What Is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis

What Is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis is when the tubes that carry air to your lungs, called the bronchial tubes, get inflamed and swollen. You end up with a nagging cough.

There are two types:

Acute bronchitis. This is more common. Symptoms last a few weeks, but it doesn’t usually cause problems past that time.

Chronic bronchitis. This one is more serious. It keeps coming back or doesn’t go away.

Bronchitis Symptoms

Symptoms of both acute and chronic bronchitis include breathing problems, such as:

Chest congestion, when your chest feels full or clogged

A cough that may bring up mucus that’s clear, white, yellow, or green

Shortness of breath

Wheezing or a whistling sound when you breathe

Low fever

Runny, stuffy nose

Sore throat

Bronchitis Risk Factors

You smoke.

You have asthma and allergies.

You have a weaker immune system.

Your risk of getting chronic bronchitis is higher if:

You’re a female smoker.

You have a family history of lung disease.

Bronchitis Diagnosis

Check the oxygen levels in your blood.

Do a lung function test.

Give you a chest X-ray.

Order blood tests.

Test your mucus to rule out diseases caused by bacteria.

Bronchitis Treatments

Take over-the-counter pain relievers:

Aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen treat pain

Oxygen therapy so you can breathe better.

To ease your acute bronchitis symptoms, you can:

Drink a lot of water.

Get plenty of rest.

Take over-the-counter pain relievers.