Chronic Bronchitis: Symptoms of Bronchitis
by ronaldr » Thu Sep 29, 2016 6:43 am

Chronic Bronchitis - Symptoms of Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a disease that occurs on the respiratory system wherein inflammation is experienced by the mucous membrane of the bronchial passages of the lungs. This irritation could cause thickness and swelling thus narrowing the tiny airways that can be found in the lungs. As a result, spells of coughing will be experienced by the patient accompanied by breathlessness and thick phlegm, which are also considered as among the symptoms of bronchitis.

One of main symptoms of bronchitis, as mentioned earlier, is a cough that is accompanied with green or yellowish-gray sputum or mucus. Although the presence of mucus is not unusual as it is normal for one's airways to secrete mucus every day, this doesn't usually accumulate. This is because these secretions are cleared continuously in one's throat and are just swallowed along with the saliva. However, when the bronchial tubes or the lung's main passageways for air get inflamed, large quantities of discolored mucus are usually produced and these are coughed up during coughing spells. If after three months, this symptom is still being experienced by a patient, then he or she already has a case of chronic bronchitis. Secondary infection is always looked into if there is mucus present that is not clear or is not white in color. It is with much interest that we got about to write on Bronchitis Acute. So we do hope that you too read this article with the same, if not more interest!

There are actually two types of bronchitis and these are the acute bronchitis, which could last not more than 6 weeks and the chronic bronchitis, which reoccurs quite often in the span of two years or more. Aside from this, there is also another form of this respiratory disease, which is known as the asthmatic bronchitis that happens to people who already have asthma. A rolling stone gathers no moss. So if I just go on writing, and you don't understand, then it is of no use of me writing about Bronchitis! Whatever written should be understandable by the reader.

There are also other symptoms of bronchitis that could accompany the coughing bouts and mucus. This is because it is common for acute bronchitis to be accompanied by the usual signs that are usually apparent in an infection on the upper respiratory tract. These include sore throat, chills and slight fever, breathlessness, soreness and a constricting burning feeling in the chest, wheezing, chest congestion, overall malaise and fullness of the sinus cavities. We were actually wondering how to get about to writing about Acute Bronchitis. However once we started writing, the words just seemed to flow continuously!

However, the symptoms of bronchitis are really quite deceptive in nature. This is because there are cases of bronchitis wherein the presence of mucus is not there. This is especially hard in children, who oftentimes get to swallow the mucus that they coughed up, thus masking the presence of a possible secondary infection. There are even many smokers who have does the throat-clearing habit during mornings, immediately after they get out of bed. While they might think that this is just normal, it could actually be a symptom of bronchitis. If this clearing of throat goes on even after three months have already passed, then this could already be chronic bronchitis.

Chronic Bronchitis is a Very Common Respiratory Illness

Around 12 million people in the United States are diagnosed with chronic bronchitis each year. Chronic bronchitis is considered to be the most common illness among the chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Chronic bronchitis has a high incidence in smokers and people with respiratory conditions like asthma or sinusitis are also very exposed to developing chronic bronchitis in time. In some cases, patients with complicated acute bronchitis can develop chronic bronchitis too.

People with chronic bronchitis need long-term medical treatment in order to completely overcome the illness. Antibiotics are the most common form of medicines prescribed in the treatment for chronic bronchitis and despite their efficiency in fighting malign bacteria responsible for causing chronic bronchitis, they also destroy internal benign bacteria that are part of the immune system. Such medical treatments with antibiotics can weaken the organism in time, making it more vulnerable to other infections. Chronic bronchitis medical treatments also include medicines for decongesting the airways clogged with mucus. Bronchodilators such as albuterol and ipratropium are inhaled medicines that eliminate excess mucus that causes obstruction of the respiratory tract and difficulty breathing. Chronic bronchitis treatments can also include steroids in order to strengthen the body defenses against bacteria and viruses.

