Chronic bronchitis etiology

Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

Updated on September 01, 2024

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The etiology of chronic bronchitis is not very clear at present, and it is now believed to be caused by the long-term interaction of various factors. The most closely related factors are harmful gases or particles that act on the respiratory tract for a long time, causing damage to some structures of the respiratory tract, such as cigarette smoke, fumes, dust, irritating gases, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, etc. These physicochemical factors cause damage to the airways. Additionally, some infectious agents, such as bacteria, mycoplasma, or viral infections, along with some immune-related factors, are believed to play a certain role in the development of chronic bronchitis.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

1min 18sec

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How to cure chronic bronchitis completely?

At present, there is no cure for chronic bronchitis, and most treatments are mainly aimed at alleviating its symptoms. The treatment is mainly divided into two parts, one is the treatment during the acute exacerbation phase, which means that if a patient with chronic bronchitis experiences acute worsening of symptoms such as coughing and expectoration, or if accompanied by wheezing, fever, etc., then the main treatment methods might include anti-infection measures, expectorants to relieve cough, or treatments to alleviate wheezing. Most patients with chronic bronchitis are likely in the remission phase most of the time, and the primary treatment during this phase is initially to address factors that might trigger chronic bronchitis, such as insisting that patients who smoke quit smoking, and for those who have been exposed to dust or smoke, it is crucial to resolve triggering factors and avoid contact with harmful gases or inhalation of harmful particles. The next step is to enhance physical fitness and prevent colds. Chronic bronchitis patients can engage in appropriate physical exercise based on their condition, and those who suffer from long-term recurrent infections might consider pursuing immunotherapy.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

3min 18sec

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How to treat chronic bronchitis?

How to treat chronic bronchitis, first of all we need to know that chronic bronchitis can be divided into two phases, one is the remission phase, the other is the acute exacerbation phase. Since most patients are in the remission phase most of the time, that is, their symptoms of cough and expectoration are relatively stable, more or less the same every day, with no significant change in the amount and nature of the sputum, no purulent sputum, no significant increase in sputum, and no fever or other symptoms of infection. In such cases, the first step in treating chronic bronchitis patients is to target some possible causes of their condition, such as smokers must quit smoking. Most chronic bronchitis patients experience some relief in cough and expectoration after quitting smoking. Furthermore, some patients' chronic bronchitis may be due to exposure to dust or irritant gases. It is crucial to avoid contact with these harmful gases as much as possible. In addition, patients in a stable condition should engage in physical exercise, enhance their physical fitness, and prevent colds. Some chronic bronchitis patients who frequently suffer from respiratory infections can consider using immunomodulators or some traditional Chinese medicine to regulate immunity and enhance resistance. Additionally, since chronic bronchitis can acutely exacerbate, which means the patient’s condition has changed, their cough and expectoration frequency may increase, the amount of sputum may increase, or there may be some purulent sputum, or fever and other symptoms. In such cases, the primary treatment may still be infection control, commonly using antimicrobial drugs, often referred to as anti-inflammatory drugs. The types of anti-inflammatory drugs are numerous, the most common ones include penicillin, erythromycin, levofloxacin, amoxicillin, and some cephalosporins. In such cases, it is necessary to choose medication under the guidance of a doctor. Additionally, in these situations where the patient’s cough and expectoration are worsened, and sputum increases, medications for cough suppression and expectoration, commonly known as expectorants and cough relievers, are also needed. There are some proprietary Chinese medicines, such as licorice preparations, and Western medicines such as bromhexine and ambroxol as well. Moreover, a very small portion of patients may experience wheezing, meaning some patients might also have symptoms like chest tightness and shortness of breath. In such cases, it would be necessary to use bronchodilators under the guidance of a doctor, such as theophylline or doxophylline, and these medications must be used under medical supervision.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

56sec

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Causes of Chronic Bronchitis

The causes of chronic bronchitis are not yet very clear. It is currently speculated that it may be the result of multiple factors interacting over a long period. The factors most closely associated with the occurrence of chronic bronchitis primarily include smoking, cigarette smoke, dust, and irritants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, chlorine, ozone, etc. Additionally, some infectious factors may also be somewhat related to the occurrence of chronic bronchitis, with the most common possibly being infections by mycoplasma, bacteria, or viruses. Furthermore, chronic bronchitis may be related to age, climate, and other factors. Overall, the triggers of chronic bronchitis are not very clear at present, and it is advised to eliminate these risk factors as much as possible if present.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

1min 27sec

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COPD and chronic bronchitis differences

COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also commonly referred to as chronic obstructive lung disease. It is a chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract caused by inhalation of tobacco smoke, other types of smoke, harmful gases, or particulate irritants. This inflammation persists, eventually leading to structural changes in the airways, and symptoms such as coughing up phlegm and difficulty breathing. Chronic bronchitis is diagnosed primarily based on symptoms. Also known as chronic obstructive bronchitis, it is defined by symptoms of coughing, phlegm, or wheezing lasting more than three months per year and persisting for over two years, while excluding other diseases. There is a close connection between chronic bronchitis and COPD. If a patient with chronic bronchitis experiences worsening of their condition characterized by restricted airflow, as identified through pulmonary function tests indicating airflow limitation, they can then be diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. However, if a patient only exhibits symptoms of chronic bronchitis and maintains normal lung function, they cannot be diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease under such circumstances.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

43sec

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Does chronic bronchitis hurt?

Chronic bronchitis, commonly known as "chronic bronchitis", generally does not involve pain. The main symptoms of chronic bronchitis are coughing and expectorating phlegm, which may or may not be accompanied by wheezing. The coughing and expectorating in chronic bronchitis are typically long-term and gradual, with recurrent episodes. The symptoms are usually more pronounced in the morning, characterized by white, sticky phlegm, and generally do not involve chest pain or pain in other areas. If a patient with chronic bronchitis experiences pain in various parts of the body, it is typically considered that they might have other concurrent illnesses.