Bronchitis, more commonly known as a chest cold, is a serious condition that tends to form from the common cold. It occurs when the airways in the lungs become inflamed and create an abundance of mucus.
Acute bronchitis is the most common form, which is caused by a viral infection. This type is related to smoking, which also makes it worse. Acute bronchitis is known to be worse than the common cold but not as harsh as pneumonia. Chronic bronchitis creates a cough that lasts for two to three months each year for at least two years. The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking. Bronchitis symptoms include – frequent coughing that produces mucus, decrease in energy, wheezing sounds while breathing and fever. Your doctor should be notified if you have a cough that lasts longer than two or three weeks, if you have a fever, if your coughs produce blood or thick/colored mucus, or if you experience shortness of breath and/or wheezing.
While at home with bronchitis, you should drink plenty of fluids every one to two hours (unless your doctor has limited your fluid intake), get adequate rest, refrain from smoking, and take NSAIDs to relieve body aches and pains. If you are coughing up mucus, pay attention to how often you cough as well as the color and amount of mucus that comes up. This should be reported to your doctor.
If you aren’t the one who is sick but someone in your household is, here are some ways to prevent contracting bronchitis:
- Refrain from smoking
- Refrain from allowing others to smoke in your home
- Don’t spend prolonged periods of time around things that irritate your nose, throat, and lungs (such as dust and pets)
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Wash your hands on a regular basis
Don’t share food, cups, utensils, glasses, etc.