Acute
Bronchitis and How it Can Become Chronic
It may be surprising to
know, but of all the ailments in the world, acute bronchitis is
one of the top 10 conditions for which patients seek medical assistance.
Acute bronchitis is one of the two types of bronchitis that a person
can suffer from; the other is chronic. Acute is the less serious
of the two since acute bronchitis can last up to six weeks while
chronic bronchitis is more long-term and lasts at least two years.
Bronchitis is characterized by the inflammation of the mucus membrane
inside the bronchial passages of the lungs. When the membranes are
swollen and grows thicker it becomes difficult for air to reach
the lungs. This causes people with acute bronchitis to have shortness
of breath and cough up thick, yellowish-gray and green mucus.
Symptoms of acute bronchitis usually begin about three or four days
after you develop an upper respiratory tract infection. You should
look out for symptoms of acute bronchitis such as:
- A cough that starts out dry but within a
few days brings up mucus from your lungs. The mucus is typically
clear, green or yellow. Sometimes blood may appear in the mucus.
- A mild fever that’s less than 101
degrees F. If you have a higher fever, it may indicate that
you have pneumonia.
- Lethargy and overall weakness and tiredness
- Tightness in the chest, possibly accompanied
by pain and burning.
- A whistling noise when you exhale
Usually acute bronchitis
is caused by a viral infection, but sometimes it can also be caused
by bacteria. The good news is that if you are in good health, you
can recover from acute bronchitis. But if you’re a person
who smokes, your acute bronchitis can worsen and become far more
serious. Chronic bronchitis often times starts off as acute bronchitis
for smokers but if they continue to smoke, the tiny hair like structures
in their lungs, known as cilia, will become paralyzed and incapable
of brushing out the excess mucus and debris that accumulates in
their lungs. Consult your doctor immediately if you suspect you
have acute bronchitis; immediate treatment can prevent the illness
from worsening.
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