Overview of Bronchitis

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Have you see the television commercial where a man is having a coughing fit in a restaurant? The chef picks up a huge cleaver and chops a cough drop in half, then hands it to the coughing man. He puts it in his mouth and instantly the cough stops. Unfortunately, it’s more difficult to stop the hacking cough of bronchitis.

When the tubes leading to the lungs have been swollen and inflamed for a long time (especially as a result of smoking) you have chronic bronchitis. The inflammation produces a lot of mucus, and coughing helps to clear the lungs of excess mucus. If smoking is the root cause, the cure is to stop smoking.

Even if you don’t smoke, you still may be at greater risk for developing bronchitis if you possess certain risk factors. One of these is a compromised immune system. You may be experiencing lowered resistance for any number of reasons.

Perhaps you’re just getting over another illness and your system has been busy battling that. Or you may have a chronic health condition that seriously compromises your immune system. Those most at risk are usually older individuals, infants and young children.

Do you suffer from GERD? That’s gastro esophageal reflux disease. With this health condition, your stomach acids persistently back up into your esophagus. This could prompt a chronic cough, usually through a reflex mechanism.

It could be your bronchitis is caused by exposure to certain irritants. Many times, people encounter these on the job. If you work around grains or textiles or if you’re exposed to chemical fumes from ammonia you may be at greater risk for bronchitis. This is usually referred to as occupational bronchitis, because it’s associated with your job. Other substances known to cause bronchitis in individuals include strong acids, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide and bromine.

You may have a dry cough with occupational bronchitis. The good news about this health problem though is that once you’re no longer exposed to these substances, the bronchitis clears up.

For the most part, bronchitis disappears on its on within a few days leaving no lasting ill effects. The most you’ll have to contend with is that lingering cough. You may be plagued with that for several weeks. If you notice, though, that you have recurring bouts of bronchitis, visit your health care practitioner. The problem may not be just acute bronchitis. You may have the chronic version of this illness – or perhaps asthma. In either case, you’ll need the attention of a professional.

Reference: The Green Pharmacy