Symptoms of bronchitis can be experienced whenever exposure to harmful elements in the environment along with other pathogenic agents infects the lungs. Pathogenic microorganisms that can reach the bronchi, the passage of airway conducts air into the lungs might cause infection that will inevitably lead to bronchitis. When the bronchi become infected by these microorganisms and left untreated, an individual might have further complications that could actually result in mortality.
A Brief Introduction to Bronchitis
Bronchitis happens when the lining of the bronchial tubes get inflamed. To begin with, the bronchi may not have enough mucus coating its walls, which causes it to easily be infected or irritated. For another, the bronchi could be secreting too much mucus that affects the entire respiratory system, leading to extreme discomfort to an individual.
Bronchitis has two types: acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis may exhibit symptoms of bronchitis which are a lot like that of acute bronchitis. The main difference between these two is the factors that cause them. Acute bronchitis is brought on by pathogenic organisms that infect the lungs while chronic bronchitis is the deterioration of the bronchi caused by excessive smoking. These kinds of pathogens include specific bacteria and viruses that upset the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Air-borne pathogens can be a factor for bronchitis, and this will mean that the condition could be transferred to other people by an infected person (carrier) and not realizing it.
The Symptoms Bronchitis
Symptoms of bronchitis in many cases are mistaken as just a common cold or flu, but these signs and symptoms should never be overlooked. It is necessary that bronchitis is identified while in its premature stages for you to prevent its progression and have the ability to seek medical attention immediately and ensure your wellbeing. Proper diagnosis of the problem would help you in preventing further aggravation of the condition.
Acute Bronchitis Symptoms
As earlier mentioned, the presence of pathogenic organisms triggering inflammation to the bronchi or the air ducts is the main cause of acute bronchitis. Listed below are some of the most typical acute bronchitis symptoms.
. Dry cough that seems to be persistent and may last for more than a week can be one of the acute symptoms of bronchitis. The condition can even progress to a productive cough when a bacteria causes it.
. The individual would cough out a white color to yellowish or greenish phlegm. This could happen even within 48 hours of the first exposure to the pathogen.
. Older people might have breathing difficulties, fevers and chills, as well as headaches and weakness of the body.
. Children having acute bronchitis may experience shortness of breath, wheezing, as well as other symptoms of bronchitis that make it hard for a person to take in air. Often, there may even be a hearable sound that could be heard when the child breathes in his sleep.
. A painful thrust in the strenum area (breastbone) and tightness in the chest that may sometimes last longer and extends to the different body parts is a possible symptom of bronchitis
Chronic Bronchitis Symptoms
Males are more prone to have chronic symptoms of bronchitis compared to women. This can be attributed to the simple fact smoking is more prevalent to men compared to women. If the problem is neglected, bronchitis may result in more deadly problems including lung cancer. Here are some the chronic symptoms of bronchitis that an individual may go through.
. Bluish discoloration of the fingertips and lips, also called as cyanosis.
. There is a higher risk of catching a cold or having a flu, which leads to constant runny nose or cough. An individual can have a productive cough instead of just a dry cough, depending on the temperature of his surroundings and climate conditions.
. Chronic symptoms of bronchitis may also include unusual weight gain, swollen arms and legs, and tiredness. Heart and lungs conditions may possibly come up in case the condition is left unmanaged and develops to a more advanced stage.
. Audible sounds upon breathing and breathing difficulties could also be felt by the person.
Symptoms Of Bronchitis And Its Treatment
There will be different procedures that a physician may perform to be able to verify if an individual is suffering from bronchitis like blood tests, sputum culture inspections, and X-ray evaluations. These laboratory tests, along with a physical evaluation of the symptoms of bronchitis, can lead to its early identification.
The treatment course for acute bronchitis mostly depends on drug treatment which includes antibiotics to eliminate the bad bacteria that causes the disease and expectorants to relieve a person from the pain caused by coughing. On the other hand, curing chronic bronchitis might require the individual to undergo certain therapies. Pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the usual therapy that individuals are advised to take, a procedure that teaches the individual to breathe properly utilizing breathing exercises. The person is also encouraged to make necessary changes in his lifestyle such as quitting smoking and avoidance to environmental factors that may be unhealthy for the respiratory tract.
Treating bronchitis will depend on the type and the overall state of the individual. Though there are many respiratory disorders that could be much like bronchitis, it should be noted that improper medications might further worsen the problem and pose further danger to a person’s health. It is vital for a person to find out and be aware of the symptoms of bronchitis to be able to discover them immediately, and in turn, have the ability to get appropriate medical assistance immediately.
If you have more inquiries concerning bronchitis, be sure to follow this link to discover more about the symptoms of bronchitis.
