Content

• Steps
• Warning

Bronchitis is inflammation in the bronchi - the tubes that carry air in the lungs. Inflammation can be caused by a virus, bacteria, an allergy or an autoimmune disease. A symptom of bronchitis is a severe and persistent cough. Acute bronchitis is a medical condition that lasts for several weeks, while chronic bronchitis is a progressive condition that lasts for at least a few months or more. In the United States, about 10-12 million people see a doctor for bronchitis each year, but most are acute bronchitis. Acute bronchitis can be treated at home and usually resolves on its own with proper care.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Home treatment of bronchitis

1. 

   Add enough water. Staying hydrated while you are sick will help your body function better. You should drink about 250 ml of water every 1-2 hours.
   • Supplementing with water helps to reduce congestion and maintain body function effectively.
   • Follow the instructions of a doctor if asked to limit water supply due to other pathological complications.
   • The majority of the body's water supply should be either filtered water or low-calorie drinking water to prevent excessive caloric intake.
   • Clear broths, diluted sports drinks and warm honey-infused lemon juice are good options. Warm water will help increase the effectiveness of soothing a sore throat from coughing.
   • Do not consume caffeinated or alcoholic beverages. These drinks are diuretic and cause dehydration.

2. 

   
   
   Full rest. You should try to get as much sleep as possible, at least 7 hours per night. If you have trouble sleeping, try to recline or lean back to rest a little.
   • Sleep is important for maintaining healthy immune function. Without rest, the body will be unable to fight off the virus.

3. 

   
   
   Limit physical activity when you have bronchitis. You can still do everyday tasks, but you should avoid moderate or heavy exercise to avoid triggering a cough and weakening your immune system.

4. 

   Use a humidifier. You can turn on your humidifier at night when you go to bed. Breathing warm, humid air helps to loosen mucus in the respiratory tract, making it easier to breathe and reduce coughing levels.
   • Clean the humidifier according to the manufacturer's instructions. Improper cleaning can cause bacteria and fungi to grow inside the water container and spread into the air. Bacteria and fungi in the air make bronchitis worse.
   • You could also sit in the bathroom with the door closed and running hot water for 30 minutes. The hot evaporated steam has a similar effect to steam from a humidifier.

5. 

   
   
   Avoid irritants. Cold and polluted air makes bronchitis worse. While it's not possible to get rid of all triggers completely, there are many ways you can limit your exposure.
   • Quit smoking and stay away from smokers. Tobacco smoke is a major irritant of the lungs and smokers are at an increased risk of chronic bronchitis.
   • Wear a mask when in contact with paint, household cleaning products, perfumes or substances with strong odors.
   • Wear a mask when going out. Cold air can block your airways, making coughing worse and making it hard to breathe. Wear a mask that helps warm the air before it enters the respiratory tract.

6. 

   Take cough suppressants when needed. Use an over-the-counter cough syrup only when your cough is interfering with your daily life. You should normally cough to prevent mucus from building up in your lungs and causing further infection. Do not take cough syrups and similar cough suppressants for the entire duration of the illness.
   • Cough syrup is usually a cough suppressant. The syrup inhibits or stops coughing attacks and as a result you will cough less and less phlegm.
   • If you are unable to sleep because you have a cough or cough so much that it is painful, you can take other cough syrups in place of cough syrup to help relieve the cough.
   • Always consult your doctor before taking cough syrup; however, these drugs can be purchased without a prescription.

7. 

   Use expectorants. Over-the-counter expectorants make you cough up more phlegm. Bronchitis patients are at a higher risk of developing pneumonia or other serious infections if the mucus builds up too much. An expectorant is often indicated to help flush mucus, especially in patients with a dry cough.

8. 

   Research on herbal ingredients. Always talk to your doctor before trying herbal ingredients. Although proven harmless, there is currently no scientific evidence that herbal ingredients are effective in the treatment of acute bronchitis. Only a few clinical studies show that using celadon (Pelargonium sidoides) yield positive results. One study found that compared with a placebo, patients recover faster from taking this herb.
   • The common cold can lead to bronchitis, so using herbal ingredients can help prevent the disease. Some of the most well-researched and proven herbal ingredients available include Echinacea (300 mg, 3 times daily), garlic and ginseng (400 mg / day).
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Method 2 of 3: Get professional medical treatment

1. 

