bacterial lung infection treatment :: Article CreatorLung Disease News
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What To Know About Bronchitis
Bronchitis is inflammation of the inner mucus lining of the bronchial tubes in the lungs. A nagging cough is one of the most prevalent bronchitis symptoms. A cough usually starts as dry but eventually produces phlegm, which makes it hard to breathe. Some cases of bronchitis go away on their own. Treatment includes medications, therapies, and home remedies.
The bronchial tubes are branch-like passageways, also known as bronchi, that carry air from the windpipe (trachea) to the lungs. The bronchial tubes swell and thicken with mucus, constricting airflow if they become infected or irritated. Contagious viral infections are the most common cause of bronchitis.
Bronchitis might be short-term (acute) or long-lasting (chronic). Read on to learn what bronchitis is, including types, symptoms, treatment, and more.
Bronchitis causes inflammation of the bronchial tubes in the lungs. There are two distinct types of bronchitis: acute, which is short-term, and chronic, which is long-lasting. Acute Acute bronchitis, or a chest cold, is the most common type. This inflammation of the bronchial tubes is temporary. Most people with healthy immune systems and no underlying illnesses recover from acute bronchitis within one week. Coughing may persist for up to four weeks in some people. Chronic Chronic bronchitis causes a persistent, phlegm-producing cough that lasts three months per year for at least two years in a row. This type is the most common type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of progressive lung conditions that make it hard to breathe. People with chronic bronchitis are more susceptible to lung infections and sensitive to air pollutants and allergens than others. Symptoms go through periods where they flare up and then subside. Bronchitis symptoms might vary depending on if it's acute or chronic but generally include: Coughing up mucus Fatigue Low-grade chest pain Low-grade fever (i.E., below 100.4 degrees) Shortness of breath Wheezing or whistling sound in the lungs Acute The most common sign of acute bronchitis is a persistent cough that lasts as long as four weeks. Coughing may produce clear, slimy phlegm or be yellowish-green. Acute bronchitis often strikes when you are sick or recovering from a cold or the flu, which causes symptoms like: Fatigue Fever Headache Muscle aches Runny or stuffy nose Sneezing Sore throat Acute bronchitis narrows the airways, so you may notice a wheezing sound when you breathe. Other symptoms include a low-grade fever and chest discomfort. Acute bronchitis may cause shortness of breath that worsens with physical activity. Chronic Chronic bronchitis symptoms include a persistent cough with: Chest tightness Shortness of breath that worsens with physical activity Squeaky or whistling sounds while breathing Thick mucus Wheezing People with this chronic form of bronchitis are more likely to have frequent respiratory infections than others. They may develop blue skin discoloration due to a lack of oxygen in the blood as the disease progresses. Bronchitis develops if the airways, or bronchial tubes, in your lungs become inflamed. Acute bronchitis typically strikes in the wake of a cold, flu, or other viral infection. The virus invades your bronchial tubes, causing inflammation and a phlegmy cough. A bacterial infection may cause acute bronchitis, but it's less common. Other causes include irritants like: Air pollution Dust Fumes Perfume Pollen Smoke Vapors Long-term damage to the airways and lungs causes chronic bronchitis. People with chronic bronchitis typically have exposure to irritants, such as air pollution, fumes, and smoke. Risk Factors Anyone can develop acute bronchitis, but it's most common in infants, young children, and older adults. People who live in crowded and polluted areas and have asthma are also likelier to develop acute bronchitis. Factors that increase your risk of chronic bronchitis include: Age: Older adults are likelier to develop chronic bronchitis than others. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: This is a rare genetic condition that increases your risk of chronic bronchitis and other lung conditions. Family history: You might be more likely to have COPD, including chronic bronchitis, if someone in your family has it. Environmental irritants: Air pollution, dust, fumes, and secondhand smoke might lead to chronic bronchitis. Health conditions: These include illnesses that affect your lungs, such as asthma, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis. People with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which irritates your esophagus, also have a high risk. Long-term smoking: People sometimes mistake chronic bronchitis for a "smoker's cough." A healthcare provider can diagnose acute and chronic bronchitis by assessing your symptoms. They might perform a physical exam and place a stethoscope on your chest to listen for wheezing. You might require other diagnostic tests, depending on how severe your symptoms are, such as: Arterial blood gas test: This checks the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood. Chest X-ray: This imaging test can diagnose acute and chronic bronchitis and rule out pneumonia. This lung infection has symptoms similar to those of bronchitis. Pulse oximeter: A healthcare provider will clip this small sensor to a finger or toe to measure your