If the lungs is attacked by harmful elements in the environment as well as other pathogens, the symptoms of bronchitis can be possibly experienced.. The bronchi, which are air ducts through which air passes as it enters to the lungs, are very susceptible to pathogens like bacteria and viruses which can cause bronchitis. If the bronchi get infected and not treated, an individual may have further problems that could be fatal

Bronchitis: A Brief Introduction

Bronchitis is the condition wherein a person's bronchi are not functioning properly. The bronchi could possibly be easily infected because it might not have adequate mucus coating its walls, or possibly, there's excessive secretion of mucus that impacts the respiratory system's normal functioning.

Bronchitis can be classified as acute or chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis may exhibit symptoms of bronchitis that are a lot like that of acute bronchitis. The main difference between these two types is that they are brought on by two different elements. While chronic bronchitis is brought on by excessive tobacco use that the malfunctioning of the bronchi, acute bronchitis is brought on by pathogens that infect the lungs. These types of pathogenic organisms may include certain viruses and bacteria which irritate the respiratory tract's mucous membranes. Air-borne pathogens could be a factor for bronchitis, which suggests that the disease can be transferred to other individuals by an infected person (carrier) and not realizing it.

The Symptoms Bronchitis

Symptoms of bronchitis are sometimes mistaken as just a flu or common cold, but such signs and symptoms must not be pushed aside. It is necessary that bronchitis is identified during its early stages so that you can stop its progression and be able to seek medical help instantly and ensure your wellbeing. Proper diagnosis of the problem would help you in preventing further aggravation of the disease.

Acute Bronchitis Symptoms

As previously mentioned, the presence of viruses and bacteria which causes inflammation to the bronchi or the air ducts is the main cause of acute bronchitis. With this, the following are some of the symptoms associated with this kind of bronchitis.

• Dry cough that appears to be persistent and may last for more than a week is one of the most usual acute symptoms of bronchitis. The condition may even progress to a productive cough if a bacteria causes it.
  
• The individual would cough out a white color to yellowish or greenish phlegm. This may happen within 48 hours prior to initial exposure to the pathogen.
  
• There'll be fevers and chills, difficulty breathing, as well as fatigue among adults.
  
• Children having acute bronchitis may experience rapid and shallow breaths, wheezing, as well as other symptoms of bronchitis that make it difficult for a person to take in air. In some cases, there could even be an audible sound that may be heard while the child breathes in his sleep.
  
• The tightness of the chest area, as well as a painful thrust at the breastbone, may also be a sign of bronchitis. In severe cases, this pain may last for a longer period and can also extend to various parts of the body.

Chronic Bronchitis Symptoms

Males are more likely to have chronic symptoms of bronchitis as compared to females. This could be due to the simple fact it is more common for men to smoke as compared to women. Lung cancer is a complication that may be linked to bronchitis, particularly if the problem is left untreated. The following are some the chronic symptoms of bronchitis that an individual may observe.

• Cyanosis can also be an indication of chronic bronchitis, which is manifested by the changing of the color of the lips and fingertips into a bluish- purple like color.
  
• There is a greater risk of catching a cold or having a flu; which leads to constant runny nose or cough. A person may have a productive cough rather than just a dry cough, depending on the temperature of his environment and condition of the weather.
  
• People who suffer this condition can experience symptoms of bronchitis which include inexplicable increase in weight, enlarged arms and legs, and exhaustion. When the condition progresses to a more advanced stage, the individual who is affected with it can acquire other conditions of the heart and lungs.
  
• Audible sounds upon breathing as well as breathing difficulties could as well be experienced by the person.

Symptoms Of Bronchitis And Its Treatment

There will be various procedures that a doctor may perform to be able to verify whether a person has bronchitis like blood tests, sputum culture inspections, and X-ray evaluations. Early identification of the symptoms of bronchitis is going to be successful after the medical tests are done along with a general physical evaluation.

The treatment course for acute bronchitis mostly relies on drug therapy including antibiotics to eliminate the bad bacteria that causes the disease and expectorants to relieve a person from the pain caused by coughing. Treating chronic bronchitis however might need the person to undergo certain therapies. One such therapy is pulmonary rehabilitation, where in a person is a taught breathing exercise in order to achieve normal breathing. The person is also advised to make necessary changes in his lifestyle like smoking cessation and avoidance to environmental factors that could be aggravate his condition.

The ideal treatment procedures for bronchitis are determined by the individual's condition and the causes of the bronchitis. Although there are other respiratory disorders that could be a lot like bronchitis, it has to be mentioned that inappropriate medicines might further intensify the problem and cause even more danger to the patient's overall health. It is necessary for a person to understand and understand the symptoms of bronchitis to be able to discover them immediately, and in turn, be able to seek appropriate medical help instantly.