Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes. These tubes carry air to your lungs. Bronchitis is of two types- acute and chronic bronchitis. Acute bronchitis lasts for five or more days whereas chronic bronchitis lasts for at least 3 months to 2 years in a row. The most common way to get acute bronchitis is a viral infection. Other sources of getting infection include smoke, air pollution and chemicals present in the air that you breathe.
Is bronchitis contagious? The answer is yes. Bronchitis is contagious. It is easily transferable from an infected person to a healthy person. Bronchitis causes a cough which brings up mucus from the chest. There is also shortness of breath accompanied by a low fever and chest congestion.
Here, we'll discuss the common signs and symptoms of bronchitis. Also, how you can treat bronchitis.
Bronchitis Symptoms
If you have a cold or flu, chances of developing acute bronchitis are increased. The symptoms include:
#1. A sore throat: A sore throat is the first bronchitis symptom. Drinking very cold fluids or having flu contribute towards a sore throat.
#2. Fever: Sometimes in bronchitis, coughing is accompanied by a slight fever. It is a result of the body fighting off the virus. Fever is considered to be another bronchitis symptom.
#. Shortness Of Breath: The chest becomes congested and the bronchial tubes become stiff. This results in shortness of breath. This is a major bronchitis symptom.
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#3. Chills: When you have a fever, you might get chills. With the onset of bronchitis, chances are you might get frequent chills because of the fever. Chills are another bronchitis symptom.
#4. Body Aches: During this phase, your body is trying very hard to get rid of the onset of the virus. This results in muscle stiffness and causes body aches. Body aches occur due to stiffness in muscles and fatigue. This is also considered to be bronchitis symptom.
#5. Chest Congestion: There is a presence of mucus in the lungs. This becomes a huge bronchitis symptom. Due to this, the chest becomes congested and there is shortness of breath.
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Causes Of Bronchitis
The primary cause of bronchitis is viruses. These viruses attack the lining of the bronchial tree. This causes inflammation. If you come in contact with a person who has this virus, you too can get infected. The viruses that cause colds are also responsible for acute bronchitis. Once your body starts fighting off this virus, swelling and mucus occur. The healing takes time because the killing of the germs and virus is a long process. If you are exposed to smoke or polluted air, dust, fumes, etc. these can also cause acute bronchitis. If your bronchial tree is already damaged, you are at a bigger risk of catching the infection.
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Treatment For Bronchitis
There are many home remedies available that help in the treatment of bronchitis. For example:
#1. Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water and fluids.
#2. Stay in a clean and dry place. Avoid areas where there is polluted air.
#3. Do not consume any dairy products. They thicken the mucus secretions.
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#4. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. A combination of drugs and alcohol can be fatal.
#5. Have warm liquids like tea with cinnamon and ginger. It is highly effective in curing bronchitis.
#6. Visit your doctor if these home remedies don’t provide relief. They will prescribe you medicines and over the counter cough suppressants. This will help reduce the coughing symptoms.
These were the causes and symptoms of bronchitis and how you can diagnose them using easy treatments. Let us know in the comments section below what remedies you follow in case of bronchitis.
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