Physical activity can strengthen the muscles that help you breathe and improve your overall wellness. Also ask about how much physical activity you can do. Ask your health care provider for an eating plan that will meet your nutritional needs.Avoiding secondhand smoke and places where you might breathe in other lung irritants.This is the most important step you can take to treat chronic bronchitis. There are also treatments to prevent or treat complications of the disease. However, treatments can help with symptoms, slow the progress of the disease, and improve your ability to stay active. What are the treatments for chronic bronchitis? Various tests, such as lung function tests, a chest x-ray or CT scan, and blood tests.A medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms.Your health care provider may use many tools to make a diagnosis: In severe cases, chronic bronchitis can cause weight loss, weakness in your lower muscles, and swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs. Some people with chronic bronchitis get frequent respiratory infections such as colds and the flu.
![chronic bronchitis lung sounds chronic bronchitis lung sounds](https://www.respiratorylondon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Bronchiectasis-scaled.jpeg)
Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity.A whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe.Frequent coughing or a cough that produces a lot mucus.As the disease gets worse, your symptoms usually become more severe. What are the symptoms of chronic bronchitis?Īt first, you may have no symptoms or only mild symptoms. Also, smokers who get chronic bronchitis are more likely to get it if they have a family history of COPD. This includes alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, which is a genetic condition. Most people who have chronic bronchitis are at least 40 years old when their symptoms begin. Long-term exposure to other lung irritants, such as secondhand smoke, air pollution, and chemical fumes and dusts from the environment or workplace.Up to 75% of people who have chronic bronchitis smoke or used to smoke. The risk factors for chronic bronchitis include: Rarely, a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can play a role in causing chronic bronchitis. These include secondhand smoke, air pollution, and chemical fumes or dusts from the environment or workplace. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke can also cause chronic bronchitis, especially if you inhale them.Įxposure to other inhaled irritants can contribute to chronic bronchitis. In the United States, cigarette smoke is the main cause. The cause of chronic bronchitis is usually long-term exposure to irritants that damage your lungs and airways. This mucus and the swelling of the tubes make it harder for your lungs to move oxygen in and carbon dioxide out of your body. The irritation of the tubes causes mucus to build up. These tubes are the airways that carry air to and from the air sacs in your lungs.
![chronic bronchitis lung sounds chronic bronchitis lung sounds](https://secureservercdn.net/166.62.109.86/dcb.952.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Chronic-Bronchitis-vs.-Emphysema-768x427.jpg)
![chronic bronchitis lung sounds chronic bronchitis lung sounds](https://medigemz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Bronchial-Vesicular-breath-sounds.png)
Most people with COPD have both emphysema and chronic bronchitis, but how severe each type is can be different from person to person.Ĭhronic bronchitis is inflammation (swelling) and irritation of the bronchial tubes. The other main type of COPD is emphysema. COPD is a group of lung diseases that make it hard to breathe and get worse over time. Chronic bronchitis is a type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).