Chronic bronchitis is a persistent respiratory illness and it also has a recidivating character. The symptoms of chronic bronchitis are usually not intense, but they reoccur on a regular time basis. While acute bronchitis usually clears on itself within a few days, chronic bronchitis can last for months. Chronic bronchitis is an infectious disease and needs ongoing medical treatment with antibiotics. If the medical treatment is prematurely interrupted, the illness reoccurs and can lead to complications. Dwelving into the interiors of Asthmatic Bronchitis has led us to all this information here on Asthmatic Bronchitis. Pediatric bronchitis diagnosis have a lot to tell!Dwelving into the interiors of Asthmatic Bronchitis has led us to all this information here on Asthmatic Bronchitis. Asthmatic Bronchitis do indeed have a lot to tell!

Bronchitis causes inflammation and sometimes viral or bacterial infection of the mucous membrane, bronchial tubes and other organs and tissues involved in the process of breathing. The respiratory system has many natural defenses (nostril hairs, cilia, mucus) against external irritants (airborne viruses, dust particles, chemicals, pollen). However, constant exposure to these external agents can sometimes enable airborne viruses to penetrate the natural barriers of the respiratory tract, causing inflammation and infection. When external irritants reach inside the lungs, there is a high risk of complication (pneumonia). When the bronchial tubes become inflamed and irritated, they produce a surplus of mucus which clogs the airways and prevents the normal airflow.

Chronic bronchitis is very common in smokers and people with weak immune system. Inappropriate diet, lack of sleep, stress and exposure to chemicals and pollutants all contribute to the development of chronic bronchitis. Smoking facilitates the development of chronic bronchitis by sustaining the proliferation of bacteria and by slowing the normal process of healing. Smoking can cause serious, permanent damage to the respiratory system.

Is quite common for cats to present to veterinary clinics with a chronic cough or wheeze. The problem may be constant or just recur from time to time, and can range from mild to severe. Clinically the disease may resemble human asthma, but the term feline asthma can be misleading as there are a number of different possible causes. Here we look at what those underlying causes can be, and the different forms of treatment available to affected cats. :oops:

Bronchodilator drugs used in inhalers include Salbutamol and Salmeterol. Salbutamol is very fast acting and therefore useful in a crisis caused by spasm of the bronchi. However, it only lasts for about 30 minutes and is therefore unsuitable for chronic therapy as frequent dosing is required. Salmeterol on the other hand is longer acting, and lasts for about 12 hours so twice daily dosing is possible. Salmeterol is better for long term control of mild to moderate asthma while Salbutamol is better for relief of acute bronchospasm.

Bronchitis or Pneumonia; How to Tell the Difference

Lung Biopsy

This is an invasive procedure that carries a significant risk to the patient. It is only indicated where diffuse cancer or extensive fibrosis is suspected, or in severe disease that responds poorly to treatment. It is only if you find some usage for the matter described here on Chronic Bronchitis that we will feel the efforts put in writing on Chronic Bronchitis fruitful. So make good usage of it!

Remove or Avoid Airway Irritants

The most obvious one is ensuring the cat has no contact with cigarette smoke, and purchasing dust free cat litter. We do hope that you find the information here something worth recommending others to read and think about once you complete reading all there is about Bronchitis.

Bronchoscopy Bronchoscopy allows visualization of the larger airways, and assessment for increased mucus and inflammation. 4. Tracheal wash This involves injecting a small amount of saline into the trachea and immediately withdrawing it, and then examining the cells and debris harvested under a microscope.

Spacer Devices

A spacer device consists of a chamber into which the aerosol drug is released at one end, with a mask at the other end which fits snugly over the cats mouth and nose. Human baby spacer devices (e.g. Babyhaler) can be easily adapted for cats. Alternatively, veterinary spacers specifically designed for cats are now on the market (e.g. Aerokat). The spacer should be held over the cats nose and mouth for about 30 seconds to ensure complete delivery of the drugs. It should be remembered that aerosol steroid therapy can take up to 2 weeks to reach full effect, and if the cat has been on oral steroids previously, these should be phased out slowly during these initial 2 weeks.

