Symptoms Of Bronchitis

Many individuals associate having bronchitis with having a nasty cough. While this is undoubtedly true, many other potentially severe symptoms go along with this illness. The bronchial tubes are responsible for transporting air to and from the lungs, and when these tubes become inflamed or irritated, bronchitis develops. The tubes swell, making it difficult for the lungs to get oxygen. When someone has bronchitis, it is either acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis is quite common and often shows up right after a cold or flu. Chronic bronchitis, however, results after repeated irritation to the lungs and is most often seen in smokers. Many of the symptoms of acute bronchitis usually go away on their own in seven to ten days.

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A Productive Cough

In the beginning, patients may have a dry cough, but this will change into a wet cough within a few days. When a cough is caused by bronchitis, it almost always results in the patient hacking up yellow or green phlegm. This is why patients are considered to have a productive cough. Yellow and green mucus indicates bronchitis is the result of a bacterial infection. The mucus patients cough up could also be clear, white, grey, and rarely, stained with blood. The variety is due to the fact bronchitis can be bacterial or viral. Even after the rest of the symptoms have cleared up, patients may have a lingering cough that refuses to go away for many weeks. If a cough lasts a minimum of three months and the condition pops up at least two years in a row, patients would likely be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis.

Learn about the next symptom of bronchitis now.