Bronchitis is a lung disease in which the airways in the lung gets inflamed.Acute bronchitis comes and goes away quickly within 2-3 weeks, whereas chronic bronchitis is a long term inflammation of airways.
In order to call a bronchitis chronic the symptoms have to last for at least 2-3 months for two consecutive years.
Chronic bronchitis is when the cough with mucus persists for most of the days during those 2-3 months.
Chronic bronchitis is caused by:
- Regular Smoking
- Inhalation of irritation causing fumes, gases and dust
- Infection from cold and flu viruses
- Bacterial infections
Weak immune system, advanced age, smoking, constant exposure to lung irritants and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the major risk factors to develop chronic bronchitis.
How to tell if you have acute or chronic bronchitis?
Most if the symptoms of acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis are similar. Constant coughing with mucus coming from the lungs is the main symptom of bronchitis. The mucus can be clear, yellowish- gray or green in color depending on the underlying causes.
You may feel shortness of breath, fatigue and chest discomfort and even fever in some cases.
In acute bronchitis there is a nagging cough for weeks whereas in chronic bronchitis there are recurring incidences of predictive cough for months. These long lasting bouts of symptoms must occur for months in two consecutive years to qualify for being chronic bronchitis.
In addition you may get wheezing sounds and the symptoms of chronic bronchitis may get confused with Asthma.
In fact you may have severe symptoms during those months then it is also possible that you have both acute and chronic bronchitis existing. Thus duel conditions can be very painful and inconvenient.
Can Acute Bronchitis Turn into Chronic?
The short and simple answer is yes, the acute bronchitis if not treated properly then it can turn into Chronic bronchitis. The chances increase if you are a smoker or are continuing to get exposure to lung irritants such as filmed, chemicals and dust.
Another contributor to chronic bronchitis is acid reflux. Severe bouts of heartburn due to acid reflux can initiate the throat ultimately causing bronchitis that may turn chronic.
Can you Get Rid of Chronic Bronchitis?
There is no clear-cut straightforward answer to this question. Though it is very difficult to completely get cured of chronic bronchitis it is not impossible to get rid of chronic bronchitis.
In most cases of chronic bronchitis you have to learn to live with it by constantly working on it.
How to Beat Chronic Bronchitis?
If the irritants that are causing the chronic bronchitis are removed then there are very high chances of reducing the fresh bouts and hopefully ultimately being it.
If the chronic bronchitis is identified early and irritants are removed then the following remedies will help to get rid of chronic bronchitis.
Chronic Bronchitis Remedies: 3 Effective Strategies to Get Rid of Chronic Bronchitis
Many of these remedies will also work to get rid of acute bronchitis also. A regular and committed action is required to resolve chronic bronchitis .
1. Stop Smoking
Highly recommended and often ignored remedy for chronic bronchitis is the advice to stop smoking. Smoke irritates the lungs and continues to force you to cough. The phlegm is thick and difficult to bring it out.
Stop smoking if you are a smoker and avoid all kinds of passive smoke even if you are not a smoker.
2. Avoid all Types of Lung Irritants
If you are working or living in an environment that constantly emits pollutants that can irritate your lungs, then either move place of work or living to another safer place or wear masks to reduce lung irritation. All kinds of fumes, chemical gases and dust can cause chronic bronchitis.
3. Inhale Steam
Steam softens the mucus to easily get out. You can boil a bowl of water. Keep it in front of you on a table. Sit on a comfortable chair and lean on the hot water boil. Keep about 6-8 inch space between your sace and the bowel. Increase the space if the steam is too hot to bear. Wrap your head with. Towel covering the bowel to trap the steam towards your face.
Inhale the steam for 15 minutes. You can take your head out intermittently if the steam is causing inconvenience.
Another way to sit in a sauna and inhale Steam.
Remember chronic bronchitis can lead to more severe lung diseases such as asthma, Pneumonia and even cancer if proper care is not taken. So get rid of chronic bronchitis as soon as possible. Take help from your doctor if the home remedies suggested here do not give you enough relief.