Bronchitis

Bronchitis has been on the rise due to the increasing pollution levels and lowered immunity levels. Although the causes of bronchitis could vary, symptoms remain the same –  inflammation of the bronchi, excess mucus secretion, cough, breathlessness, and chest discomfort. This condition must be promptly treated or else, it could progress into irreversible pathologies such as bronchiectasis and emphysema.
What is Bronchitis?
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs and could either be acute (short-term), or chronic (long-lasting) if a persistent wet cough lasts for at least three months in two consecutive years. It is common in habitual smokers and residents of polluted cities. 
Chronic bronchitis is predominantly caused due to smoking, and has also been linked to pneumoconiosis, excessive alcohol consumption and exposure to cold and draught. 
What are the Symptoms of Bronchitis?
An expectorating cough (the color of the mucus does not signify whether the infection is viral or bacterial)• Dyspnea (Shortness of breath)• Wheezing• Fatigue and/or malaise• Mild fever• Mild chest pains/chest discomfort• Vibration in chest when breathing• Coldness
What are the causes of bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis generally follows a viral infection. Initially, it affects your nose, sinuses, and throat and then spreads to the lungs. Sometimes, you may get another (secondary) bacterial infection in the airways. This means that bacteria infect the airways, in addition to the virus.People at risk for acute bronchitis include:• Elderly, infants, and young children• Smokers• People with heart or lung diseaseChronic bronchitis is a long-term condition. You may have a cough that produces excessive mucus. To be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, you must have a cough with mucus most days of the month for at least 3 months.Chronic bronchitis is also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD for short. (Emphysema is another type of COPD.) As the condition gets worse, you become increasingly short of breath, have difficulty walking or exerting yourself physically, and may need supplemental oxygen on a regular basis.Cigarette smoke, including long-term exposure to second-hand smoke, is the main cause of chronic bronchitis. The severity of the disease often relates to how much you smoked or how long you were exposed to the smoke.The following things can make bronchitis worse: Air pollution, certain occupations (like coal mining, textile manufacturing, or grain handling), infection, and allergies.How is Bronchitis Diagnosed? A physical examination will often reveal decreased intensity of breath sounds (rhonchi) and extended expiration. Most doctors rely on the presence of a persistent dry or wet cough as evidence of bronchitis.A number of conditions are often misdiagnosed as, or lumped together as, acute bronchitis.A variety of lab test results may suggest chronic bronchitis, namely:• Rales (abnormal sounds in the lungs) or other abnormal breathing sounds may be heard by your doctor on lung examination with a stethoscope.• Chest x-ray that reveals hyperinflation and increased bronchovascular markings.• Pulmonary(lung) function test that shows an increase in the lung’s residual volume and a decreased vital capacity.• Arterial blood gases that show a decreased level of oxygen in the blood and an increased level of carbon dioxide.• a sputum culture that has pathogenic microorganisms and/or neutrophils in it• Some of these findings may also be seen in acute bronchitis.
How is Bronchitis Treated?
In most cases, acute bronchitis is caused by viruses, not bacteria and it will go away on its own after a few days without antibiotics. One should get plenty of rest, especially until fever subsides, and plenty of non-caffeinated clear fluids such as water or juices (about a gallon a day).Bacterial bronchitis is commonly treated with a course of antibiotics.To increase the humidity in the environment, one can use room humidifiers, or simply one of the home remedies such as putting wet towels or blankets around the house.To treat acute bronchitis that appears to be caused by a bacterial infection, or as a precaution, antibiotics may be given.To help the bronchial tree heal faster and not make bronchitis worse, smokers should cut down on the number of cigarettes they smoke (or quit altogether if possible), or at least try not to smoke indoors.PrognosisAcute bronchitis usually lasts approximately 10 or 11 days. It may accompany or closely follow a cold or the flu, or it may arrive unaccompanied by any other condition. It is contagious, and it starts out with a dry cough, frequently waking the sufferer up at night. After a few days, it progresses to a wetter, productive cough, which may be accompanied by a low grade fever, fatigue, and headache. The fever, fatigue, and malaise may last only a few days, but the wet cough may last up to several weeks. For some people, the cough may last as long as a few months as the bronchial tubes heal slowly.Should the cough last longer than a month, your doctor may refer you to an ENT (Ear Nose Throat) specialist  to see if a cause other than bronchitis is causing the irritation. It is possible that having irritated bronchial tubes for as long as a few months may induce asthmatic conditions in some patients.In addition, if one starts coughing up mucus tinged with blood, one should immediately see a doctor. In rare cases, doctors may conduct tests to see if the cause due to a more serious condition, such as tuberculosis or lung cancer.The prognosis for patients with severe chronic bronchitis varies, but recovery is harder for those patients with additional severe illnesses (lung diseases or heart conditions). Pulmonary hypertension, cor pulmonale, and chronic respiratory failure are possible complications from chronic bronchitis.
 
Is there a natural way to cure bronchitis permanently?
Synerveda’s combination therapy has been designed to ease your bronchial attacks, and heal your lungs. The first line of treatment is a herbal tea that helps open up your bronchial passages and clears your throat and lungs of excess mucus. This is combined with Haleezy, an ayurvedic formulation of botancal extracts, to help ease the rspiration process.
Depending on the patient’s history and severity of the ailment, homeopathic sarcodes or bioenergetically charged tinctures are added to the therapy, in order to strengthen and regulate the respiratory system. If necessary, an immune booster may also be reccomended to prevent recurrance.                                                                     
How can one avoid or prevent Bronchitis?
The best way to avoid acute bronchitis is to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, get plenty of rest, and to drink enough fluids. Acute bronchitis is most commonly caused by viruses or bacteria, which spread via coughing droplets in the air and/or from touching contaminated surfaces. Chronic bronchitis is often preventable. The main action to reduce your risk is to eliminate exposure to cigarette smoke and other environmentally hazardous fumes. Smokers in the early stages of chronic bronchitis can change and improve the course of the disease by quitting smoking.