Better Health & Living
Posts tagged Bronchitis
Natural Cure for Bronchitis
Jul 15th
Bronchitis is defined as inflammation of the mucus membrane lining the inner side of the bronchi and the bronchioles in the lungs. There are many natural remedies for treating bronchitis. But they should be taken along with conventional medicinal treatment and not as a substitute.
Garlic has been used since centuries as a medicinal food
Garlic is also known as allium sativum. This is one of the best natural remedies for fighting against common cold and viral infections that can cause an attack of acute bronchitis. Garlic can be consumed in its raw form or crushed and eaten in the form of garlic cloves.
Onions are used as a natural remedy to treat bronchitis
Another member of the allium family is onion. It is also known as allium cepa. Onions are said to possess anti expectorant properties. They liquify the phlegm and prevent the further formation of the phlegm. It is an excellent remedy for fighting the viral infections and accompanying bronchitis.
Turmeric has anti bacterial properties necessary to fight infections
Another highly effective home remedy in the treatment for bronchitis is turmeric. Half a teaspoon of turmeric is mixed with a glass of warm milk and given to the person suffering from acute bronchitis. Turmeric has anti bacterial properties and helps in fighting the infection.
Ginger is used in the treatment of cough and bronchitis
Another effective natural remedy in the treatment for bronchitis is ginger. Ginger is added to tea , along with cinnamon stick and whole black pepper. This tea is given to the person suffering from bronchitis, at least 3 times a day. Ginger paste can be made and it can be mixed with honey for a better taste. This helps to reduce the cough and the accompanying sinusitis and influenza symptoms.
Lobelia Inflata is a homeopathic remedy used to treat violent cough
Lobelia inflata is an excellent homeopathic remedy used to treat violent and acute cough, especially in case of an acute attack of bronchitis. This remedy must be taken after proper consultation with the homeopath.
Quitting smoking helps in preventing the recurrent attacks associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
The major cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking. The smoke contains irritants that cause inflammation of the bronchi and the bronchioles. This results in excessive secretion of mucus and production of sputum. As a result of this, the person suffers from chronic cough accompanied with sputum. It is important to quit smoking in order to overcome the recurrent attacks of chronic bronchitis.
Yoga exercises may help to reduce the frequency of acute attacks of bronchitis
Yoga exercises such as pranayama are designed in such a way that the person inhales and exhales deeply. These exercises should be practiced after consultation with the health care professional and under the supervision of a trained and well qualified yoga instructor. Many people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases have reported that regular practicing of these breathing exercises helps to reduce the frequency and intensity of acute attacks of bronchitis.
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Treatment for Bronchitis
May 16th
Bronchitis is a term that means inflammation of the mucus membrane of the bronchi in the lungs.
Treatment for an attack of Acute Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is commonly caused as a result of viral infections such as cold and influenza. Hence while treating the case of acute bronchitis, the health care professional will also focus on treating the associated symptoms of the viral infection. The following options are taken into consideration while treating an attack of acute bronchitis:
1. Adequate rest
A person suffering from viral infections usually feels very tired.
So the doctor will advise the person suffering from acute bronchitis to take adequate rest, which helps in a speedy recovery.
2. Keeping the body hydrated
In case of viral infections, the person tends to lose lots of body fluids by way of sweat. There is excessive thirst. If the person is suffering from common cold or sinusitis, then the mucus membranes lining the sinus secrete excessive fluid. The person tends to be dehydrated. Hence the health care professional will advise him to drink plenty of warm fluids such as warm water and hearty soups in order to maintain the fluid levels of the body.
3. Prescribing paracetamol
Viral infections and acute bronchitis may be accompanied with fever. So the doctor may prescribe medicines containing paracetamol in order to treat the fever.
4. Prescribing antibiotics
If an attack of acute bronchitis is secondary to bacterial infection, then the person suffering from acute bronchitis complains of cough which is usually accompanied with high fever and excessive amount of greenish yellow sputum. In this case, the health care professional may look into prescribing antibiotics in order to fight the infection and treat the underlying cause of acute bronchitis.
Treatment for Chronic Bronchitis
The following options are taken into account while treating a case of chronic bronchitis
1. Bronchodilators
Bronchodilators may be prescribed to treat chronic bronchitis. These medications expand the airways to make it easier to breathe. They are often taken in the form of an inhaler.
