Athens, GA Acute Bronchitis
What is acute bronchitis?
Bronchitis occurs when the air passages between your windpipe and your lungs get swollen and irritated.
How does it happen?
Acute bronchitis is most often caused by a virus, like the common cold or the flu. It can also be caused by bacteria.
Most of the time, it clears up in a few days. It may take you longer to get better if:
- You smoke cigarettes.
- You have a heart or lung disease.
- You live in an area where air pollution is a problem.
- You have any other chronic health problems.
What are the symptoms?
- A deep cough with yellowish or greenish phlegm.
- Pain in your chest when you breathe deeply or cough.
- Wheezing or feeling short of breath.
- Fever and/or chills.
How do I know if I have it?
Your healthcare provider will elicit your history and perform a physical exam. Also, you may have a chest X-ray or other tests.
How can I take care of myself?
Resting at home and drinking plenty of fluids to keep the mucus loose may be all you need to do to get better in a few days. If your symptoms are severe or you have other health problems (such as heart or lung disease or diabetes), you may need to take antibiotics.
You should also:
- Stop smoking if you smoke.
- Avoid smoky places.
You may want to ask your healthcare provider about taking medicine for your cough or fever.
Seek immediate care if you experience:
- You have trouble breathing
- You have a fever higher than 101.5°F (38.6°C)
- You cough up blood
- You are feeling worse or are not any better after 2 days
How can I help prevent acute bronchitis?
You can lower your chances of getting bronchitis by not smoking and avoiding common viral respiratory infections by frequent handwashing and good hygiene.
Source: https://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/acute-bronchitis/
Acute Bronchitis in Athens, Georgia