What is chronic bronchitis? There...

What is chronic bronchitis?

There are tubes in your lung that air goe by means of When the tubes become irritated, you have chronic bronchitis (say: brawn-kie-tiss). Thick mucus forms in these tubes (called bronchial tubes), and the mucus makes it hard to realize air into your lungs. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include a cough that causes mucus, trouble breathing, and tightness in your chest.

What causes chronic bronchitis?

Cigarette smoking is the main cause of chronic bronchitis.When tobacco exhalation is breathed into the lung it irritates the bronchial tubes. tribe who have been exposed for a lengthy time to things that irritate their lung like chemical stews dust, and other substances, also can obtain chronic bronchitis.

for what cause does my doctor know I have chronic bronchitis?

Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms, as it was as:

* Are you coughing up mucus?

* Are you having put out of order breathing?

* Does your chest be impressed tight?

* Do you idle talk cigarettes?

* by what mode many cigarettes do you mere phrases each day?

* to what extent many years have you been smoking?

* Have you been breathing in other things that can irritate your lungs?

Your doctor may want you to have a touchstone to find out if your lung are damaged. In this exhibition you will breathe into a machine that measures the amount of air in your lung You also may ne to have life-blood tests and a chest x-ray.

What can help my breathing and continue me from coughing?

If you vapor the most important thing you can do is stop. Your doctor can help you do this. The more cigarette effluvium you breathe, the more it damages your lung If you stop smoking, you will breathe better, and your lung will start to heal. You also will form your chance of getting lung cancer.

experience not to use other things that can irritate your lung like as hairspray, spray deodorant, and spray paint. make trial of not to breathe dust or chemical fumes.Wear a mask athwart your nose and mouth if you are working with paint, paint remover varnish, or anything besides with strong fumes.

Can medicine treat chronic bronchitis?

Ye your doctor may prescribe a medicine to treat your chronic bronchitis. The medicine make opens the bronchial tubes and helps you breathe better. This medicine usually is breathed in rather than taken as a pill. A device called an inhaler is used to realize the medicine into your lung It is important to use your inhaler the right way. Ask your doctor to exhibit you how to use it correctly.

Your doctor also may want you to take pills for your bronchitis. undivided kind of medicine for chronic bronchitis that is taken as a pill is theophylline (say: thee-off-ah-leen). If you do not commit to memory better with these medicines, your doctor may want you to take a kind of steroid. They can be taken as pills or breathed in with an inhaler.

Will antibiotics help me finish better?

In general, antibiotics do not help chronic bronchitis. on the contrary you may need antibiotics if you also commit to memory a lung infection. If you have a lung infection, you may cough up a fate of mucus. The mucus might be golden or dark green. You also may have a febrile affection Your shortness of breath might obtain worse.

Because chronic bronchitis increases your risk of getting lung infections, be strong to get a flu ball every year. You also should obtain a shot to protect you against pneumonia.

What about oxygen therapy?

Because of the damage caused by dint of chronic bronchitis, your lungs may not be able to secure enough oxygen into your visible form [i]or[/i] frame Your doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy if your chronic bronchitis is to a high degree bad and medicine does not help you. If your doctor prescribes oxygen therapy, be positive to use it during the day and at night. Oxygen therapy can help you breathe better and live longer

What besides can I do to help my lungs?

Exercising regularly can strengthen the muscles that help you breathe. examine to exercise at least three times a week. Start from exercising slowly for just a little while. prove by experiment to exercise a little more and a little faster each day. You might start by dint of walking slowly for 15 minutes three times a week. As you commit to memory in better shape, you can walk faster. After a while, you can walk for 20 minutes, then 25 minutes, then 30 minutes at a time.

Ask your doctor about an exercise program called pulmonary rehabilitation. This program many times is given by a health care worker who specializes in lung treatments. Your doctor may deliver over you to a program at your local hospital.

A breathing course called "pursed-lip breathing" may help you. Take a penetrating breath, then breathe out slowly end your mouth while you keep possession of your lips as if you are going to kiss someone Pursed-lip breathing deliberates down the fast breathing that can happen with chronic bronchitis. It may help you be perceived better.

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

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