Bronchitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the lining of the bronchi, which connects the trachea to the lungs. When the bronchi become inflamed. Little air enters the lungs and just as little goes out, which causes an incessant cough, which is accompanied by phlegm.
Bronchitis usually appears after a respiratory infection. It starts by affecting the nose and throat and then spreads to the lungs. People most at risk of bronchitis are children, babies, the elderly, smokers, people with heart disease.
Bronchitis can be acute when it is caused by a poorly cured flu, that is, its origin is viral. This type of bronchitis does not last long. In turn, chronic bronchitis can be caused by exposure to tobacco smoke or chemicals that inflame the lungs and airways. It is said to be chronic when the cough occurs at least three months a year, for more than two consecutive years.
Common symptoms of bronchitis include: cough with a lot of phlegm, chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, wheezing, hoarseness.
To diagnose bronchitis, the doctor proceeds to auscultate the patient with a stethoscope, to listen for abnormal breath sounds. Other tests to be performed would be a chest x-ray.
Acute bronchitis usually goes away in a few days; however, if not treated properly, it can develop into pneumonia. Patients with chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, must undergo very rigorous treatment, especially smokers, because if it gets complicated, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can develop.
The treatment to be followed in the fight against bronchitis will depend on the type, that is, for acute bronchitis a lot of rest is recommended, use of mucolytic and expectorant antitussives and use of antipyretics.
As for the treatment of chronic bronchitis, you must first find out its cause and try to eliminate it. Although it is usually the result of inhaling tobacco smoke, it is recommended to stop smoking immediately. If this is done, the disease still persists, the doctor recommends the use of bronchodilators, mucolytics or antibiotics in case of bacterial infection.
Similarly, there are many natural remedies that are very effective in curing bronchitis, some of them are: eucalyptus (infusion or syrup), thyme infusion, banana syrup, among others.
