Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi, the ever-branching airways of the lungs. Normally clear and smooth, they become obstructed with mucus and swollen with irritation during bronchitis. In the picture below you can see the parts of our lungs.

Some people think that the main cause of bronchitis is smoking. You can get bronchitis even if you have never smoked. There are some different types or different forms of bronchitis. Let’s talk about them and the symptoms, causes and treatments one by one.

Different Types of Bronchitis

01. Acute Viral Bronchitis

In acute bronchitis, the characteristic symptom of a cough appears during a routine viral illness and lingers on, often for weeks. Studies have shown that bronchitis develops in 30 percent of patients with colds and 90 percent of patients with the flu.

The viral infection initially irritates the surface (epithelial) lining of the airways, provoking the release of inflammatory compounds. This leads to the production of mucus and a constriction of the airways.

If you have asthma, chronic lung disease, or smoke cigarettes, you are more likely to develop bronchitis with a cold or flu. Also, environmental irritants such as the smell of paint, welding vapors, and other chemicals can trigger bronchitis.

You don’t catch bronchitis, but you can catch the cold or flu virus that produces the original infection. Using prevention techniques for these ailments, including washing your hands and getting a flu shot, will dramatically decrease your risk of developing this common viral aftermath.

The virus that causes the respiratory infection of bronchitis irritates the trachea and bronchi. The airways become congested with blood and fluid leaking from blood vessels.

Increased mucus production further adds to the airway blockage. In a particularly severe viral infection, the surface of the airways may become pitted and damaged.

Treatments

ANTIHISTAMINE
Use traditional antihistamine as directed by manufacturer.

DECONGESTANT
Anticholinergic nasal spray for three days, then switch to oral form of decongestant if needed.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Acetaminophen (650 mg), aspirin (500 mg), or ibuprofen (200 mg) twice a day in acute phase of illness (usually three – four days).

Beta-agonist bronchodilator up to four times a day until cough is gone. This can be as long as six weeks.

QUELLING THE COUGH
Over-the-counter suppressants that contain dextromethorphan or prescription formulations with codeine for three to five days. Use as directed on package.

If cough persists for more than a week, you may need a bronchodilator such as albuterol or Atrovent, and anti-inflammatory sprays such as Flovent or Qvar may help.

ANTIBIOTICS
Usually not necessary for viral bronchitis. If fever rises or mucus turns yellow or green, discuss antibiotic use with your physician.

VACCINES
None directly for viral bronchitis. However, since up to 90 percent of people with the flu develop some degree of bronchitis, an annual flu shot will substantially cut the risk of developing post-flu bronchitis.

ANTIVIRAL DRUGS
Antiviral medications such as Tamiflu used in the first forty eight hours of the flu have been shown to cut the risk of developing complications such as bronchitis. They are not directly helpful for treating viral bronchitis.

These medicinal products are just for your information. Please, consult your doctor before taking this medicine as per your wish.

NUTRITIONAL THERAPY
Regular meals. If you like and can tolerate spicy foods, try tomato juice with horseradish, hot and sour soup, or hot sauce on scrambled eggs to loosen airway congestion.

Drink three to four cups hot tea a day. Flavor with honey and lemon to soothe cough-irritated throat.

HYDROTHERAPY
Hot showers in the morning to loosen mucus in airways.

If congested during the day, use steam inhaler with eucalyptus extract.

Keep well hydrated with room humidifier.

Drink four to five glasses of fluid a day.

02. Acute Bacterial Bronchitis

The lower airways are normally sterile, that is to say, free of germs. Most acute bacterial bronchitis begins as a viral bronchitis. Viral infection of the airways damages the airway mucosa and make it more susceptible to bacterial invasion.

In addition to an exhausting cough, symptoms of bacterial bronchitis include a high fever several days after the low-grade fever of the original cold or flu virus has subsided.

Phlegm production increases and the color changes from clear and thin to thicker and cloudy or greenish yellow.

To prevent a bacterial bronchitis from developing after viral invasion, start by drinking plenty of hot tea and soup to thin mucus in the airways.

Treatments

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Use acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin two or three times a day for fever.

QUELLING THE COUGH
Start with cough medication that contains dextromethorphan or codeine.
If cough persists, use a bronchodilator such as Atrovent three or four times a day for up to six weeks.

ANTIBIOTICS
Augmentin or Levaquin for five to seven days.

VACCINES
An annual flu shot will prevent the most common viral infection that leads to bacterial bronchitis.

ANTIVIRAL DRUGS
Medications such as Relenza or Tamiflu may be prescribed to limit flu symptoms to prevent development of bacterial bronchitis if you are at higher risk of developing complications.

NUTRITIONAL THERAPY
Regular meals.

One cup of hot soup a day.

Two to three cups hot tea a day.

Three to four cups water, juice, or diet soda, a day.

One serving of a spicy item such as tomato juice with horseradish, or hot and sour soup (optional).

HYDROTHERAPY
Hot shower in the morning.

If air is especially dry, portable room humidifier at night.

Saline gargle one or two times a day to quiet cough reflex in throat.

03. Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis occurs due to long-term lung damage from cigarette smoking and/or high levels of environmental pollutants.

Chronic bronchitis is a chronic, progressive lung disease that is thought to be caused by years of inflammation due to tobacco exposure. While environmental exposures such as occupational air pollution are also linked to chronic bronchitis.

Treatments

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Inhaled steroid sprays such as Flovent and Qvar.

Bronchodilators:

• Short-acting: albuterol, Atrovent.
• Long-acting: Serevent, Spiriva.
• Theophylline.

QUELLING THE COUGH
Cough suppressants containing codeine.

ANTIBIOTICS
Prescribed for respiratory infection to treat (early) acute exacerbations.

VACCINES
Annual flu shot.

Pneumonia vaccine every ten years.

ANTIVIRAL DRUGS
Tamiflu or Relenza can be prescribed if flu symptoms develop (first one to two days).

NUTRITIONAL THERAPY
Diets high in fruits and vegetables have been shown to lower the risk of chronic bronchitis.

HYDROTHERAPY
Hot shower to humidify and loosen dry secretions.

OTHER
Avoid secondhand smoke.

Exercise indoors two to three times a week.

Improve air quality in your home by removing carpets; use a HEPA air cleaner.

If your home has a dog or cat, don’t let it into your bedroom.

Other Home Remedies for Bronchitis

01. Drink lots of Water

To thin mucus and help you cough it up more easily, drink lots of water – at least eight 8-ounce glasses each day.

And avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks, which dehydrate your system and make the mucus tougher to dislodge.

02. Eat Spicy

Eat chili peppers, hot spicy salsa, or dishes prepared with cayenne pepper. Fiery foods don’t just make your nose run – they also thin the mucus in your lungs, helping you cough more productively.

03. Avoid Milk Products

Cow’s milk contains lactalbumin, which stimulates the production of mucus in the upper and lower respiratory tract and in the intestines.

Young calves, with four stomachs (the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum and the abomasum), need this extra mucus to help protect their intestinal tracts from strong stomach acids. but you don’t! When humans drink cow’s milk, the result is excessive mucus production.

04. Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps you fight off respiratory viruses. It works well in conjunction with supplemental flavonoids, also called bioflavonoids.

As a preventive measure, 2,000mg is the upper limit of intake per day. (With higher doses of vitamin C, some people get diarrhea.) You can get vitamin-c from tablets or from fruits.

Source: The Good Doctors Guide to Colds and Flu [Updated Edition] How to Prevent and Treat Colds, Flu, Sinusitis, Bronchitis, Strep… (Neil Schachter, M.D.)

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