Allergic Bronchitis & Bronchospasm
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi, which are the airways that connect the windpipe (trachea) to the lungs. The disease is chronic by nature. Chronic means it happens frequently, over a long period of time.
Chronic bronchitis can be caused by cigarette smoking, air pollution, working for many years in a dusty environment, and frequent bacterial infections of the upper respiratory system. When the airways become irritated by smoke or other pollutants in the air, they swell and produce a large amount of mucus. The swelling and irritation can scar the walls of the bronchial airways and cause the smooth muscles in the airways to spasm, which stimulates coughing. The mucus clogs the airways and makes it difficult to breathe.
Chronic bronchitis usually begins as a mild cough, sometimes called a smoker’s cough. The cough may be deeper in the morning and may bring up a yellowish mucus called phlegm. Wheezing is the most common symptom. Wheezing is a musical, whistling, or hissing sound with breathing. Wheezes are most often heard during exhalation, but they can occur during breathing in (inhaling).
With time, the symptoms can become so severe that it may lead to difficulty in breathing and may restrict normal activities. Chronic bronchitis can lead to emphysema, which is a life-threatening lung disease, as well as an incurable lung condition called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Symptoms of chronic bronchitis occur most often during the winter.
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