Symptoms of Bronchitis and Types of Bronchitis
Symptoms of bronchitis can be experienced whenever exposure to harmful elements in the environment and other pathogens infect the lungs. The bronchi, which are air ducts through which air passes as it goes to the lungs, are very susceptible to pathogens like bacteria and viruses which can lead to bronchitis. If the bronchi become infected and left untreated, a person can have further complications that can even lead to death.
Bronchitis: A Brief Introduction
Bronchitis is the condition wherein a person’s bronchi are not functioning properly. For one, the bronchi might not have enough mucus lining its walls, causing it to easily be infected or irritated. For another, the bronchi might be secreting too much mucus that affects the entire respiratory system, causing extreme discomfort to a person.
Bronchitis has two types: acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis. Acute bronchitis can exhibit symptoms of bronchitis that are similar to that of chronic bronchitis. The main difference between these two is that they are caused by two different factors. While chronic bronchitis is caused by excessive smoking of cigarettes that cause the malfunctioning of the bronchi, acute bronchitis is caused by pathogens in the lungs. Such pathogens include certain viruses and bacteria that irritate the linings of the respiratory tract. Air-borne pathogens can be a cause of bronchitis, and this means that a person who is a carrier of the pathogens can transfer the disease to other people without him knowing it.
Bronchitis Symptoms
Symptoms of bronchitis are sometimes mistaken as just a common cold or flu, but such symptoms should never be ignored. If you want to ensure your well-being, it is necessary to find out if you have bronchitis during its early stages to be able to get medical attention immediately. Getting the proper diagnosis of the condition should help in preventing it from aggravating further.
Acute Bronchitis Symptoms
As mentioned before, acute bronchitis results from the inflammation of the respiratory ducts called the bronchi, and it is primarily due to the presence of viruses and bacteria. With this, the following are some of the symptoms associated with this type of bronchitis.
- Dry cough that seems to be persistent and lasts for more than a week can be among the acute symptoms of bronchitis. If the cough is caused by bacteria, it can even progress to a productive cough.
- The phlegm of a person with this type of bronchitis can develop from a white color to a yellowish or greenish tint. This can happen even within 48 hours of the initial contact with the pathogen.
- Adults might experience difficulty breathing, chills, and fevers, along with headaches and weakness of the body.
- Shortness of breath, wheezing, and other symptoms of bronchitis that make it difficult for a person to breathe is common in children. Sometimes, there could even be an audible sound that can be heard as the child breathes in his sleep.
- The tightness of the chest region, along with a painful thrust near the breastbone, can also be a sign of bronchitis. In severe cases, this pain can last longer and can also extend to different parts of the body.
Chronic Bronchitis Symptoms
The chronic symptoms of bronchitis usually occur in men, and are rarely found in women. This can be attributed to the fact it is more common for men to smoke as compared to women. Lung cancer is a complication that can be associated with bronchitis, especially if the condition is left untreated. The following are some signs that are person is already suffering from chronic bronchitis.
- Cyanosis can also be a sign of chronic bronchitis, which is manifested by the changing of the color of the fingertips and lips. These parts of the body can have a bluish tint if a person experiences chronic bronchitis.
- A person who has chronic bronchitis might be prone to catching a cold or having a flu, which leads to constant runny nose or cough. Depending on the condition of the weather and the temperature of his surroundings, a person can have a productive cough instead of just a dry cough.
- People who have this condition can experience symptoms of bronchitis that include inexplicable weight gain, swollen limbs, and fatigue. When the condition progresses to a more advanced stage, the person who suffers from it can have other complications of the heart and lungs.
- A person can experience difficulty in breathing, or a noticeable sounds as he breathes.
Treating The Symptoms Of Bronchitis
Letting bronchitis aggravate can pose real danger to a person’s health, and can be truly life-threatening. With this, it is important that a person identify the disease at an early stage to ensure that he has a better chances of getting the proper treatment for it. However, the disease can also be cured even in its later stage, but it might be more difficult to treat once it has progressed.
To check if a person is suffering from bronchitis, the doctor can conduct blood tests, sputum culture inspections, and X-ray evaluations. These tests, along with a physical examination of the symptoms of bronchitis, can lead to its early identification.
Treatments for acute bronchitis include expectorants to relieve a person from the pain caused by coughing, and antibiotics can be used to eliminate the pathogens that cause the disease. On the other hand, curing chronic bronchitis might require the patient to undergo certain therapies. One such therapy is pulmonary rehabilitation, a procedure that teaches the patient to breathe properly using breathing exercises. The person can also quit smoking and avoid environments that might have elements that could be harmful to the respiratory tract.
The appropriate treatment methods for bronchitis will depend on the person’s condition and the causes of the bronchitis. Though there are other respiratory problems that might be similar to bronchitis, it should be noted that improper medications might further aggravate the condition and pose further danger to a person’s health. It is necessary for a person to know and understand the symptoms of bronchitis to be able to notice them right away, and in turn, be able to seek proper medical attention immediately.