What’s the Outlook of Bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis isn’t usually a concern. Although frustrating, you’ll generally need to deal with the symptoms for a few weeks. However, if you suffer from an existing heart condition or another respiratory ailment, such as asthma, it can worsen the symptoms.
Contrastingly, chronic bronchitis is a more serious health condition. If you suffer from this, it directly translates to lung damage. Unfortunately, this damage is often irreversible. Chronic bronchitis develops slowly as a non-infectious, non-communicable disease. It usually results from prolonged exposure, especially to cigarette smoke, which initiates and sustains chronic airway inflammation.
Chronic bronchitis is also likely to be present in people who have initial problems with their lungs. A few examples of these underlying lung diseases include:
- Asthma
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Emphysema
- Tuberculosis
- Lung scarring
It is possible to acquire a secondary infection from a bacteria or virus when you suffer from chronic bronchitis because the condition weakens your immune system and makes you more susceptible to such infections. In this scenario, the pathogen responsible for the acute infection might be infectious to others. Nonetheless, your healthcare provider can assist you in symptom management, reducing the frequency of flare-ups, and improving your overall quality of life.
Is Bronchitis Contagious?
Bronchitis, a more serious condition than the common cold, often leads to relentless coughing, resulting in discomfort even in the rib area, along with sore throats, yellowish mucus, and other cold-like afflictions.
Similar to the common cold, acute bronchitis is contagious, but how long should you stay away from school, work, or social activities when you’re dealing with bronchitis? This blog will equip you with the ins and outs of bronchitis and the knowledge to identify its symptoms.
Table of Content
- What Are the Types of Bronchitis?
- Who Does Bronchitis Affect?
- How Does Bronchitis Affect My Body?
- What Are the Symptoms of Bronchitis?
- What Causes Bronchitis?
- Is Bronchitis Contagious?
- Is Bronchitis a Side-effect of COVID-19?
- How Is Bronchitis Diagnosed?
- What Tests Will Be Done to Diagnose This Condition?
- How Is Bronchitis Treated?
- What Medications Are Used to Treat Bronchitis?
- Should I Take Antibiotics for Bronchitis?
- How Do I Manage the Symptoms of Bronchitis?
- How Long Are You Contagious If You Have Acute Bronchitis?
- How Can I Reduce My Risk of Bronchitis?
- What’s the Outlook of Bronchitis?
- Can Bronchitis Go Away on Its Own?
- How Long Does It Take to Get Over Bronchitis?
- How Do I Take Care of Myself?
- When Should I See My Healthcare Provider About Bronchitis?
- What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor?