Chronic bronchitis is a condition in which the bronchial tubes become inflamed and irritated, leading to a buildup of mucus in the airways. It falls under the umbrella term chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, along with emphysema and other progressive lung diseases. Common symptoms include persistent coughing with thick and discolored mucus, shortness of breath, chest pain, sinus congestion, fever and chills, fatigue, bad breath, and wheezing. Chronic bronchitis affects twice as many women as men, and symptoms generally occur after the age of 40.
The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is cigarette smoking, which accounts for more than 90% of cases. This is due to the damage that smoking has on the cilia, which are the tiny hairs that line the insides of the bronchial tubes. Other risk factors for chronic bronchitis include secondhand smoke, air pollution, engine exhaust, dust, smoke from fires, coal, toxic gases, and certain fumes such as hairspray and house paint. Sufferers of chronic bronchitis are more likely to catch respiratory infections such as colds, pneumonia, and the flu. In addition, repeated lung infections can damage the lungs even further, thereby worsening the symptoms of chronic bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis can be classified into stages using two different methods, namely the GOLD system and the BODE system. The GOLD system classifies symptoms as mild, moderate, severe, and very severe. The BODE system, on the other hand, looks at body mass, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity to determine how COPD is affecting the sufferer’s life. It is estimated that more than 65 million people worldwide are suffering from moderate or severe COPD, a number that is expected to rise over the next 50 years. The good news is that most chronic bronchitis sufferers can maintain a good quality of life and achieve control of their symptoms with proper management.
Chronic bronchitis is not a contagious condition, so it cannot be passed from one individual to the next, but it should be taken seriously so that measures can be taken before it’s too late. Generally speaking, individuals who think they may have chronic bronchitis should consult a doctor as soon as possible. This is especially true when symptoms last for three or more weeks, blood is present in the mucus or the mucus is otherwise discolored, the individual experiences wheezing or shortness of breath, the condition is disturbing his or her sleep, and the patient is running a fever above 100.4°F or 38°C. Ways to prevent chronic bronchitis include quitting smoking, controlling asthma, and wearing a mask when outdoors.
In order to diagnose chronic bronchitis, doctors may ask their patient about his or her smoking history, use a stethoscope to listen to their lungs and conduct a number of tests such as chest X-rays, computed tomography, and pulmonary function tests. Once the diagnosis of chronic bronchitis is determined, there are both lifestyle remedies and medical treatments to help alleviate certain symptoms. Lifestyle remedies include exercising to strengthen the muscles involved in breathing, quitting smoking, breathing in warm and moist air from a humidifier, and practicing pursed-lip breathing. As for medical treatments, the options include a bronchodilator, theophylline, steroids, and a pulmonary rehabilitation program.