Pronounced: KRON-ik bron-KYE-tis
Chronic bronchitis is a condition in which the airways in the lungs become inflamed. In chronic bronchitis, the condition lasts for a long time or continues to recur. Chronic bronchitis is one form of an illness called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
When these airways become inflamed or irritated, thick mucus forms inside the airways. This makes it difficult to breathe.
Prognosis depends on the severity of the bronchitis. If you have mild or moderate chronic bronchitis, you can usually keep the condition well-controlled with medication and therapy to improve lung function. If you have severe chronic bronchitis, you may have a more difficult time controlling symptoms.
The best ways to improve prognosis of chronic bronchitis is to begin treatment early and stop smoking .
The most common causes of chronic bronchitis include:
Cigarette smoking is the single greatest risk factor for developing chronic bronchitis. The more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the greater your risk is of developing chronic bronchitis. Frequent and long-term smoking also increases the risk that the chronic bronchitis will be severe.
The following factors may also increase your chance of developing chronic bronchitis:
Symptoms include:
To diagnose chronic bronchitis, symptoms of productive cough must have been present for three or more months in at least two consecutive years, and not have been caused by another condition. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. Tests may include the following:
There is no cure for chronic bronchitis, but there are treatments that can reduce symptoms and improve lung function. The best way to reduce symptoms is to stop smoking.
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include:
Short acting bronchodilator medications may be prescribed to help open the airways in the lungs and improve breathing. These may include:
Long acting bronchodilator medication may be prescribed, as well.
Steroids may be prescribed to help improve breathing. They can include:
Antibiotics are rarely prescribed to treat bronchitis. But, they may be needed to treat a lung infection that often accompanies the illness. A small percentage of patients may need chronic antibiotic therapy.
Oxygen therapy can restore oxygen to parts of the body depleted because of chronic bronchitis.
If you are diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, follow your doctor's instructions.
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Lung Association
http://www.lung.ca/
Quit Smoking
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/
References:
Chronic bronchitis. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/280.html . Accessed January 27, 2009. .
Chronic bronchitis. DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Accessed January 27, 2009.
Chronic bronchitis. Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia. US National Library of Medicine website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000119.htm . Accessed January 27, 2009. .
Halbert RJ, Natoli JL, Gano A, et al. Global burden of COPD: systematic review and meta- analysis. Eur Respir J 2006;28:523.
Lopez AD, Shibuya K, Rao C, et al. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: current burden and future projections. Eur Respir J 2006;27:397.
Respiratory disorders: chronic bronchitis. University of Virginia Health System website. Available at: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_respire/chrnbron.cfm . Accessed January 27, 2009.
Last reviewed January 2009 by Marcin Chwistek, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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