2. Use of Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids and antibiotics may be given during periods when the person has a chest infection. Corticosteroids may be used regularly in people with severe disease or frequent exacerbations.
3. Quit smoking
The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking. The doctor will advise the person suffering from chronic bronchitis to stop the smoking, at least until he starts to feel better. The doctor will also advise him that he will continue to suffer from frequent attacks of cough if he does not quit smoking .He is made aware that smoking increases the risk of other disease such as chronic obstructive lung disease and lung cancer.
4. Wearing protective masks
Many cases of chronic bronchitis result after chronic exposure to occupational pollutants such as cotton, flax and dust. The doctor educates the person suffering from chronic bronchitis about how to protect himself from the exposure to occupational irritants. This includes wearing protective gear such as protective air masks.
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Causes of Bronchitis
May 15th
Bronchitis is a term that means inflammation of the bronchi in the lungs. These bronchi connect the trachea or the windpipe to the lungs. The bronchi are lined by a protective lining known as the mucus membrane. The mucus membrane secretes mucus. In case of bronchitis, there is inflammation if the mucus membrane. This results in excessive production of mucus. The person suffering from bronchitis complains of cough, with or without the production of sputum.
Bronchitis is classified into two main types- Acute bronchitis and Chronic bronchitis.
Causes of Acute Bronchitis
The causes of acute bronchitis are listed below:
- The most common cause of acute bronchitis is viral infections
In case of acute bronchitis, the inflammation of the bronchi is caused mainly due to viral infections such as common cold, influenza and acute sinusitis. The viral infection spreads to the respiratory system and attacks the bronchi. The bronchi and the bronchioles become inflamed and the person complains of acute bronchitis.
- Acute bronchitis can be caused due to air pollution
The pollutants in the air can cause irritation of the bronchi, causing them to inflame. This is another common cause of acute bronchitis.
- An attack of acute bronchitis may also be triggered by dust
Dust can trigger the onset of acute bronchitis in some people. This occurs especially when traveling on long trips on dusty roads, or cleaning dusty surfaces, when the person inhales dust which acts as an irritant to the bronchi.
- An attack of acute bronchitis can be brought on after exposure to ammonia
Many cleaning products contain ammonia. When a person is using these cleaning products for cleaning bathrooms or tiles, he becomes exposed to ammonia. The chemical irritant then causes the bronchi to inflame, resulting in an attack of acute bronchitis.
- An attack of acute bronchitis may be a frequent occurrence in people with lung problems
People with lung problems such as asthma or pope suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease often suffer from recurrent attacks of acute bronchitis. This is because their bronchi and bronchioles are already in a state of chronic inflammation. Any exposure to irritants such as smoke, air pollution or cold air triggers the attack.
- Acute bronchitis is common in people with low immunity
Acute bronchitis can also be caused due to low immunity, especially in people recovering from chronic illness, trauma or a major surgery.
Causes of Chronic Bronchitis
The major cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking. The smoke contains irritants that cause inflammation of the bronchi and the bronchioles. This results in excessive secretion of mucus and production of sputum. As a result of this, the person suffers from chronic cough accompanied with sputum. Chronic bronchitis can also be caused due to long term exposure to occupational pollutants such as cotton, flax and dust. It can also be caused as a result of chronic exposure to chemical fumes from ammonia, strong acids, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide or bromine.
Causes of Bacterial Bronchitis
Bacterial bronchitis is usually caused by bacteria such as streptococcus pneumoniae, haemophilus influenzae, or moraxella catarrhalis.
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Symptoms of Bronchitis
May 15th
Bronchitis is defined as inflammation of the mucus membrane of the bronchi in the lungs. Bronchitis can be classified into two major categories -acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is an acute condition, in which the symptoms of bronchitis develop suddenly and the condition lasts for a relatively short period of time. Chronic bronchitis, as the name suggests is a chronic condition, which lasts for a longer period of time and the symptoms have a gradual onset. Chronic bronchitis is a type of COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Symptoms of bronchitis
A person may suffer from an attack of acute bronchitis or he may have developed chronic bronchitis and is suffering from an acute attack. Some of the common symptoms of bronchitis are mentioned below.
