribing them when they're unnecessary can, over time, make bacteria more resistant to antibiotic treatment. A GP will only prescribe antibiotics if you have an increased risk of developing complications, such as pneumonia.
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