Some people with chronic bronchitis get frequent respiratory infections such as colds and the flu. In severe cases, chronic bronchitis can cause weight loss, weakness in your lower muscles, and swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs. There is no cure for chronic bronchitis. However, treatments can help with symptoms, slow the progress of the disease, and improve your ability to stay active. There are also treatments to prevent or treat complications of the disease.
Treatments include. If you have chronic bronchitis, it's important to know when and where to get help for your symptoms. You should get emergency care if you have severe symptoms, such as trouble catching your breath or talking. Call your health care provider if your symptoms are getting worse or if you have signs of an infection, such as a fever. Since smoking causes most cases of chronic bronchitis, the best way to prevent it is to not smoke.
It's also important to try to avoid lung irritants such as secondhand smoke, air pollution, chemical fumes, and dusts. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
Chronic Bronchitis. See, Play and Learn No links available. Resources Reference Desk Find an Expert. For You Children Patient Handouts. What is chronic bronchitis? What causes chronic bronchitis? Who is at risk for chronic bronchitis? The risk factors for chronic bronchitis include Smoking. This the main risk factor. Long-term exposure to other lung irritants , such as secondhand smoke, air pollution, and chemical fumes and dusts from the environment or workplace. Most people who have chronic bronchitis are at least 40 years old when their symptoms begin.
Diagnosis is based on symptoms, a physical exam, and diagnostic test results. During the physical exam, your doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your lungs as you breathe.
Based on all this information, your doctor may order some of these tests to get a more complete picture:. These tests can help determine if you have COPD or a different condition, such as asthma , a restrictive lung disease, or heart failure.
Learn more about how COPD is diagnosed. Treatment can ease symptoms, prevent complications, and generally slow disease progression. Your healthcare team may include a lung specialist pulmonologist and physical and respiratory therapists.
If your blood oxygen level is too low, you can receive supplemental oxygen through a mask or nasal cannula to help you breathe better. A portable unit can make it easier to get around. Surgery is reserved for severe COPD or when other treatments have failed, which is more likely when you have a form of severe emphysema.
One type of surgery is called bullectomy. During this procedure, surgeons remove large, abnormal air spaces bullae from the lungs. Another is lung volume reduction surgery, which removes damaged upper lung tissue. Lung volume reduction surgery can be effective at improving breathing, but few patients undergo this major, somewhat risky procedure.
Lung transplantation is an option in some cases. Lung transplantation can effectively cure COPD, but has its many risks. There is a less invasive method of improving the efficiency of airflow in people with severe emphysema called endobronchial valves EBV , which are one-way valves that divert inspired air to healthy lungs and away from non-functioning, damaged lungs. In , an EBV device called the Zephyr Endobronchial Valve was approved by the FDA and has been shown to improve lung function, exercise capacity and quality of life for patients living with emphysema.
Learn more about the different treatment options for COPD. Medications can reduce symptoms and cut down on flare-ups. It may take some trial and error to find the medication and dosage that works best for you, but these are some of your options:. Medicines called bronchodilators help loosen tight muscles in your airways. Short-acting bronchodilators last from 4 to 6 hours.
You only use them when you need them. For ongoing symptoms, there are long-acting versions you can use every day. They last about 12 hours. These bronchodilators work by relaxing tightened muscles in the airways, which widens your airways for better air passage.
They also help your body clear mucus from the lungs. These two types of bronchodilators can be taken in combination by inhaler or with a nebulizer. Long-acting bronchodilators are commonly combined with inhaled glucocorticosteroids.
A glucocorticosteroid can reduce inflammation in the airways and lower mucus production. The long-acting bronchodilator can relax the airway muscle to help the airways stay wider. Corticosteroids are also available in pill form.
This type of medication can be taken in pill form to help reduce inflammation and relax the airways. This medication eases chest tightness and shortness of breath. It may also help prevent flare-ups. Theophylline is an older medication that relaxes the muscle of the airways, and it may cause side effects.
To lower risk of other respiratory infections, ask your doctor if you should get a yearly flu shot, pneumococcal vaccine , and a tetanus booster that includes protection from pertussis whooping cough. Learn more about the drugs and medications used to treat COPD. Also, remember to go easy on the salt. It causes the body to retain water, which can strain breathing. Drink plenty of fluids.
Drinking at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeinated liquids a day can help keep mucus thinner. This may make the mucus easier to cough out. Limit caffeinated beverages because they can interfere with medications. If you have heart problems, you may need to drink less, so talk to your doctor.
Maintaining a healthy weight is important. It takes more energy to breathe when you have COPD, so you might need to take in more calories. Overall, having COPD weakens your immune system and decreases your ability to fight off infection.
Here are some steps you can take to help prevent complications associated with COPD :. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Emphysema Open pop-up dialog box Close. Emphysema In emphysema, the inner walls of the lungs' air sacs alveoli are damaged, causing them to eventually rupture. Bronchitis Open pop-up dialog box Close.
Bronchitis Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references COPD. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Accessed May 28, Labarca G, et al. Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with endobronchial Zephyr Valves for severe emphysema: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Breo Ellipta prescribing information. GlaxoSmithKline; Ferri FF. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Elsevier; Accessed March 10, Qaseem A, et al.
Diagnosis and management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Annals of Internal Medicine. Wedzicha JA, et al. European Respiratory Journal. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COPD lifestyle changes. American Lung Association. Jameson JL, et al. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. The McGraw-Hill Companies; Ramaswamy A, et al.
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