blood oxygen levels. Spirometry: This test involves blowing into a tube to measure your lung function. Various methods can treat acute and chronic bronchitis, including medications, oxygen therapy, and home remedies. Using multiple treatments is usually the most effective route. Medications for Acute Bronchitis Medications that treat acute bronchitis include: Antibiotics: These only treat acute bronchitis caused by a bacterial infection. Cough suppressants: These include dextromethorphan, which treats a dry cough. A healthcare provider may prescribe dextromethorphan, and it's available over the counter in Delsym, Robitussin, and Zicam. Only take those drugs if coughing is keeping you awake. Don't give them to children younger than 4. Guaifenesin: This is an expectorant, or a drug that thins the mucus in your airways. Expectorants make it easy to cough up mucus and clear your airways. Inhaled bronchodilator medicines: You might use albuterol or ipratropium bromide to relieve wheezing. Pain relievers: These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce fever, inflammation, and pain, such as Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), or aspirin. Don't give aspirin to any child younger than 18. Tylenol (acetaminophen) also helps alleviate fever and pain. Medications for Chronic Bronchitis Medications that treat chronic bronchitis include: Antibiotics: You might require antibiotics if your symptoms flare due to a bacterial infection. Inhaled bronchodilator medicines: Albuterol helps open your airways, making it easier to breathe. Inhaled corticosteroids: These control flares of symptoms by suppressing inflammation of the lungs. Nicotine replacement therapy: This helps you quit smoking. Therapy A healthcare provider may order oxygen therapy if you have chronic bronchitis. You can receive this treatment in a hospital, at a medical facility, or at home. Inhaled oxygen increases the availability of oxygen to your lungs and blood and helps with breathing. Pulmonary rehabilitation is another therapy for chronic bronchitis. This therapy combines exercise, education, and support services. You'll work with a team of healthcare providers to increase your strength and endurance, learn breathing techniques, and acquire other skills to manage the disease. Home Remedies These home remedies, in addition to medical treatments, can alleviate bronchitis symptoms: Drink warm water with honey and lemon: Don't give honey to children younger than 1 due to the risk of botulism, a rare type of poisoning. Get plenty of rest: Sleep helps your body replenish its energy to fight off a bacterial or viral infection. Getting plenty of rest also supports immune function. Stay hydrated: This thins out your mucus so it's easy to expel. Suck on a lozenge: These hard candies can soothe a sore throat. Try pursed-lipped breathing: This technique helps control shortness of breath. Breathe in through the nose for two seconds, pucker your lips, and then blow out very slowly. Repeat as needed. Use a humidifier: You can also inhale steam from a bath or shower. These methods loosen mucus and ease wheezing. Both can also ease a child's congestion under a parent's supervision. You might prevent bronchitis by protecting yourself from germs and irritants that affect the airways and lungs. Prevention measures include: Avoid smoking and smoke-filled environments. Get COVID-19, flu, and pneumonia vaccines, which help protect you from viruses and bacteria that cause bronchitis. Regularly wash your hands. Wear a mask over your nose and mouth when you are exposed to air pollution, fumes, smoke, and other irritants. Some people, such as infants, young children, and older adults, are likelier to develop complications from acute bronchitis than others. Complications include pneumonia, respiratory distress, and missed days from school or work. People with chronic bronchitis have a high risk of complications, including worsening lung function and trouble breathing. Chronic bronchitis might damage the mucus lining of the bronchial tubes, worsening a cough. This irritation may lead to inflammation and excess mucus production that clogs the airways. Chronic bronchitis also raises your risk of coronary artery disease. Bronchitis is inflammation of the airways in the lungs, or the bronchial tubes. This inflammation may be acute or chronic. Contagious viruses typically cause acute bronchitis. Smoking and exposure to environmental irritations are some of the most common causes of chronic bronchitis. Talk to a healthcare provider if you develop bronchitis symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment help prevent complications, such as pneumonia. You can treat bronchitis with medications, therapies, and home remedies, depending on what type you have and the cause.
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What Is The Difference Between Phlegm And Mucus?
Mucus is a thin, slippery fluid that lines the nose, throat, and other passages to trap dust and germs. Phlegm is a thicker type of mucus produced in the lungs to catch and remove harmful particles and infections.
Mucus and phlegm are substances the body produces to help keep the airways and other sensitive areas moist, but they serve different roles.
People might produce too much mucus or phlegm due to infections, allergies, or irritants such as smoke. This excess may lead to symptoms, including a sore throat, frequent coughing, and congestion.
Phlegm is a type of mucus, but the two are different.
