Chronic Bronchitis

Bronchitis is irritation in the bronchi, which are the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. It causes a cough that brings up mucus (phlegm). In people with chronic bronchitis, this cough lasts for 3 months or longer for 2 or more years in a row.

Chronic bronchitis is 1 of the 2 main types of a serious lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (“COPD”). The other main type is called “emphysema.” COPD can make it hard to breathe. Both types are usually caused by smoking.

The most common cause is smoking, which can irritate and scar the bronchi. People can also get it from breathing in toxic fumes or gases.

The symptoms include:

• Coughing up mucus on most days for at least 3 months for 2 years in a row
• Feeling very tired
• Feeling short of breath
• Chest discomfort or tightness

Yes. Your doctor might do several tests, including:

• Chest X-ray – This can show other conditions that might be causing your cough, such as pneumonia.
• Spirometry – You take a deep breath, and then blow out as fast and hard as you can into a machine. It measures how much air you can blow out of your lungs and how fast.

If the results of your spirometry are not normal, you will inhale medicine to open your airways and then do the test again. This will help the doctor or nurse find out if your problem is caused by chronic bronchitis or another lung problem, such as asthma. People with asthma usually have normal results after using an inhaler. People with chronic bronchitis usually do not.

There are 3 main types of treatment:

• Medicines – There are many prescription medicines to treat chronic bronchitis. Most people use inhalers to help open up their airways or reduce swelling in their airways. Often, people need more than 1 inhaler at a time. Sometimes, people need a medicine called “prednisone” that comes as pills when their symptoms get worse than normal.
• Oxygen – If the disease gets worse, some people need to use oxygen to breathe.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation (“pulmonary rehab”) – People learn ways to improve their symptoms. They learn exercises and ways to breathe that can help ease symptoms.

You should:

• Quit smoking, if you smoke – This is the most important thing you can do for your health. This is true no matter how long you have smoked or how much you smoke. If you are having trouble quitting, your doctor or nurse can help.
• Avoid triggers – If things like fumes, pollution, or dust make your breathing worse, try to avoid them.
• Lower your risk of infection – Certain infections can be very hard on your lungs and can cause COPD symptoms to flare up. You can lower your risk by getting certain vaccines. These include vaccines to protect against the flu, pneumonia, and COVID-19. Also, wash your hands often, and stay away from people who are sick.
• Make healthy lifestyle changes – Eating a healthy diet can help improve your health. You can also improve your health by following your pulmonary rehab plan if you have one, or finding other ways to move your body.

Call for an ambulance right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:

• Have trouble breathing, even when resting
• Cough up blood

Think you might be having a heart attack:

• Symptoms of a heart attack usually include feeling pressure, discomfort, or pain in the chest, arms, back, or jaw.
• Some people have trouble breathing, sweat, feel dizzy, or pass out.
• Symptoms usually get worse with activity, like walking up stairs.
• If you are used to having symptoms only with activity, call for help if you start having them when you are not active.

Call your doctor or nurse for advice if you:

• Have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills
• Feel weak or more short of breath than usual when doing your normal activities
• Have new or worsening cough, wheezing, sputum, or shortness of breath