Bronchitis refers to the inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the bronchial tubes within the lungs. Bronchitis may be acute or chronic. In chronic cases, the disease is of long duration and more serious.
Bronchitis may be defined as a distressing and often serious type of inflammation affecting the windpipe, or bronchial tubes, in the chest. There are two types of bronchitis:
1. Acute Bronchitis
2. Chronic Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis: In acute bronchitis the larynx, trachea and bronchial tubes are acutely inflamed. The tissues are swollen because of irritation; large amount of mucus is secreted and poured into the bronchial tubes to protect the inflamed mucous membrane. Unless this thick, sticky material is removed, it may obstruct the windpipe, causing more severe diseases like atelactasis and pneumonia. The common cold is probably the most frequent cause of acute bronchitis.
During the acute stage of bronchitis there is usually a high fever and some difficulty in breathing. There is a constant cough. Hoarseness may also be present and some pain in the chest. Difficulty in breathing continues until the inflammation has decreased. And thick secretions have removed. Chilliness is present with internal coldness, also cold hands and feet, rawness beneath the sternum, some tightness and oppression of the chest, cough may be dry, hard, ringing, expulsive, paroxysmal, tearing which leaves great soreness under the sternum. After few days the cough, which was at first dry, becomes moist and is accompanied by slight expectoration of mucus and occasionally some blood. As the amount of expectoration increases all the other symptoms decreases, and then in turn abnormal secretion and expectoration also decreases at the end of 7 to 10 days.
Chronic bronchitis: It is of long duration. This condition arises from sinusitis, nasal drip, or infected tonsils and adenoids. In chronic bronchitis permanent change may have occurred in the lungs such as pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema and other serious complications.
Normally the lurngs are very elastic and flexible. It is their function to expand and contract within the chest as we breathe in and out. Any chronic inflammation of the lungs, such as fibrosis or scarring, interferes with the normal movement of the lungs so that the air cannot be inhaled and exhaled freely. In asthmatic patients and those suffering from tuberculosis or congestive heart failure the situation becomes worse. Severe coughing may produce blood as well as copious mucus filled with pus and bacteria. This will lead to Bronchopneumonia a more serious condition.
Those who suffer from chronic bronchitis should stop smoking and remain in a smoke free atmosphere as much as possible. Such patients should avoid heavy exercise. They should adopt the occupations that do not require heavy breathing. As far as possible they should avoid cold draughts of air for these always bring on a paroxysm of coughing. The patient should follow a good, well balanced diet and take extra vitamins to aid in the healing of the inflamed tissues.
Bronchitis Symptoms
Inflammation in the bronchi
Due to inflammation in the bronchi, large quantities of mucus are secreted and expelled as phlegm. This phlegm is sticky, semi-fluid and may even be purulent.
The patient suffers from fever, experiences some difficulty in breathing, and has a cough.
Hoarseness, pain in chest and loss of appetite
Other symptoms are hoarseness, pain in the chest and loss of appetite.
Causes of Bronchitis
Smoking
An important cause of bronchitis is smoking. Excessive smoking irritates the bronchial tubes and lowers their resistance, so that they become vulnerable to germs breathed in from the atmosphere.
Working in a stuff atmosphere, use of drugs and heredity
Other causes are living or working in a stuffy atmosphere, use of drugs to suppress earlier diseases, and hereditary factors.
Weather changes
Changes in weather and environment hasten the onset of the disease.
Home Remedies for Bronchitis
Bronchitis treatment using Turmeric
One of the most effective home remedies for bronchitis is the use of turmeric powder. Half a teaspoon of this powder should be administered with half a glass of milk, two or three times daily. It acts best when taken on an empty stomach.
Bronchitis treatment using Ginger
Another effective remedy for bronchitis is a mixture comprising of half a teaspoon each of the powder of ginger, pepper, and cloves, three times a day. It may be licked with honey or taken as an infusion with tea. The mixture of these three ingredients has also antipyretic qualities and is effective in reducing fever accompanying bronchitis. It also tones up the metabolism of the patient.
Bronchitis treatment using Onion
Onions have been used as a remedy for bronchitis for centuries. They are said to possess expectorant properties. They liquefy phlegm and prevent its further formation. One teaspoon of raw onion juice, first thing in the morning, is very beneficial in such cases.
Bronchitis treatment using Spinach
Fifty grams of fresh leaves of spinach, and 250 ml of water should be mixed with a pinch of ammonium chloride and one teaspoonful of honey. This infusion is an effective expectorant in the treatment of bronchitis.