Pulmonary Edema

Often due to severe heart disease.Infectious bronchitis. This can be due to bacteria, viruses or parasites.Pleural disease. Filling of the space between the lung and the chest wall with air or an effusion.Cancer. This can be a primary lung tumor or metastatic spread.Potassium bromide induced respiratory disease. A side effect from an anti-epileptic drug.Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Responds poorly to treatment.Pulmonary thromboembolus. Lodging of a clot in a respiratory blood vessel causing sudden onset breathing difficulty.Pulmonary hypertension. Usually secondary to other heart or respiratory disease. Looking for something logical on Infectious Bronchitis, we stumbled on the information provided here. Look out for anything illogical here. :shock:

Removal or Avoidance of Potential Allergens

House dust mite allergy must be excluded by spraying the house with an acaricidal product. 4. Chronic therapy for the underlying condition. For long term treatment of cats with feline asthma, a combination of steroids and bronchodilators are a popular choice. Steroids reduce the inflammation and lower mucus production, and can limit long term consequences such as fibrosis. Bronchodilators are most useful when there is airway spasm. Traditionally, medication has been given orally via tablets, but over the last few years, metered dose inhalers such as the ones used for human asthma have come on the market. What we have written here about Chronic Bronchitis can be considered to be a unique composition on Chronic Bronchitis. Let's hope you appreciate it being unique.

Aerosol therapy has the advantage that the maximum concentration of drug is delivered to the target site. This means that lower overall doses can be used, and the cat is less likely to suffer the negative side effects of steroids. Various inhalers can be used in both cats and dogs, but they tend to be designed for humans. As a result, higher doses are given compared with human medicine, as humans can be instructed to breathe deeply whereas cats will breathe normally at best. So after reading what we have mentioned here on Infectious Bronchitis, it is up to you to provide your verdict as to what exactly it is that you find fascinating here.

Glucocorticoid drugs (steroids) used in inhalers include Beclometasone, Fluticasone and Budesonide. Beclometasone is cheap, but is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream when you want it to hang around in the area where it applied. Fluticasone is more expensive, but tends to stay where you want it to. Budesonide is relatively inexpensive and though it is easily absorbed into the bloodstream, it tends to be removed the first time it goes through the liver. Writing on Bronchitis proved to be a gamble to us. This is because there simply seemed to be nothing to write about in the beginning of writing. It was only in the process of writing did we get more and more to write on Bronchitis.

To return to the comparison with human asthma, when trying to understand the underlying causes it is important to differentiate between asthma (constriction of the bronchi), chronic bronchitis (oversecretion of mucus with a chronic cough) and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Asthma is reversible bronchial constriction caused by eosinophil cells, whereas COPD is irreversible bronchial constriction involving neutrophil cells.

Causes and Risk Factors of Bronchitis

Cats Usually Present With One or All the Following Signs:

CoughingWheezingDifficulty breathing A minority of cases will have the classic human status asthmaticus, rapid onset breathing difficulty due to severe narrowing of the bronchi. Cats tend to be middle aged or older, and Siamese cats may be more prone than other breeds.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage

This is similar to the technique described above, but the catheter is inserted all the way into a lower airway before the saline is injected and withdrawn. This is therefore a good test for lower airway disease. There are universal applications on Bronchitis everywhere. However, it is up to us to decide the way used for these applications to get the best results from them.

Diagnosis 1. Clinical examination The first step in the diagnostic protocol is a thorough clinical examination by a veterinarian. This should localize the origin of the disease to the upper airways, lower airways or pleural space. If the cat is found to have pleural disease, a needle may be inserted straight away to remove either air or a sample of the effusion for both diagnosis and short term treatment of the respiratory distress.

The Differentials There are a large number of possible diagnoses when a cat first presents with coughing or breathing difficulty.
Here are some of the more important ones:

Treatment Lifelong?

Generally yes. Doses can often be reduced gradually once clinical remission has been achieved. As with many chronic conditions, complete control might not always be possible and an acceptable quality of life is the main aim of the treatment. There are many varieties of Infectious Bronchitis found today. However, we have stuck to the description of only one variety to prevent confusion!

The Seretide Evohaler is useful for cats requiring both steroid and bronchodilator therapy.
It contains salbutamol and fluticasone, a combination allowing minimal dosing frequency.

