Bronchitis occurs when the lining of your bronchial tubes becomes inflamed. If you have bronchitis it is likely that you will cough up a thick, discolored mucus. The inflammation can either be chronic or acute and often develops during a cold or some other respiratory infection. While acute bronchitis is common, chronic bronchitis is a more serious problem and can result from smoking. For bronchitis treatment Los Angeles please contact our medical facility for an appointment.
Symptoms
Acute and chronic bronchitis have most of the same symptoms and include:
- Coughing
- Fatigue
- Fever and/or chills
- Shortness of breath
- Discomfort in your chest
- Clear, yellow-gray, green, or white mucus
Acute bronchitis may be accompanied by cold symptoms like body aches and a mild headache. Symptoms will typically improve after about a week but you may have a cough that continues for weeks. Chronic bronchitis can last for upwards of three months and recur for at least two years in a row.
Causes
The same virus that causes the flu or a cold typically causes acute bronchitis. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses so medication is not an effective treatment against bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis is commonly caused by smoking cigarettes. Dust, toxic gases, air pollution can also be a cause of chronic bronchitis.
Treatment
Acute bronchitis will usually improve without treatment, although it will take a couple weeks. However, while antibiotics are not effective against viral infections your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if you have a bacterial infection. There are also other medications that can be used to relieve some of your symptoms:
- Cough medicine may be used if your cough is keeping you from getting a restful nights sleep.
- Other medications can be used if you have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or allergies. You may use an inhaler or other medications to lessen inflammation and widen the narrow passages to help oxygen get to your lungs.
If you suffer from chronic bronchitis pulmonary rehabilitation may be beneficial. This type of therapy is a breathing exercise program that a respiratory therapist will teach how to breath easier and help you get back to exercising.
To treat your symptoms call our medical clinic at (213) 386-2511 or schedule an appointment online for bronchitis treatment Los Angeles.
