Bronchitis

A chest cold can make you cough.

This happens in the tubes in your lungs. An infection starts in your nose or throat. Then, it moves down to your lungs. This can make you cough or wheeze. It might feel hard to breathe. You might also have a fever. Most people get better in three weeks.

Sometimes, a cough lasts a very long time. This can happen if you breathe in bad air or smoke. Rest and water help you feel better.

Bronchitis is a sickness in your lungs. It happens when your bronchi get swollen. The bronchi are the large and medium tubes in your lungs.

This swelling causes a cough. Often, a sickness starts in your nose or throat. Then, the sickness moves down into your lungs.

There are two main types. The first is acute bronchitis. This is like a chest cold. It is often caused by a virus. A virus is a tiny germ. Most cases come from these germs. You can catch them from the air or by touch. This type usually lasts about three weeks.

The second type is chronic bronchitis. This lasts a long time. It means a cough that stays for three months or more. This happens every year for at least two years. Smoking is the most common cause of this type. Dust and air pollution can also cause it.

Some people with this also have COPD. COPD is a disease that makes it hard to breathe. Doctors may use oxygen to help these people.

Bronchitis is a sickness that affects the airways in your lungs. These airways are called the bronchi, which are the large and medium tubes that carry air.

When these tubes become swollen, it is called inflammation. This swelling makes it hard to breathe and causes a cough. Most often, a sickness starts in the nose, ears, or throat. The infection then travels down into the lungs to reach the bronchi. This can cause wheezing, chest pain, or shortness of breath. People might also cough up something called sputum, which is thick mucus.

There are two different ways this sickness works. The first way is called acute bronchitis, which is like a chest cold. In more than 90% of these cases, a virus is the cause. These viruses can spread through the air or by touching things. This type usually lasts for about three weeks. A small number of cases come from bacteria like Mycoplasma pneumoniae. To feel better, people usually need rest and medicine like paracetamol. This medicine helps to lower a fever.

The second way is called chronic bronchitis. This is a much longer sickness that lasts a long time. It is defined as a cough that produces sputum for three months or more every year. This must happen for at least two years in a row. Chronic bronchitis can lead to a bigger lung disease called COPD. Tobacco smoking is the most common cause of this type. Other things like air pollution or even genetics can play a role.

Some people may even need long-term oxygen therapy to help them breathe.

People have known about this sickness for many centuries. Ancient Greek, Chinese, and Indian cultures all noticed people with heavy coughing and extra phlegm. A British doctor named Charles Badham was the first to name the acute form. He wrote about it in a book published in 1808. He also described chronic bronchitis as a disabling disorder. In the past, people tried using garlic or cinnamon as treatments. Modern medicines were not developed until the second half of the 20th century.

Many people deal with bronchitis every single year. About 5% of adults and 6% of children have an episode each year. In the United States, about 10 million people visit doctors for acute bronchitis annually. In 2018, 9.3 million people were diagnosed with the chronic type. Chronic bronchitis affects between 3.4% and 22% of the general population. It often happens more during the winter months. You can help protect your lungs by washing your hands often. Avoiding smoke and dust also helps keep your airways healthy.

Bronchitis is a medical condition involving inflammation of the bronchi. The bronchi are the large and medium-sized airways that lead into your lungs.

When these airways become inflamed, they swell and produce extra mucus. This process often leads to a persistent cough. Bronchitis is a significant health issue because it affects how easily air moves in and out of the body. It can manifest in two distinct ways: acute or chronic.

Acute bronchitis is often referred to as a chest cold. It usually begins as an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses. The infection then travels down into the lungs to reach the bronchi. In more than 90% of these cases, the cause is a viral infection. Common viruses include rhinovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza, or influenza. These viruses spread through the air when people cough or through direct contact. A very small number of cases are caused by bacteria, such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Bordetella pertussis.

Symptoms of acute bronchitis can vary between individuals. The most common sign is a cough that may or may not produce sputum, which is thick mucus. Other symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, and a mild fever. The infection itself may last between a few days and ten days. However, the cough often persists for several weeks. The total duration of symptoms is usually around three weeks, though they can last up to six weeks.

Chronic bronchitis is a more serious, long-term respiratory disease. It is defined by a productive cough that lasts for at least three months per year for at least two consecutive years. This condition is marked by mucus hypersecretion, which means the body produces too much mucus. This happens because long-term irritation causes an increase in goblet cells and enlarged submucosal glands. These glands secrete more mucus than the goblet cells. This excess mucus can narrow the airways and limit airflow. If this leads to decreased airflow, it is known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Many factors can trigger chronic bronchitis. Tobacco smoking is the most common cause, which is why it is sometimes called a smoker's cough. There is also an association between smoking cannabis and the condition. Other risks include breathing in air pollution, irritating fumes, or dust. This can happen in jobs like coal mining, textile manufacturing, or metal moulding. Such cases are sometimes called industrial or occupational bronchitis. In some rare instances, genetic factors may play a role. High levels of nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide in the air can also cause inflammation.

Medical history shows that humans have recognized bronchitis for many centuries. Ancient Greek, Chinese, and Indian cultures all noted the presence of excess phlegm and coughing. Early treatments included substances like garlic, cinnamon, and ipecac. The British physician Charles Badham provided more modern descriptions in the early 19th century. He published a book in 1808 that first named the acute form. In his work, he distinguished between acute and chronic forms. He also used the term "catarrh" to describe the chronic cough and mucus production.

Bronchitis is very common in the general population. About 5% of adults and 6% of children experience at least one episode of acute bronchitis every year. In the United States, more than 10 million people visit healthcare providers for this condition annually. By contrast, in 2018, 9.3 million people were diagnosed with the chronic form. Chronic bronchitis affects between 3.4% and 22% of the general population. It tends to occur more frequently during the winter months. For those with chronic issues, treatments may include quitting smoking, using bronchodilators, or long-term oxygen therapy.