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Introduction
Bronchitis is a condition of inflammation of the large air passages in the lungs. It occurs when the mucous lining in the airways becomes irritated and swollen. Cigarette smoking, air pollution, and upper respiratory infections are common causes of bronchitis.
Bronchitis can cause coughing, phlegm production, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Acute bronchitis usually resolves on its own. Chronic bronchitis or complications from bronchitis, such as pneumonia, are treated with medications.
Anatomy
Your lungs are located inside the ribcage in your chest. Your diaphragm is beneath your lungs. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that works to open your lungs when you breathe.
From your nose and mouth, air travels towards your lungs through a series of tubes. The trachea or windpipe is located in your throat. The bottom of the trachea separates into two large tubes called the main stem bronchi. The left main stem bronchus goes into the left lung, and the right main stem bronchus goes into the right lung.
Inside the lung, the bronchi branch off and become smaller. These smaller air tubes are called bronchioles. There are approximately 30,000 bronchioles in each lung. The end of each bronchiole has tiny air sacs called alveoli. There are about 600 million alveoli in your lungs. Each alveolus is covered in small blood vessels called capillaries. The capillaries move oxygen and carbon dioxide in and out of your blood.
When you breathe air in or inhale, your diaphragm flattens and your ribs move outward to allow your lungs to expand. The air that you inhale through your nose or mouth travels down the trachea. Tiny hair like structures in the trachea, called cilia, filter the air to help keep mucus and dirt out of your lungs. The air travels through the bronchi and the bronchioles and into the alveoli. Oxygen in the air passes through the alveoli into the capillaries. The oxygen attaches to red blood cells and travels to the heart. The heart sends the oxygenated blood to the cells in your body.
When you breathe air out or exhale, the process is the opposite of when you inhale. Once your body has used the oxygen in the blood, the deoxygenated blood returns to the capillaries. The blood now contains carbon dioxide and waste products that must be removed from your body. The capillaries transfer the carbon dioxide and wastes from the blood into the alveoli. The air travels through the bronchioles, the bronchi, and the trachea. As you exhale, your diaphragm rises and your ribs move inward. As your lungs compress, the carbon dioxide is released out of your mouth or nose.
Causes
Symptoms
Bronchitis can make you feel tired all of the time. You may have a low fever, chills, and muscle aches. You may develop ankle, leg, and foot swelling.
Diagnosis
You doctor can usually diagnose bronchitis by simply reviewing your medical history and conducting a physical exam. You should tell your doctor about your symptoms and risk factors.
Your doctor will listen to hear if your lungs make sounds when you breathe. Your doctor may order tests to detect infection, determine the extent of your condition, and rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms. Your doctor may use a pulse oximeter to determine the amount of oxygen in your blood. For this test, a probe is simply placed on your fingertip and a reading is sent to a monitor. Your doctor may check a sample of your phlegm for bacteria. If your doctor suspects that you have pneumonia, a chest X-ray will be ordered.
Treatment
If you have chronic bronchitis, your doctor can recommend a respiratory therapy program for breathing exercises and physical activity. Your doctor can prescribe inhaler medications to help you breathe. You may need to use oxygen.
Prevention
It is wise to do what you can to prevent complications from acute and chronic bronchitis. You should stop smoking. Talk to your doctor about methods to help you quit smoking, if you are unable to do so yourself. There are many smoking cessation products on the market that your doctor will be happy to recommend. You should also ask your doctor about flu shots and preventative viral and bacterial respiratory vaccines.Am I at Risk
Risk factors may increase your likelihood of developing bronchitis, although some people that develop the condition do not have any risk factors. People with all of the risk factors may never develop the disease; however, the chance of developing bronchitis increases with the more risk factors you have. You should tell your doctor about your risk factors and discuss your concerns.
Risk factors for bronchitis:
_____ The elderly, infants, young children, and people with suppressed immune systems have the highest risk for developing bronchitis.
_____ Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for bronchitis. Long term exposure to second hand smoke is also associated with bronchitis.
_____ People with heart or lung disease are susceptible to bronchitis.
_____ Air pollution contributes to bronchitis.
_____ If you have allergies, you are at risk for bronchitis.
_____ Certain occupations are associated with bronchitis. If you are exposed to dust, fumes, and chemical irritants on your job, you are at risk for developing bronchitis.
_____ Upper respiratory infections commonly precede bronchitis. Upper respiratory infections occur more frequently during flu season. Common viruses include influenza A and B.
_____ Bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, can cause bronchitis.
Complications
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This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.
The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on February 16, 2022. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.
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