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| Chronic Bronchitis, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Complications |
Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes that generally lasts for 3 months or occurs several times in 2 years. Chronic bronchitis is a type of lung disease that is included in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Chronic bronchitis is a type of bronchitis that occurs due to exposure to chemicals or cigarette smoke. Unlike acute bronchitis, which is usually caused by a viral infection and resolves within 1-2 weeks, chronic bronchitis is a more serious condition and develops over time.
Symptoms of chronic bronchitis may improve or worsen. It should be noted that improving chronic bronchitis does not always indicate the patient's condition has fully improved.
Causes of Chronic Bronchitis
The main cause of chronic bronchitis is long-term exposure to cigarette smoke. Inhaled cigarette smoke makes the respiratory tract irritated and filled with mucus. If the mucus in the respiratory tract accumulates, the patient can have difficulty breathing, especially during activities.
In addition to exposure to secondhand smoke, several other conditions that put a person at a higher risk of developing chronic bronchitis are:
- Have a family with a history of lung disease
- Frequent exposure to dust or fumes from chemical combustion
- Live in a neighborhood with poor air quality
- Suffering from a genetic disease in the form of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is characterized by coughing that appears almost every day for at least 3 months in 1 year and for 2 consecutive years. Cough is also not caused by tuberculosis or other lung diseases.
Other common symptoms of chronic bronchitis include:
- Cough with yellow, green, or white mucus
- Breath sounds or wheezing
- Chest pain
- Tired easily
- Hard to breathe
- Nasal congestion
- Headache
- Nails, lips, or skin bluish
When to go to the doctor
Immediately consult a doctor if you experience symptoms of chronic bronchitis as mentioned above. It is also necessary to see a doctor if you have a cough that lasts more than 3 weeks and is accompanied by the following conditions:
- Fever more than 3 days
- Bleeding cough
- Symptoms of lung disease or asthma
- Breaths become shorter
- Symptoms of bronchitis often recur
- Chest pain
- Dizziness or feeling like you might pass out
Diagnosis of Chronic Bronchitis
The doctor will ask questions about the symptoms, as well as the patient's and family's medical history, followed by a physical examination. After that, the doctor will run further examinations, such as:
- Blood gas analysis, to measure oxygen, carbon dioxide and pH levels in the blood
- Chest X-ray, to detect signs of infection or fluid around the lungs
- Pulmonary function test, to measure the ability of the lungs to breathe
- Spirometry test, to measure lung function in expelling air
Chronic Bronchitis Treatment
Treatment of chronic bronchitis aims to relieve symptoms and prevent complications. Some methods that can be done by doctors are:
- Bronchodilators, which are available in inhaled form, to ease breathing and reduce coughing
- Steroids, to reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract
- Antibiotics, to treat secondary infections that can occur due to chronic bronchitis
Patients with chronic bronchitis with severe symptoms can be given oxygen in the hospital or at home. Patients are also advised to undergo flu vaccine and pneumonia vaccine. If needed, doctors can carry out medical procedures to treat fluid buildup in the patient's lungs.
Patients can also do breathing exercises to maximize oxygen absorption. The trick is to take a deep breath and exhale slowly through your mouth.
Complications of Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis can cause a number of complications, including:
- Bleeding cough
- Pneumothorax
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Breathing failure
- Right side heart failure
- Polycythemia vera
- Lung cancer
Chronic Bronchitis Prevention
Chronic bronchitis can be prevented by avoiding various factors that can trigger irritation of the bronchial tubes. Efforts that can be made include:
- Quit smoking
- Wash your hands regularly to prevent the spread of infection
- Avoid exposure to chemicals, air pollution, and cigarette smoke
- Avoid using insect spray or hair spray
- Do not have close contact with people who are sick with the flu or coughing colds
- Use a mask when you are sick or taking care of sick people
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