Bronchitis can also be triggered by breathing in irritant substances, such as smog, chemicals in household products or tobacco smoke. Smoking is the main cause of long-term (chronic) bronchitis, and it can affect people who inhale second-hand smoke, as well as smokers themselves.
Rest. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and milk products. Try home remedies like spicy foods, mullein tea, vitamin C, zinc, garlic, and over-the-counter saline nasal spray.
Air pollution, chemical fumes, and dust also can make chronic bronchitis worse. Get an influenza (flu) vaccine every year. This may keep the flu from turning into something more serious, like pneumonia. A flu vaccine also may lower your chances of having a flare-up.
DOs and DON'Ts in Managing Acute Bronchitis:
DO avoid smoky environments. DO drink plenty of noncaffeinated fluids, such as water and fruit juices. DO get plenty of rest. DO use a room humidifier or damp towels for increased humidity in your room.
Most people get over an acute bout of bronchitis in two to three weeks, although the cough can sometimes hang on for four weeks or more. If you're in otherwise good health, your lungs will return to normal after you've recovered from the initial infection.
When you have bronchitis, it's important to loosen the mucus in your chest so you can cough it up and breathe more easily. The best way to thin mucus is to drink plenty of fluids like water, diluted fruit juices, herbal tea, and clear soups. Aim for eight to 12 glasses a day. Try to stay away from alcohol and caffeine.
Most people get over bronchitis in about two weeks, but it might take as long as three to six weeks. You can manage your symptoms at home with over-the-counter medicines while you get better. If you don't feel better after three weeks, see your healthcare provider.
If you have acute bronchitis that's getting worse, you could have an infection that requires antibiotics. Most cases of bronchitis clear up on their own, but not all of them. if you have any underlying health conditions, you're at a higher risk to have bronchitis that can't go away on it's own.
Contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms, so that other illnesses, such as asthma or pneumonia, can be ruled out: You have a fever (>100.4°F) that does not decrease within 1 week. You have chest pain with significant shortness of breath. Your coughing and wheezing continues longer than 1 month.
Cold air is often dry air, and can irritate the airways if you have asthma, COPD or bronchitis. This can cause wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Dress warmly and keep yourself dry.
If you have symptoms of bronchitis, stay home to avoid spreading your viral infection to others. To properly treat your acute bronchitis, get plenty of rest, drink lots of liquids, and take over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) to treat your symptoms.
Elevate your head and neck. Sleeping flat on your back or on your side can cause mucus to accumulate in your throat, which can trigger a cough. To avoid this, stack a couple of pillows or use a wedge to lift your head and neck slightly. Avoid elevating your head too much, as this could lead to neck pain and discomfort.
Yes. Most of the time, acute bronchitis is caused by a virus, such as the flu (influenza) virus. However, many different viruses — all of which are very contagious — can cause acute bronchitis.
A bronchitis cough sounds like a rattle with a wheezing or whistling sound. As your condition progresses, you will first have a dry cough that can then progress towards coughing up white mucus.
Symptoms of acute bronchitis typically start with a runny nose, sore throat, productive cough, and low-grade fever. Three or four days later, a dry, hacking cough may develop. Most cases of acute bronchitis last between three and 10 days.
Generally, you should be feeling better from acute bronchitis within a week or two, though you may have a lingering cough and fatigue for three weeks or more. The types of viruses and bacteria that cause bronchitis will usually have been in your system from two to six days before you start feeling cold symptoms.
This inflammation can also cause the membranes in the lining to start producing excess mucus, clogging the bronchi and restricting airflow to the lungs further. This triggers coughing (the most common symptom of bronchitis), which if persistent, can make you feel extremely tired.
Bronchitis often clears up within a week or so, but the cough can stick around for weeks, or even months later, especially if you have a lung problem. While you're sick, call your doctor if you start to run a high fever, you feel short of breath or have chest pain, or your cough just won't go away.
Bronchitis is a type of upper respiratory infection that's especially common during the wintertime. Bronchitis often rises in the number of cases along with the cold, flu, pneumonia, and sinus infections. If bronchitis goes untreated it will get worse and can even require hospitalization.