The Pathology

Little is known about the underlying causes or exacerbating factors in feline asthma. There may be an element of genetic predisposition. While chronic inhalation of airway irritants, such as smoking, has been shown to cause bronchitis in humans, this has not been studied in detail in cats. Likewise, allergens such as pollen, housedust mites, dander, fungal spores, dust and cat litter could all be implicated theoretically.

Radiography The next test performed is usually thoracic radiography.
This is best performed under general anesthetic so there is lee chance for motion blur, though in acute situations this is not possible.
This is where the most meaningful information can be gained.
As you progress deeper and deeper into this composition on Chronic Bronchitis, you are sure to unearth more information on Chronic Bronchitis.
The information becomes more interesting as the deeper you venture into the composition.
Lobelia (officially lobelia inflata), alias Indian tobacco, was a common herb prescribed by early North American doctors.
Its main use was in healing respiratory ailments, such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and coughs.
The plant stem, which has only a few branches, is smooth above while the lower part is rough and hairy.
The lower leaves, which are about two inches in length, have stalks, while the upper, smaller ones do not.
The pale green or yellowish leaves have a sharp taste and a slightly irritating odor.
The sparse flowers are pale violet-blue outside and pale yellow inside.
Lobelia consists of various alkaloids, a bitter glycoside (lobelacrin), a pungent volatile oil (lobelianin), resin, gum, chelidonic acid and fats.
The alkaloid lobeline is its main ingredient and namesake.
Others include lobelidine, lobelanine, nor-lobelaine, lobelanidine, nor-lobelanidine, and isolobenine, as well as fourteen pyridine alkaloids.
We consider that we have only touched the perimeter of information available on Bronchitis Pneumonia.
There is still a lot more to be learnt!

Use Lobelia to Treat Laryngitis in Children and for Barking Coughs

Ellingwood recommended lobelia for the following pathologies: "spasmodic asthma, spasmodic croup, membranous croup, infantile convulsions, whooping cough, puerperal eclampsia, epilepsy, tetanus, hysterical paraxysms, diphtheria, hysterical convulsions, tonsillitis, pneumonia," among others.

Other Practical Ways to Use Lobelia's Qualities Include These

Rub lobelia tincture or extract on the shoulders of a restless child; this is an excellent way to help him go to sleep. Rub the extract on the gums of a teething baby. Take it internally to expel mucus, remove congestion from the stomach, and to encourage the flow of oxygenized blood. A poultice can be applied for ringworm, bruises, and insect bites. Catnip and lobelia enemas are good for treating mumps in males. As a sedative it is said to rank somewhere between veratrum and aconite. Perhaps you may not have been interested in this passage on Bronchitis Pneumonia. In that case, please don't spread this feedback around!

Lobeline works much like nicotine in its effect on the central nervous system but without the addictive properties.
In fact, it is a main ingredient of many quit smoking treatments.
Lobeline acts as a relaxant overall and is used to treat spastic colon and muscle problems.
It also dilates the bronchioles, thereby increasing respiration and helping the lungs.

Lobelia is available for internal use as a dried herb, in a liquid extract form, and as tinctures. Externally, it is available in ointments, lotions, suppositories, and plasters. You can make a tea by mixing 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of the dried herb with eight ounces of water. Then let it steep for 30 to 40 minutes. Take two ounces of this four times a day but, be warned, many think it tastes awful! Take .6 to 2 ml of the tincture each day. This is based on a 150 pound adult. Adjust dosage for children proportionately. Perfection has been achieved in this article on Asthma Bronchitis Pneumonia. There is hardly any matter left from this article that is worth mentioning.Perfection has been achieved in this article on Asthma Bronchitis Pneumonia. There is hardly any matter left from this article that is worth mentioning.

Lobelia's main use is in treating respiratory problems like bronchitis and pneumonia. It stimulates the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine, which causes the airways to relax. Lobelia is a strong relaxant and clears obstructions. It relaxes the stomach (a common problem in asthmatic children) as it dilates the bronchial passages. In fact, many people have used it to stop asthma attacks in place of inhalants.