Contents:
- Medical Video: COPD I Nucleus Health
- Get to know first, what is bronchitis?
- So, what is chronic bronchitis?
- The cause of someone suffering from chronic bronchitis
- What symptoms might occur when a person has chronic bronchitis?
- Tests and diagnosis
- When should I start visiting a doctor?
Medical Video: COPD I Nucleus Health
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or commonly abbreviated as COPD is a chronic disease that attacks the lungs. Sufferers will experience difficulty breathing due to interference with their breathing. Chronic bronchitis is a disease that is also included in COPD. What causes a person to develop chronic bronchitis and how to treat it?
Get to know first, what is bronchitis?
Bronchitis is inflammation that occurs in the airways or bronchial tubes. The bronchus is a channel connected to the right and left lungs. This part of the respiratory tract is in the shape of a branch so that it is also called a throat branch.
When your airways become inflamed or infected, the air that can flow in and out of the lungs is reduced. When inflammation occurs also also will create thick mucus or phlegm that makes you cough because you try to get it out.
There are two types of bronchitis, namely chronic bronchitis and acute bronchitis. Both are determined based on the duration of symptoms that appear. Usually, acute bronchitis is more common. This condition is caused by a cold or other respiratory infection. This condition can usually heal itself in a few weeks without lasting effects, although a stubborn cough can still remain for several weeks after healing of bronchitis.
Meanwhile, attacks of bronchitis that occur repeatedly and continue more than a few weeks can indicate the occurrence of chronic bronchitis. This condition is a long-term condition that will continue to recur but can still be overcome, even though it cannot heal completely.
So, what is chronic bronchitis?
American Lung Association (ALA) defines chronic bronchitis as an attack of phlegm cough that appears for most days of the month, three months a year, for two consecutive years without other basic conditions that explain the condition of the cough itself. If you suffer from chronic bronchitis, you also have the potential to develop emphysema. When a person is exposed to both, he can be said to suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.
The cause of someone suffering from chronic bronchitis
Bacterial or viral infections are often the initial cause of airway irritation which leads to acute bronchitis. Even so, chronic bronchitis is not caused by the same cause or trigger.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirms that cigarette smoke is the most common cause of chronic bronchitis. In fact, 90 percent of people who suffer from this disease have a history of smoking as reported byJohns Hopkins Medicine.
In addition to cigarette smoke, other long-term exposure to air pollution, industrial or chemical fumes, toxic gases, and dust also play a role in chronic bronchitis in a person. Not to mention repeated infections that can damage the lungs and worsen symptoms.
What symptoms might occur when a person has chronic bronchitis?
Bronchitis is irritation and inflammation of the bronchial duct wall, or airway. Inflammation that occurs generally causes excessive production of mucus. Under normal conditions, cilia, which are cells such as hair in the respiratory tract, are responsible for keeping the airways clear of mucus. When irritation occurs, the cilia can be damaged so they are unable to carry out their duties. As a result, the airways filled with mucus are a good place for breeding bacteria that cause infection.
After long-term airway inflammation, this disease can cause typical symptoms. Some typical symptoms of this disease include:
- Excessive and constant production of mucus.
- The color of mucus can appear clear, white, yellow, gray, or greenish
- Difficulty breathing because of thick airways due to air
- Phlegm cough that occurs every day (this condition can also cause injury to the lungs)
Some other symptoms of chronic bronchitis, namely:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Chills
- Chest discomfort
Symptoms of chronic bronchitis can disappear and diminish over time. The cough you experience can also disappear temporarily, but usually will recur with a more severe coughing period. Sometimes, when you experience an increase in symptoms, you can experience chronic bronchitis accompanied by acute bronchitis.
Tests and diagnosis
If you are unsure whether your symptoms are symptoms of chronic bronchitis or not, there are several tests that can help you and your doctor to make a diagnosis. Some ways to identify this disease are:
- Chest X-ray: Doing a chest x-ray can help your doctor make a diagnosis of whether there are other problems that might be the cause of your cough, such as pneumonia.
- Sputum examination: tests and analyzes on sputum can explain the presence of bacteria that are the cause of your cough. Sputum examinations can determine whether you suffer from whooping cough or other conditions that can still be treated with antibiotics.
- Lung function tests: This test is done to check lung function and signs of asthma or emphysema. This test is done by measuring airflow and air volume in the lungs.
- High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT): This method is a special CT scan that allows the doctor to get a picture of your lungs in high resolution to help with the diagnosis. In general, the HRCT method has no difference from a normal CT scan.
When should I start visiting a doctor?
Failure to get treatment on time for chronic bronchitis can put you at risk for serious lung injuries, including respiratory problems or heart failure. If this condition can be known from the start, lung damage that occurs certainly can be minimized.
You should visit a doctor if your cough is:
- last more than three weeks
- makes you unable to sleep
- accompanied by high fever (above 38 ° C)
- produce colored phlegm or blood
- cause wheezing or shortness of breath
Although it still requires treatment from a doctor, symptoms of chronic bronchitis can actually be alleviated by making lifestyle changes. Living a healthier lifestyle can effectively help overcome this disease and optimize treatment, and improve the quality of your life.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
