Are you concerned that you may have bronchitis? You’re not alone. Every month tens of thousands of people search online for bronchitis related information and web sites. The key to dealing with it is to know what it is and identify the signs and symptoms of the illness.
Bronchitis occurs whenever the air passages in the lungs are blocked up by mucus buildup. This build up occurs either due to breathing in harmful elements in the air or from an invasion of viruses or bacteria. These are the 5 signs & symptoms of bronchitis.
Bronchitis comes in two forms. Knowing the difference between the two is vital in terms of treatment. They are acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis.
The first type of bronchitis is acute bronchitis. This version of bronchitis takes place as a result of bacteria or virus presence in the lungs. If you have acute bronchitis you will demonstrate symptoms for a period of days mostly, but sometimes it can extend into weeks with symptoms.
Chronic bronchitis is the more serious type of bronchitis. This is the type of bronchitis that usually results as a side effect of smoking. Unlike acute bronchitis, which usually last days or weeks, chronic bronchitis can last several months, if not even years.
The first sign of bronchitis is mucus buildup. The mucus build up causes a hacking and consistent coughing as the body attempts to force it out of the air passages so you can breath. The mucus that you force up is either a yellow color or a green color and it serves as one of the main signs that you have bronchitis.
Another symptom of bronchitis is pain in the throat as well as the chest. This pain comes from the phlegm build up and the process of forcing it up from the chest to the throat. As a result of the force up process, pain the chest and throat is experienced. It can even feel like a burning feeling sometimes as well.
If you feel that you are tired all of the time, this is another sign that you may have bronchitis. People who suffer from this illness experience difficulty in breathing, in particular when they find themselves coughing constantly.
When the body tries to force the mucus out through coughing, this causes the patient to feel tired and fatigue. This occurs as a result of the extra work that it takes to force the mucus out as well as the difficulty in breathing that forces the body to work harder to take in the necessary oxygen to function.
The fourth sign is fever. This can occur particularly is the cause of the bronchitis is as a result of a bacteria or virus buildup. The body has to raise its temperature in order to fight off the cause of the bronchitis to begin with. Sometimes the fever might even be accompanied by a wave of chills as well as a bout of fatigue
The fifth sign of bronchitis is a headache. When the body has to constantly cough, breathe harder, force out mucus and fight off fever, a headache many times is a result. This is why many people who suffer from bronchitis complain of having a headache.
As with any medical condition, you should consult a medical professional if you are experiencing these signs or symptoms. A medical professional can recommend the best approach towards treatment.