Chronic bronchitis is as known as bronchitis - chronic. It is an inflammation of the main airways in the lungs that continues for a long period or keeps coming back.

Cigarette smoking is the main cause of chronic bronchitis. The more a person smokes, the more likely it becomes that the person will get bronchitis and that the bronchitis will be severe.

Secondhand smoke may also cause chronic bronchitis. Air pollution, infection, and allergies make chronic bronchitis worse.

Chronic bronchitis is one form of chronic obstructive pulmonary (lung) disease. Chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma as a group are a leading cause of death in the United States.

Symptoms

Cough that produces mucus (sputum), which may be blood streaked
Shortness of breath aggravated by exertion or mild activity
Frequent respiratory infections that worsen symptoms
Wheezing
Fatigue
Ankle, foot, and leg swelling that affects both sides
Headaches

Exams and Tests

To be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, the cough and excessive mucus production must have occurred for 3 months or more in at least 2 consecutive years and not be due to any other disease or condition.

Tests to diagnose chronic bronchitis include:

Pulmonary function tests
Arterial blood gas
Chest x-ray
Pulse oximetry (oxygen saturation testing)
Complete blood count (CBC)
Exercise testing
Chest CT scan

Treatment

There is no cure for chronic bronchitis. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and prevent complications. It is crucial to quit smoking to prevent chronic bronchitis from getting worse. Any other respiratory irritants should be avoided.

Inhaled medications that dilate (widen) the airways and decrease inflammation may help reduce symptoms such as wheezing. Antibiotics may be prescribed for infections as needed.

Corticosteroids may occasionally be used during flare-ups of wheezing or in people with severe bronchitis that does not respond to other treatments.

Physical exercise programs, breathing exercises, and patient education programs are all part of the overall treatment plan. Oxygen therapy may be needed in severe cases. In very severe cases, a lung transplant may be recommended.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Mild or moderate cases of chronic bronchitis may often be controlled well with medicine and pulmonary rehabilitation. Advanced chronic bronchitis is more difficult to treat.

Early diagnosis and treatment and stopping smoking significantly improve the odds of a good outcome.

Possible Complications

Acute bronchitis
Pneumonia
Cor pulmonale
Emphysema
Respiratory failure
Cardiac arrhythmia

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if respiratory infection or unexplained symptoms develop, or you are short of breath, wheezing, or coughing up blood.

Prevention

Early recognition and treatment may prevent the progression of the disease in people who also stop smoking.

Chronic bronchitis is present when the inflammation and the thickening of the bronchial tubes are permanent. The common symptoms of chronic bronchitis are shortness of breath and continuous coughing with large amounts of mucus.

A patient is considered to have chronic bronchitis if he had cough in most days for a minimum of three months in two consecutive years.

This is a continuous serious disease that generally affects smokers. But aside from tobacco smoke, environmental factors are also contributory factors in developing chronic bronchitis.

Industrial bronchitis can also happen in the presence of fumes or acids in the workplace.

Risk Factors for Chronic Bronchitis

A person who smoke or live with smoker is in greater risk of developing chronic and acute bronchitis. Those children who also live with family members who regularly smoke are also more prone to develop bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia and colds.

Other factors that also increase the risk of bronchitis are:

GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. The acids that come from the stomach can have a reflux to the esophagus causing it to produce chronic cough.
Vulnerability to infection. Your immune system can be vulnerable to infection like colds and cough if you have other illnesses that affect the immune system.
Constant Exposure to irritants. Irritants that are most common in your work can increase your risk of developing bronchitis. Irritants like acids and chlorine is better avoided.