Acute bronchitis usually occurs after a viral infection such as influenza
Symptoms of acute bronchitis generally have a sudden onset. The person complains of a sore throat, chilliness, fever or a runny nose. In other cases he may suffer from influenza or an attack of sinusitis. Backache and muscle ache may accompany the existing symptoms if it is a severe case of viral influenza. And then the infection travels down to the respiratory tract. The bronchi and the bronchioles get inflamed. The mucus membrane on the inner side of the bronchi gets inflamed. As a result of this there is excessive secretion of mucus by the mucus membranes. This results in an attack of acute bronchitis.
Greenish yellow sputum with high fever may indicate a bacterial infection
When the person suffers from an attack of acute bronchitis, the cough is usually dry and mild. Gradually there is increased production of sputum. If the color of the sputum changes from transparent and white to greenish yellow, along with the presence of high fever and chills then there may be a possibility of a secondary bacterial infection.
Respiratory wheeze may be present along with cough
In case of acute bronchitis, the airways become inflamed and there is excessive secretion of mucus. The inflammation of the bronchioles may also be triggered by other factors such as exposure to dust, cold air, smoke and irritating odors. This may result in temporary narrowing of the airways. The narrow airways and excessive secretion of the mucus causes limitation and obstruction to the flow of air, in and out of the lungs. This causes a respiratory wheeze. This is especially significant in people suffering from chronic asthma and having an acute attack of bronchitis. The wheezing occurs especially after coughing and is more prominent at night. The person suffering from an attack of acute bronchitis may also complain of difficulty in breathing due to the narrowing of the airways. The difficult respiration is aggravated at night and on lying down. Sometimes the person has to sit up the whole night or rock in a chair to and fro, as lying down on bed only makes the condition worse. If a person is suffering from chronic bronchitis, then the respiratory difficulties may be aggravated in winter, cold weather and even by minimal physical exertion such as climbing the stairs.
Bronchitis Explained
May 14th
What is Bronchitis?
Bronchitis is defined as inflammation of the bronchi in the lungs. A healthy person normally inhales through the nose. The inhaled air passes from the nose into the trachea. Trachea, in simple terms means wind pipe. This wind pipe carries the air into the lungs, where the air is purified or the oxygen in the air is taken into the body and the carbon dioxide in the air is thrown out of the body through the exhaled air. The bronchi are air passages that connect the windpipe (trachea) to the lung tissue. The trachea connects to 2 main bronchi. These bronchi then branch many times to form a network of increasingly fine passages which are known as bronchi and bronchioles. This fine network of bronchi and bronchioles then ends at microscopic sacs called alveoli. Alveoli are air sacs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. Oxygen is taken up by the blood and the carbon dioxide from the blood is passed into the exhaled air.
Pathophysiology of Bronchitis
The bronchi are lined by mucous membrane. The mucus membrane secretes mucus. In bronchitis the mucus membrane of the bronchi becomes inflamed. As a result of this, there is excessive secretion of mucus by the bronchi. Hence the person suffering from bronchitis complains of cough and excess sputum.
Types of Bronchitis
Bronchitis can be classified into two major categories -acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis. Another type of bronchitis is bacterial bronchitis.
Acute Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an acute condition, in which the symptoms of bronchitis develop suddenly and the condition lasts for a relatively short period of time. The hallmark symptom of this condition is the development of a cough. The cough may or may not be present with the production of sputum. The major cause of acute bronchitis is a viral illness such as common cold, influenza or acute sinusitis. In these cases, the infection spreads into the respiratory tract and the bronchi are affected. This results in the development of acute bronchitis. Acute bronchitis may also occur when the immunity of the person is low, especially when he is recovering from a chronic illness, major surgery or a trauma.
Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis, as the name suggests is a chronic condition, which lasts for a longer period of time and the symptoms have a gradual onset. Chronic bronchitis is a type of COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This is a chronic condition which is characterized by the presence of a productive cough. Productive cough means cough accompanied by sputum or expectorant. This cough must last for at least 3 months or more and for a period of 2 years in order for the health care professional to diagnose the person to be suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The main causative factor in the development of chronic bronchitis is cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoke irritates the bronchi and the bronchioles. The mucus lining of the bronchi become inflamed as a response to the chronic irritation. They secrete more mucus resulting in productive chronic cough.
