The mucous membranes secret mucous which serves as lubricants. Its line many tracts and structures of the body, including the mouth, nose, eyelids, trachea (windpipe) and lungs, stomach and intestines, and the ureters, urethra, and urinary bladder. Mucous also help trap dust that could cause irritation to many parts in the body.
Bronchial tube connects the throat to the lungs for the exchange of air between the environment and the lungs.
Bronchitis affect air track, though not dangerous as it sounds, it becomes more prevalent in colder weather and often develops from a cold, sore throat or flu.
It is contagious only by droplets from patients through coughs or sneezes, saliva (kissing or shared drinks), skin-to-skin contact (handshakes or hugs), and touching a contaminated surface.
What causes bronchitis?
Bronchitis is caused by virus that usually the same that cause a common cold or flu, but can sometimes be picked up from bacteria.
It may also be triggered by breathing in irritant substances, such as smog, chemicals in household products or tobacco smoke.
Chronic bronchitis is usually caused by smoking with second hand smokers more vulnerable.
Smoking related bronchitis often develop into another smoking-related lung disease called emphysema – where the air sacs inside the lungs become damaged, causing shortness of breath.
Symptoms of bronchitis
In acute cases, the main symptom is a hacking cough, which may bring up clear, yellow-grey or greenish mucus.
Other symptoms may include a sore throat, headache, runny or blocked nose, aches and pains and tiredness.
Sometimes, sore chest and stomach muscles accomplishes chronic conditions which last several weeks but can be self healing.
Some may also experience shortness of breath and wheezing due to inflamed airways.
Is bronchitis dangerous?
Acute bronchitis is usually self healing as it usually go away by itself.
When symptoms last for longer - usually more than three months - it develops into a more chronic condition which can damage the lungs, causing the tiny air sacs inside the lungs to fill up with fluid.
It can become more complicated if it spreads into the lungs, usually causing pneumonia - which is dangerous to those in high risk groups like the elderly, those with a history of lung disease, people with cystic fibrosis and premature babies.
About 1 in 20 cases of bronchitis lead to pneumonia.
Treatment of Bronchitis
In less severe and early cases, bronchitis will clear up by itself in a few weeks without the need for treatment but sufferers should drink lots of fluid and get plenty of rest.
If symptoms last for at least there months it's known as "chronic bronchitis", for which there is no cure.
Lifestyle changes can help ease symptoms such as a healthy diet, regular moderate exercise and avoiding smoking or being in smokey enthronements.
GPs may offer medication such as steroids to "open up" the airways and can be prescribed as an inhaler or as tablets.
Other medicines can thin the mucus in the lungs to make it easier to cough up.
Antibiotics may be prescribed if you have an increased risk of developing.
Prevention of Bronchitis
With the causes of bronchitis, it is obvious that the most common way to prevent bronchitis is to abstain from smoking including secondhand one.
The effects of smog on general well-being including bronchitis cannot be overemphasized. Smog is harmful to both the respiratory (lungs) and cardiovascular (heart) systems. It aggravates heart problems, bronchitis, asthma, and other lung problems. Smog reduces lung function even in healthy people. Even at low levels, ground level ozone and fine particulate matter are harmful.
Avoiding every form of smogs will go a long way is preventing bronchitis and every other related ailments.
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