What Is Bronchitis?
Bronchitis
(pronounced: brahn-
kite
-uss) is an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, the
airways that connect the trachea (windpipe) to the lungs. This
delicate, mucus-producing lining covers and protects the
respiratory system, the organs and tissues involved in breathing.
When a person has bronchitis, it may be harder for air to pass in
and out of the lungs than it normally would, the tissues become
irritated and more mucus is produced. The most common symptom of
bronchitis is a cough.
When you breathe in (inhale), small, bristly hairs near the
openings of your nostrils filter out dust, pollen, and other
airborne particles. Bits that slip through become attached to the
mucus membrane, which has tiny, hair-like structures called
cilia
on its surface. But sometimes germs get through the cilia and other
defense systems in the respiratory tract and can cause illness.
Bronchitis can be acute or chronic. An
acute
medical condition comes on quickly and can cause severe symptoms,
but it lasts only a short time (no longer than a few weeks). Acute
bronchitis is most often caused by one of a number of viruses that
can infect the respiratory tract and attack the bronchial tubes.
Infection by certain bacteria can also cause acute bronchitis. Most
people have acute bronchitis at some point in their lives.
Chronic
bronchitis, on the other hand, can be mild to severe and is longer
lasting - from several months to years. With chronic bronchitis,
the bronchial tubes continue to be inflamed (red and swollen),
irritated, and produce excessive mucus over time. The most common
cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking.
People who have chronic bronchitis are more susceptible to
bacterial infections of the airway and lungs, like pneumonia. (In
some people with chronic bronchitis, the airway becomes permanently
infected with bacteria.) Pneumonia is more common among smokers and
people who are exposed to secondhand smoke.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
Acute bronchitis often starts with a dry, annoying cough that is
triggered by the inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes.
Other symptoms may include:
- cough that may bring up thick white, yellow, or greenish
mucus
- headache
- generally feeling ill
- chills
- fever (usually mild)
- shortness of breath
- soreness or a feeling of tightness in the chest
- wheezing (a whistling or hissing sound with breathing)
Chronic bronchitis is most common in smokers, although people
who have repeated episodes of acute bronchitis sometimes develop
the chronic condition. Except for chills and fever, a person with
chronic bronchitis has a chronic productive cough and most of the
symptoms of acute bronchitis, such as shortness of breath and chest
tightness, on most days of the month, for months or years.
A person with chronic bronchitis often takes longer than usual
to recover from colds and other common respiratory illnesses.
Wheezing, shortness of breath, and cough may become a part of daily
life. Breathing can become increasingly difficult.
In people with asthma, bouts of bronchitis may come on suddenly
and trigger episodes in which they have chest tightness, shortness
of breath, wheezing, and difficulty exhaling (breathing out). In a
severe episode of asthmatic bronchitis, the airways can become so
narrowed and clogged that breathing is very difficult.
What Causes Bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis is usually caused by viruses, and it may occur
together with or following a cold or other respiratory infection.
Germs such as viruses can be spread from person to person by
coughing. They can also be spread if you touch your mouth, nose, or
eyes after coming into contact with respiratory fluids from an
infected person.
Smoking (even for a brief time) and being around tobacco smoke,
chemical fumes, and other air pollutants for long periods of time
puts a person at risk for developing chronic bronchitis.
Some people who seem to have repeated bouts of bronchitis - with
coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath - may actually have
asthma.
What Do Doctors Do?
If a doctor thinks you may have bronchitis, he or she will
examine you and listen to your chest with a stethoscope for signs
of wheezing and congestion.
In addition to this physical examination, the doctor will ask
you about any concerns and symptoms you have, your past health,
your family's health, any medications you're taking, any
allergies you may have, and other issues (including whether you
smoke). This is called the
medical history
. Your doctor may order a chest X-ray to rule out a condition like
pneumonia, and may sometimes order a breathing test (called
spirometry) to rule out asthma.
Because acute bronchitis is most often caused by a virus, the
doctor may not prescribe an antibiotic (antibiotics only work
against bacteria, not viruses).
The doctor will recommend that you drink lots of fluids, get
plenty of rest, and may suggest using an over-the-counter or
prescription cough medicine to relieve your symptoms as you
recover.
In some cases, the doctor may prescribe a bronchodilator
(pronounced: bron-ko-
dy
-lay-ter) or other medication typically used to treat asthma. These
medications are often given through inhalers or nebulizer machines
and help to relax and open the bronchial tubes and clear mucus so
it's easier to breathe.
If you have chronic bronchitis, the goal is to reduce your
exposure to whatever is irritating your bronchial tubes. For people
who smoke, that means quitting!
If you have bronchitis and don't smoke, try to avoid
exposure to secondhand smoke.
Smoking and Bronchitis
Tobacco smoke is the cause of more than 80% of all cases of
chronic bronchitis. People who smoke also have a much harder time
recovering from acute bronchitis and other respiratory
infections.
Smoking causes lung damage in many ways. For example, it can
cause temporary paralysis of the cilia and over time kills the
ciliate airway lining ciliated cells completely. Eventually, the
airway lining stops clearing smoking-related debris, irritants, and
excess mucus from the lungs altogether. When this happens, a
smoker's lungs become even more vulnerable to infection. Over
time, harmful substances in tobacco smoke permanently damage the
airways, increasing the risk for emphysema, cancer, and other
serious lung diseases. Smoking also causes the mucus-producing
glands to enlarge and make more mucus. Along with the toxic
particles and chemicals in smoke, this causes a smoker to have a
chronic cough.
Prevention
What's the best way to avoid getting bronchitis? Washing
your hands often helps to prevent the spread of many of the germs
that cause the condition - especially during cold and flu
season.
If you don't smoke, don't ever start smoking - and if
you do smoke, try to quit or cut down. Try to avoid being around
smokers because even secondhand smoke can make you more susceptible
to viral infections and increase congestion in your airway. Also,
be sure to get plenty of rest and eat right so that your body can
fight off any illnesses that you come in contact with.
Reviewed by:
Aaron S. Chidekel, MD
Date reviewed: October 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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