Bronchitis Symptoms, Treatments and Medications

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:09:54 +0000

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs. Bronchitis may be either acute or chronic.

Symptoms
Symptoms of acute bronchitis usually begin 3 to 4 days after an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold or influenza (flu). Symptoms usually include:

A cough, which is the main symptom of acute bronchitis. It may be dry at first (does not produce mucus) and after a few days may bring up mucus from the lungs (productive cough). The mucus may be clear, yellow, or green. Sometimes, small streaks of blood may be present.
A mild fever, usually less than 101°F (38.3°C). A higher fever may indicate pneumonia.
A general feeling of tiredness.
A sensation of tightness, burning, or dull pain in the chest under the breastbone that usually is worse when breathing deeply or coughing.
Whistling noises (wheezing) when breathing, especially during physical exertion.
Hoarseness.

Causes:
A common condition, acute bronchitis often develops from a cold or other respiratory infection. Chronic bronchitis, a more serious condition, is a constant irritation or inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, often due to smoking.

Treatment Overview
Treatment for acute bronchitis in otherwise healthy people usually includes taking steps to reduce cough, fever, and pain. Prescription medicines, such as antibiotics, generally are not beneficial. If you already have a disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, or asthma, evaluation and treatment may be more extensive.

Most cases of acute bronchitis go away in 2 to 3 weeks, but some may last more than 4 weeks. Home treatment to relieve symptoms is usually all that is necessary.

Medications
Most cases of acute bronchitis in otherwise healthy people go away in 2 to 3 weeks. You generally only need nonprescription medicines to treat your symptoms. Most people do not need to use prescription medicines, such as antibiotics.

BRONCHITIS AND PNEUMONIA

BRONCHITIS AND PNEUMONIA

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:47:30 +0000

The arrival of winter heralds the season of colds, flu and many other respiratory illnesses. To help you better understand where problems may occur, here is a brief review of how the respiratory system works. Every time you breathe, air enters through your nose or mouth, continues down your windpipe (trachea) and into the lungs. The air travels through bronchial tubes (bronchi) in the lungs until it reaches tiny air sacs (alveoli) at the end of the passageways. In the air sacs, there is an exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Oxygen is passed into the bloodstream, and carbon dioxide is passed back from the bloodstream into the air sacs to be exhaled out of the body. Without a constant supply of oxygen, the cells in the body cannot function. Two common types of respiratory infections are BRONCHITIS and PNEUMONIA.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial tubes in the lungs. The airways narrow, the air flow is
reduced, and heavy mucus or phlegm is produced. This infection may be caused by a virus or bacterium. There are two types of bronchitis: Acute bronchitis – usually occurs after a severe cold, when the body’s immunity is weakened. The condition often clears up in two weeks or less. Chronic bronchitis is commonly associated with cigarette smoking. Repeated bouts of acute bronchitis can also lead to development of chronic bronchitis. If left untreated, serious respiratory problems, lung damage or heart failure may develop.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. The air sacs (alveoli) fill up with pus or fluid and prevent oxygen from reaching the blood. Pneumonia can be caused by a virus or bacterium, by inhaling food or liquid into the lungs or by prolonged time in bed because of surgery or illness. Pneumonia is a common complication of the flu. If left untreated, some forms of pneumonia can be fatal.