Phlegm
Phlegm, or sputum, is a thick, sticky mucus the respiratory system produces, typically in response to irritation or infection. Phlegm originates in the lungs and airways and varies in amount and color depending on the cause.
Mucus
Mucus is a slippery, watery substance produced primarily in the respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems. Mucus acts as a lubricant to keep moist tissues such as the sinuses, mouth, and lungs from drying out.
Mucus is a natural defense system that helps trap dust, germs, and other particles, preventing them from reaching and harming deeper parts of the body. It lines the nose, throat, lungs, and intestines, protecting these areas and keeping them moist.
Mucus also plays a key role in helping the body eliminate irritants or harmful substances. Germs leave the body when a person coughs up mucus, blows it out through the nose, or swallows it, where it can break down safely in the stomach.
Similarly, phlegm traps and clears foreign particles such as dust, bacteria, and viruses from the airways. It is thicker than regular mucus and catches harmful substances in the lungs and respiratory tract.
Its sticky texture traps these particles, and tiny hair-like structures called cilia in the airways push the phlegm up and out of the body, often through coughing. This process helps to keep the lungs and airways clear and functioning correctly.
Yes, a person can have excess mucus. A person may not notice their body's mucus production until they start making too much of it or the mucus changes color or consistency.
Is too much mucus or phlegm dangerous?
Excess mucus and phlegm can cause various effects that range from uncomfortable to potentially dangerous.
For example, producing too much mucus or phlegm may lead to:
a runny nose and skin irritation blocked airways, making breathing difficult postnasal drip, which may lead to coughing and throat irritation increased risk of infection worsening of symptoms associated with existing lung conditions such as asthma URIs are common, accounting for 10 million outpatient appointments annually across the United States. Examples of URIs include:
LRIs occur in the airways below the larynx and include:
Both URIs and LRIs are treatable and, depending on the infection, sometimes clear up on their own.
However, serious complications can occur with LRIs, so it is critical to follow a healthcare professional's advice on recovery.
Causes of excess mucus not related to infection
Possible reasons for excess mucus or phlegm that are not due to sickness include:
Typical amounts of mucus go mostly unnoticed.
Signs that someone is experiencing excess mucus and phlegm may include:
a sore throat increased need to clear their throat frequent coughing congestion or feeling of fullness in the chest difficulty breathing or taking a deep breath visible thick, discolored mucus or phlegm Phlegm shows up in various colors, and those colors can help healthcare professionals determine whether a sputum culture or other medical procedure is necessary.
Treatment for excess mucus and phlegm varies and may depend on the cause and symptoms. If the cause is a viral infection, such as the cold or flu, a person can treat their symptoms at home to help ease symptoms.
For example, a person may:
Use a vaporizer or humidifier: Keeping the airways moist may help reduce mucus production and soothe nostrils. Apply a warm compress: Applying a warm compress on the face may help soothe sinus pressure. Flush the sinuses: Nasal irrigation helps to clear mucus and make breathing easier. There are various options, such as saline sprays and neti pots. A person can make their own saline solution if they choose. Additionally, someone may consider over-the-counter medications such as expectorants to thin the mucus.
It is important to use these medications only for their intended purpose and to follow the instructions on the label carefully to avoid potential side effects or misuse.
Someone experiencing excess mucus or phlegm may consider seeking medical attention if:
the mucus does not decrease with typical treatments, such as cold or allergy medications the mucus or phlegm continues to thicken the color changes they experience shortness of breath, wheezing, or chest pain they have a fever there is blood in the phlegm
How can a person tell the difference between mucus and phlegm?
Mucus is typically a thin, slippery fluid that goes mostly unnoticed unless production increases due to illnesses or allergies. Typically, a person does not need to cough up mucus, as they can clear it out when they blow their nose or use saline sprays or solutions.
Phlegm is a thicker, more viscous mucus in the lungs and airways. It is the type of mucus a person coughs up. Phlegm is often the body's response to irritation or an infection and can range in color depending on the cause.
Should you spit or swallow excess mucus or phlegm?
Swallowing excess mucus or phlegm may cause discomfort. It is better to cough up and expel phlegm, especially when it is thick, or there is a lot of it.
Clearing mucus and phlegm helps remove irritants and bacteria from the airways.
Mucus and phlegm are substances that keep the airways moist, but they have different roles.
Mucus is a thin fluid that traps dust and germs, while phlegm is thicker and produced in the lungs to remove harmful particles.
Infections, allergies, and irritants, such as smoke, can cause excess mucus and phlegm production, leading to symptoms such as coughing and congestion, but these are typically easily treatable.
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