What makes bronchitis chronic

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ferri FF. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Chronic cough. Rochester, Minn. Stoller JK, et al. Management of infection in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Tintinalli JE, et al. Acute bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections. New York, N. Acute bronchitis. American Lung Association. Gautret P, et al. Journal of Travel Medicine. Antibiotics aren't always the answer. Harris AM, et al. Appropriate antibiotic use for acute respiratory tract infection in adults: Advice for high-value care from the American College of Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Annals of Internal Medicine. Jong EC, et al. Travel with chronic medical conditions. If you have a lung infection, you may cough up more mucus. This mucus may be yellow or dark green.

You also may have a fever, and your shortness of breath may get worse. Because of the damage from chronic bronchitis, your lungs may not be able to get enough oxygen into your body. If your doctor prescribes oxygen for you, be sure to use it day and night to get the most benefit. Oxygen can help you breathe better and live longer. Exercising regularly can strengthen the muscles that help you breathe.

Try to exercise at least 3 times a week. Start by exercising slowly and for just a little while. Then slowly increase the time you exercise each day and how fast you exercise. For example, you might begin by walking slowly for 15 minutes 3 times a week. Then, as you get in better shape, you can increase your walking speed.

You can also increase the length of time you walk to 20 minutes, then 25 minutes, then 30 minutes. An exercise program called pulmonary rehabilitation may help you improve your breathing. Pulmonary rehabilitation is often given by a respiratory therapist a health care worker who knows about lung treatments.

Your doctor may refer you to the pulmonary rehabilitation program at your local hospital. Pursed-lip breathing slows down the fast breathing that often comes with chronic bronchitis. It may help you feel better. Chronic bronchitis increases your risk of lung infections, so be sure to get a flu shot every year. Also, get a pneumococcal vaccinations as directed by your doctor to help protect against pneumonia. This article was contributed by: familydoctor. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone.

Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. Acute bronchitis is a contagious viral infection that causes inflammation of the bronchial tubes the airways that carry air…. Visit The Symptom Checker. Food Poisoning. Acute Bronchitis. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Bursitis of the Hip. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. High Blood Pressure. Home Diseases and Conditions Chronic Bronchitis. Table of Contents. Chronic Cough. Allergies can cause a type of chronic bronchitis called allergic bronchitis, which is part of COPD.

Learn more about this condition. Learn about tracheobronchitis and how it differs from other types of bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is a form of COPD. It may be caused by smoking and other exposure to chemicals. We explain the risks, diagnosis, treatment, and…. For people with COPD, the tripod position helps to lower your diaphragm and open your lung space.

This position may help to decrease shortness of…. Impaired gas exchange in COPD can cause symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, and fatigue. It also leads to hypoxemia and hypercapnia. Pleurisy is inflammation in the pleura of the lungs that can be accompanied by pain.

In some cases, it can evolve into pleural effusion, which is when…. Smoking is the leading cause of emphysema, a disease of the lungs that makes it hard to breathe.

Learn more about how emphysema affects you and how…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Understanding Chronic Bronchitis.

Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. What Is Chronic Bronchitis? What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis? What Causes Chronic Bronchitis? How Is Chronic Bronchitis Diagnosed? How Is Chronic Bronchitis Treated? Read this next. Emphysema vs. Chronic Bronchitis: Is There a Difference? Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M.