Lungs are the respiratory organs of the human body which help a person in breathing, by taking in oxygen and giving out carbon dioxide . Lungs contain tube like structures called the bronchial tubes or airways through which the air passes. When the airways are exposed to tobacco, dust or other chemical substances for a long period of time, it is likely that a person may develop bronchitis.

There are two types of bronchitis, namely acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is a milder form of bronchitis, mostly caused by virus or bacteria and goes away with or without minimal treatment. However, chronic bronchitis is a more severe disease which stays with a person for a long time. The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is cigarette smoking. It is also found in people who work in places where they come in contact with harmful substances like dust, chemical fumes, etc. Besides this, people who are exposed to pollution in the environment and who have weak immune systems are also at the risk of getting affected by chronic bronchitis. As a result when such people breathe, these dangerous substances are also taken in. When this continues for many years, the bronchial tubes develop some kind of inflammation or irritation, leading to the development of thick mucus inside it. When airways get filled up with mucus, it blocks the passage of the air to the lungs, leading to chronic bronchitis. It is also common to find chronic bronchitis with other diseases like asthma, sinus, pulmonary emphysema, upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis and tuberculosis.

Chronic bronchitis gives rise to very severe symptoms in a person who is affected by it. Let us look at some of the them and also the treatment for chronic bronchitis.

Effects of Chronic Bronchitis

The most common effect of chronic bronchitis in individuals is excessive and continuous coughing. The person may go into bouts of coughing for a long time and may also spit mucus with it. Coughing found in chronic bronchitis may remain with the person for many months or even for a year.

As chronic bronchitis is a respiratory disorder, the person affected by it has difficulty in breathing. This especially occurs when the person does some physical exercise or activities like climbing the stairs or even walking for a short distance. The chances of a person with chronic bronchitis getting affected by asthma are high.

When a person has chronic bronchitis, the lungs and airways become weak and due to this the individual becomes more susceptible to various other infections and ailments like fever. Moreover, a person with severe chronic bronchitis can also develop pneumonia, though this is mostly seen in old people. Individuals who continue to smoke even after being diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, are vulnerable to developing lung cancer.

The effects of chronic bronchitis are serious but it can be cured with proper treatment. Usually medication is given to treat a person with chronic bronchitis. One of the medicines used for chronic bronchitis is bronchodilator, which is available in the form of an inhaler. Physicians may also prescribe other medicines like theophylline and steroids for this disease. However, one must remember that more than medicines, avoiding cigarette smoking totally would help in one's quick recovery.
 

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