Chronic bronchitis is a prolonged problem occurring from inflammation of bronchi, which results to increased formation of mucous blocking the airflow into the respiratory system. To be labeled chronic bronchitis certain fixed criteria have to be adhered to these are:
-For two years consecutively cough with expectoration for at least of a time frame exceeding three months.
-Other lung pathologies must have been ruled out.
The most common problem that a patient is affected with is the shortness of breath so much so that it affects day to day activities.
One of the major factors causing chronic bronchitis is smoking, and smokers have a high incidence of the same. In the early stages of the disease, the patient suffers from severe cough in early hours of the day, but as the pathology of the condition changes chronic is afflicted with continued bouts of cough with expectoration of mucus. This occurrence commonly] is known as smokers cough.
In the inchoate periods of the condition the broader air ducts are affected, but in time even the smaller air ducts are affected. As the chronic bronchitis reaches this stage the sufferer's VP ratio (ventilation perfusion ratio) balance is affected i.e the ratio between inspiration and expiration. The results of this abnormal VP ratio lead to various problems like decreased amount of dissolved oxygen in blood or hypoxemia causing further complications like increased effort of breathing which if not checked eventually leads to cor pulmonale.
When compared to acute bronchitis chronic bronchitis as the name suggests is a grave condition, the patients suffering from acute bronchitis managed with antihistamines and antibiotics but the same cannot be said chronic bronchitis because of increased chances of reoccurring bacterial and fungal infections.
Hence the patients affected by chronic bronchitis are advised to take care of themselves and inform about the minutest of difficulties and get admitted into the intensive care units of hospitals till the condition improves.
As the disease progresses there is decreased ciliary movement hence the difficulty in coughing out the mucous, this coupled with swelling of bronchi leads to decreased protection against air borne and droplet infections.
Chronic bronchitis is a difficult condition often occurring in tandem with other respiratory ailments like emphysema and asthma. And in later stages of chronic bronchitis coupled with emphysema there is an overall decrease in the dead space volume and the condition may manifest blue bloaters in which the whole skin has a bluish tinge or cyanosis for want of oxygen.
Chronic bronchitis as a disease grows slowly but unfortunately it has no cure and the only treatments are directed in direction of mollifying of presenting complications.
-For two years consecutively cough with expectoration for at least of a time frame exceeding three months.
-Other lung pathologies must have been ruled out.
The most common problem that a patient is affected with is the shortness of breath so much so that it affects day to day activities.
One of the major factors causing chronic bronchitis is smoking, and smokers have a high incidence of the same. In the early stages of the disease, the patient suffers from severe cough in early hours of the day, but as the pathology of the condition changes chronic is afflicted with continued bouts of cough with expectoration of mucus. This occurrence commonly] is known as smokers cough.
In the inchoate periods of the condition the broader air ducts are affected, but in time even the smaller air ducts are affected. As the chronic bronchitis reaches this stage the sufferer's VP ratio (ventilation perfusion ratio) balance is affected i.e the ratio between inspiration and expiration. The results of this abnormal VP ratio lead to various problems like decreased amount of dissolved oxygen in blood or hypoxemia causing further complications like increased effort of breathing which if not checked eventually leads to cor pulmonale.
When compared to acute bronchitis chronic bronchitis as the name suggests is a grave condition, the patients suffering from acute bronchitis managed with antihistamines and antibiotics but the same cannot be said chronic bronchitis because of increased chances of reoccurring bacterial and fungal infections.
Hence the patients affected by chronic bronchitis are advised to take care of themselves and inform about the minutest of difficulties and get admitted into the intensive care units of hospitals till the condition improves.
As the disease progresses there is decreased ciliary movement hence the difficulty in coughing out the mucous, this coupled with swelling of bronchi leads to decreased protection against air borne and droplet infections.
Chronic bronchitis is a difficult condition often occurring in tandem with other respiratory ailments like emphysema and asthma. And in later stages of chronic bronchitis coupled with emphysema there is an overall decrease in the dead space volume and the condition may manifest blue bloaters in which the whole skin has a bluish tinge or cyanosis for want of oxygen.
Chronic bronchitis as a disease grows slowly but unfortunately it has no cure and the only treatments are directed in direction of mollifying of presenting complications.
About the Author:
To grab a copy of Amy's Free Chronic Bronchitis eBook, and read more articles related to The Definition of Chronic Bronchitis, please click here to visit her chronic bronchitis website.
No comments:
Post a Comment