Chronic Bronchitis Symptoms

Bronchitis affects the bronchial passages that circulate air through the lungs. When you have bronchitis, mucus membranes in the bronchial passages become irritated and inflamed. This irritation causes the passages to swell and produce excess mucus. The combination of the swelling and the excess mucus narrows the bronchial passages, resulting in a persistent cough and difficulty breathing. A bout of bronchitis usually lasts a few weeks. You will be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis if you have had a mucus-producing cough for at least three months during the year during two successive years or if you have bronchitis symptoms nearly every day. Over time, your bronchial tubes become scarred due to the constant irritation and inflammation in your bronchial passages. The bronchial lining thickens and excess mucus continues to be produced. When chronic bronchitis occurs with pulmonary emphysema, the condition is referred to as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Cigarette smoking is the primary cause of chronic bronchitis. The condition can also develop in people who have had bacterial or viral illnesses that resulted in irritation of the bronchial tubes. Working in jobs that expose you to fumes and dust can increase your chance of developing chronic bronchitis. If you have been diagnosed with this disease, doctors recommend that you avoid exposure to dust, fumes, smoke and air pollution.

In addition to a persistent, mucus-producing cough, you may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing, headaches and swelling of your ankles, legs and feet. People with chronic bronchitis are also more likely to develop other types of respiratory infections.

Your doctor will conduct a physical examination, take a medical history and ask you to describe your symptoms. Based on the results of the examination, he may recommend that you undergo a pulmonary function test to measure the air flow and volume of air in the lungs. A high-resolution computerized tomography (CAT) scan or a chest X-ray may be performed to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other diseases or disorders. You may be asked to give a mucus sample to confirm the diagnosis.

Once you have been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, you will begin treatment designed to ease your symptoms and prevent further complications. If you are a cigarette smoker, quitting smoking is essential to improving the health of your lungs. Chronic bronchitis is treated with bronchodilator medication, either in pill or inhaled form, which works to relax and open the airways. Steroids may be prescribed in some cases. If you have developed a respiratory infection in addition to bronchitis, you will be given an antibiotic. As the disease progresses, some people have difficulty breathing and require oxygen therapy. You doctor may recommend that you begin an exercise program to strengthen the muscles around the lungs and use special breathing exercises to help improve your breathing. In some cases, surgery may be needed to remove damaged tissue and reduce the volume of the lungs. Lung transplantation may be required in severe cases.