Never neglect a cough lest a serious trouble grasp your weakened chest.’ A simple reflex mechanism such as a cough which is meant to clear the air passages can turn into a troublesome disease like bronchitis if left unheeded.
Bronchitis is a respiratory disorder in which the tubes that carry air to the lungs are inflamed and irritated. This causes the inner lining of these tubes to swell and produce mucus, leading to cough.
Bronchitis can be acute or chronic in nature depending on the duration of the illness. Acute bronchitis mostly develops from a cold or other respiratory infection whereas chronic bronchitis results from a more constant irritation of the bronchial tubes, often caused by smoking. Homeopathy can significantly help sufferers of both kinds of bronchitis and can provide gentle and safe treatment.
We have successfully treated thousands of cases of bronchitis and can help to give good relief and a better quality of life to all our patients. Experience the wonders of Homeopathy with holistic treatment.
Cough, phlegm and wheeze… treat it with ease!
Inflammation / irritation of the tubes that carry air to the lungs is called Bronchitis. As the inner lining of these tubes (bronchi) swells up, it grows thicker and starts to produce mucus. This results in narrowing of the tubes causing cough with production of thick phlegm.
Bronchitis can be Acute or Chronic in nature. Acute bronchitis usually has a quick onset and recovers within a span of 6 weeks. Most cases recover without any problems especially if the patient has been otherwise healthy prior to the attack.
Chronic bronchitis on the other hand tends to present as persistent cough with mucus for most days for 3 months of the year for at least 2 consecutive years. Chronic bronchitis is more serious in nature and requires long term treatment. In chronic bronchitis, the damage to the bronchi is more deep seated and frequently occurs on account of smoking.
Acute bronchitis tends to be very common amongst both children and adults though the prevalence rates are higher in children younger than 5 years. Chronic bronchitis on the other hand is more common in people older than 40 years of age.
How did I land up with this cough?
The cough that has lasted quite a few days in your case and does not get better on its own may be bronchitis and it can be caused due to a number of reasons:
Viruses: Several viruses have been known to cause bronchitis and some of the common ones include - Influenza A and B virus; these are also referred to as the flu in common language. They are generally responsible for acute bronchitis.
Bacteria: Certain bacteria such as ‘Mycoplasma pneumoniae’ can also lead to bronchitis, especially of the acute form.
Inhaling irritant fumes, chemical solvents, dust, etc. over a period of time can lead to chronic cases bronchitis though a sudden exposure can also precipitate an acute attack.
Smoking is one of the major causes for developing chronic bronchitis
People with a weakened immune system are at increased risk of developing bronchitis
It must be noted people with chronic bronchitis go through periods when their condition becomes worse than general. During such times, they may develop acute bronchitis (caused by viruses or bacteria).
Benjamin Franklin had quoted, ‘Love, Cough and a Smoke can’t well be hid’. Indeed you can’t hide it if you have bronchitis for what you will be evidently doing is coughing. Cough is the primary symptom of both acute as well as chronic bronchitis though the rest of the presentation significantly varies.
Acute Bronchitis:
Acute bronchitis usually starts with an attack of common cold – it’s often caused by the same viruses that cause a cold. The attack usually gets over within a span of 6 weeks. To start with, the symptoms include:
Later the symptoms may progress to the development of:
Chronic Bronchitis:
Chronic bronchitis has symptoms that last a prolonged period of time and come on repetitively:
Timely evaluation of any disease helps significantly in instituting the right kind of treatment.
In case of bronchitis, the presenting symptoms and examination findings are usually enough to confirm the diagnosis. However, your physician may advise you some investigations in case deemed necessary:
Cases of chronic bronchitis require to be evaluated regularly in order to monitor the progress of the condition. Regular check ups can also help the physician to chart the improvement occurring with the medication.
