Bronchitis
Treatment Options: Which one is Right for You?
Bronchitis is an illness that
develops when the inner walls that line the bronchial tubes in your
lungs become infected and inflamed. Usually bronchitis occurs after
you’ve suffered from an upper respiratory infection such as
a cold or the flu. There are two types of bronchitis, acute and
chronic. After a respiratory infection a person typically develops
acute bronchitis which can last just a few days or up to six weeks;
if conditions worsen or if the person smokes, it could turn into
chronic bronchitis which can last for more than two years. Regardless
of it being acute or chronic, when you’re diagnosed you want
a bronchitis treatment.
Conventional bronchitis treatment options include:
- Getting a lot of rest
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Avoiding smoke or fumes; don’t smoke
- Using an inhaler or cough medicine
A common bronchitis treatment when the infection
is bacterial is an antibiotic, but research has shown that antibiotics
aren’t necessary if you are generally healthy. When a person
is suffering from acute bronchitis, it is encouraged that they cough
up phlegm because that is the body’s way of ridding itself
from the extra mucus. But, if the cough is dry, raspy, painful and
keeping a sufferer from sleeping, then a doctor can prescribe a
cough suppressant. Although more serious than a cold, doctors will
typically prescribe you cold remedies as your bronchitis treatment.
It is a different story when the bronchitis is chronic. With chronic
bronchitis, your lungs are at risk of an infection. You are discouraged
from taking over-the-counter cough medications as a chronic bronchitis
treatment. If you have chronic bronchitis coughing is also helpful
to help remove surplus mucus from your lungs. But if the mucus changes
color or the coughing worsens, your doctor may prescribe you a 5
to 10 day course of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
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