It is usual to have one of the many respiratory illnesses that make breathing challenging when a person comes in contact with toxic substances. But not all respiratory illnesses are the same, even though they may share few symptoms.

Bronchitis is one of the few medical conditions that pose breathing challenges for people. It is a respiratory illness that involves the swelling or inflammation of the tubes that carry in oxygen and carry out carbon dioxide from your lungs.

The result of this illness is that you end up coughing with mucus in your coughs. The phlegm may be green, white, or sometimes clear.

There are two types of bronchitis; chronic and acute bronchitis. The difference between the two types is that while acute bronchitis may run its course and go away, chronic bronchitis keeps coming back.

AFC Urgent Care Hillsdale can treat symptoms of acute bronchitis and make treatment recommendations for chronic bronchitis. Our board-certified providers can help diagnose and treat your symptoms, so you’re not left with an unrelenting cough. Visit our walk-in center for care today.

Symptoms of Acute Bronchitis

Different symptoms of acute bronchitis may be experienced by people differently. However, persons infected with acute bronchitis may experience the following symptoms:

• Exhaustion
• Fever
• Cold
• A feeling of suffocation
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Coughs that have mucus in it
• Making a wheezing sound while breathing
• Chills and a general body ache

These symptoms may be confused for many other respiratory illnesses. It would help to talk to a medical expert.

Causes of Acute Bronchitis

A viral infection is the common cause of acute bronchitis. Other causes may include bacterial infections and toxic chemicals that a person inhales, such as tobacco smoke and toxic cleaning chemical compounds.

It is common to experience acute bronchitis after another viral infection in the nose, nasal passages, and larynx. People with other respiratory conditions such as chronic sinusitis and enlarged tonsils may become susceptible to acute bronchitis.

People with heart and lung diseases may find it life-threatening. It is also usual for pneumonia to follow bronchitis.

Treating Bronchitis

Many times, cases of bronchitis simply run their course and then go away. It is common for people with bronchitis to suffer symptoms for several weeks before it goes away. But treatment options for bronchitis may include:

• Antibiotics if your medical adviser suspects that the cause of the infection is bacterial. Antibiotics are great for fighting bacterial infections.

But the choice of antibiotics will depend on the observations of your medical adviser. If the cause of the bronchitis is a virus, antibiotics will not be effective for treating it.

• Staying hydrated: Drinking lots of water helps. It relaxes the congestion in the chest.

• A humidifier or steam in the house to reduce molds and other airborne allergens.

• Sufficient rest will also help.

• Pain relievers and over-the-counter medications for coughs will also help to relieve the pain.