   Know when to see your doctor. See your doctor if your bronchitis symptoms persist for more than 1 week and show no signs of improvement. Also, talk to your doctor if your symptoms get worse.
   • See your doctor if your cough persists for more than 1 month.
   • See your doctor as soon as possible if you start coughing up blood, have trouble breathing, have a fever, or feel particularly weak or tired. In addition, you should also see your doctor if your legs begin to swell because congestive heart failure can cause reflux into the lungs leading to a chronic cough. This symptom of congestive heart failure is often confused with bronchitis.
   • See your doctor if you cough up a foul smelling discharge. This is usually caused by stomach acid that backs up into your lungs while you sleep. Your doctor will prescribe an antacid to treat this type of bronchitis.

2. 

   Talk to your doctor about antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if you suspect that bronchitis is caused by infection. Be aware that there is no evidence that antibiotics are effective in treating acute viral bronchitis.
   • Usually, doctors will not prescribe antibiotics. Bronchitis is mainly caused by viral infections, while antibiotics are only effective against infections,
   • Coughing up a lot of sputum or thick sputum can be a sign of infection. At this point, the doctor can prescribe an antibiotic. The course of treatment with antibiotics usually takes 5-10 days.

3. 

   Learn about prescription bronchodilators. This medicine is often used to treat asthma. Medication may be prescribed if bronchitis makes it difficult for you to breathe.
   • Bronchodilators are usually sold in the form of an inhaler. The medication is sprayed directly into the bronchial tube to help clear the tube and remove mucus.

4. 

   Consider ways to restore lung function. If you have chronic bronchitis, you may need long-term therapy to strengthen your lung function. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a special breathing exercise program. A respiratory specialist will personally tutor you and set up an exercise program that will gradually increase your lung capacity and help you breathe easier. advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Understanding bronchitis

1. 

   Understand bronchitis. People of any age and of any gender can get bronchitis. The disease manifests itself as bronchitis and bronchiolitis caused by infection or chemicals. It is caused by infection, viral infection or chemicals.
   • This article focuses on the more common acute bronchitis, while chronic bronchitis is a separate pathology that requires professional medical treatment. Acute bronchitis is a very common disease. In fact, most people get acute bronchitis once in their life, and most go away with proper care and at home.

2. 

   Understand how bronchitis is treated. Bronchitis usually resolves on its own and does not require antibiotic treatment, although the cough can persist for weeks. Treatment for acute bronchitis focuses on symptom relief and rest so that the body repairs itself.
   • There is no separate test for bronchitis. Doctors usually diagnose the disease based on symptoms.
   • Acute bronchitis is usually treated at home and resolves on its own, unless an additional infection or complications develops.

3. 

   Recognize the symptoms of bronchitis. People with acute bronchitis often show signs of coughing when not having other illnesses such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia or the common cold.
   • Cough due to bronchitis initially is usually dry. Then, the patient can cough up phlegm as the disease progresses. Sore throats and pneumonia can be caused by constant coughing and strong coughing to relieve irritation.
   • Besides redness of the throat (throat infection), most people have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, fever over 38 degrees Celsius and fatigue.

4. 

   Know your risk factors for bronchitis. In addition to common symptoms, there are many associated risk factors that can increase the likelihood of bronchitis, including: infants or the elderly, air pollutants, smoking or inhalation. smoke, environmental changes, chronic sinusitis, bronchopulmonary allergies, HIV infection, alcoholism, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
   • In healthy people, bronchitis is a self-limiting disease (meaning that the body can recover without any treatment). In fact, most treatment guidelines do not recommend antibiotics. If symptoms persist for more than a month and if you feel anxious, you should see your doctor for tests and / or imaging tests and professional treatment.
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Warning

• Mild bronchitis can also cause problems in older adults. This is especially true for people with other medical conditions like the flu, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or congestive heart failure.
• If young children have acute bronchitis, you should evaluate for other possible respiratory diseases. A child with recurrent bronchitis can be a sign of an underlying problem or malformation of the airways. In addition, immunodeficiency and chronic asthma should also be evaluated and reviewed by a doctor. In very young children, acute viral bronchitis (caused by the respiratory syncytial virus) can be fatal. Therefore, it's best to talk to your doctor if you suspect that your child has bronchitis.