Bronchitis treatment using Sesame Seeds
An infusion of one teaspoon of sesame seeds, mixed with a teaspoon of linseed, a pinch of common salt, and a teaspoon of honey, can be given once at night with beneficial results in bronchitis. Half a teaspoon of dry seeds pounded into powder should be given, mixed with two tablespoons of water, twice daily. Alternately, a decoction of half a teaspoon of the same should be taken twice daily.
Bronchitis treatment using Almond
An emulsion of almonds is useful in bronchial diseases, including bronchitis. It is prepared by making a powder of seven kernels of almonds and mixing the powdered kernels in a cup of orange or lemon juice. This emulsion may be taken once daily at night.
Bronchitis treatment using Chicory
Chicory or endive is another effective home remedy for bronchitis. The powder of the dry root of this herb should be given in doses of half a teaspoon mixed with one teaspoonful of honey thrice daily. It is a very useful expectorant in chronic bronchitis.
Bronchitis treatment using Linseed
A hot poultice of linseed (alsi) should be applied over the front and back of the chest. This poultice may be prepared by mixing one cup or sixteen tablespoons of the seeds with a quantity of hot water, sufficient to convert them into a moist mealy mass. This should then be applied carefully. Turpentine may also be rubbed over the chest.
- · Take 2 cups fresh daikon juice and add honey to taste. Combine the juice and honey in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and immediately remove from the heat. Drink, warm, twice a day.
- · Drink plenty of fluids to wash away the mucus.
- · Hot, spicy foods help mucous membranes all over, not just in your nose, to secrete more liquids, which can help thin mucus, which is easy to remove.
- · Patients with bronchitis should avoid smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol and any other such product.
- · Humidity may help soothe the irritatedbronchial membranes. Close the door to your child's bedroom and turn on the vaporizer about a half-hour before he goes to sleep and leave it on all night.
- · Take half a teaspoon of turmeric powder with half a glass of milk, two or three times daily. It acts best when taken on an empty stomach.
- · Prepare a mixture comprising of half a teaspoon each of the powder of ginger, pepper, and cloves, and take three times a day. It may be licked with honey or taken as an infusion with tea.
- · One teaspoon of raw onion juice, first thing in the morning, is very beneficial in such cases.
- · Fifty grams of fresh leaves of spinach, and 250 ml of water should be mixed with a pinch of ammonium chloride and one teaspoonful of honey. This infusion is an effective expectorant in the treatment of bronchitis.
- · Prepare a mixture by adding one teaspoon of sesame seeds, with a teaspoon of linseed, a pinch of common salt, and a teaspoon of honey, it is very effective if taken at night for cases of chronic bronchitis.
- · Make a powder of seven kernels of almonds and mix the powdered kernels in a cup of orange or lemon juice.
- · The powder of the dry root of Chicory or endive should be given in doses of half a teaspoon mixed with one teaspoonful of honey thrice daily.
- · A hot poultice of linseed (alsi) may be prepared by mixing one cup or sixteen tablespoons of the seeds with a quantity of hot water. Apply it on the chest.
- · Fresh air and outdoor exercise are also essential for the treatment of bronchitis. The patient is advised to take a morning walk every day.
- · Prepare a mixture by adding ½ teaspoon honey with ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Take this every 12 hours. Honey relieves the itchiness by moisturizing the throat passage
- · Mix 8 - 10 tablespoons of coconut milk with 1 tablespoon poppy seeds and 1 tablespoon of pure honey. Take this every night before going to bed.
- · In one cup of warm milk, add 2 – 3 strands of saffron (kesar) and drink twice a day.
- · Mix half a teaspoon of tulsi juice with half a teaspoon with ginger juice. Add 1 teaspoon of honey. Take the above mixture 2-3 times a day till symptoms subside. This is a very effectivehome remedy for bronchitis cure .
- · Take 1 cup of water and add 4-5 leaves of tulsi; a small piece of ginger (adrak) and 1 teaspoon of jaggery. Boil this mixture over slow heat till the quantity becomes half a cup. Drink this at least 2 times in a day.
- · Slice 2 snow pears into small pieces. Add 3 bowls of water and boil until the water has reduced to 2 bowls. Strain and discard the pears, and add 30 grams of rice to the liquid. Boil again until rice is cooked. Drink the soup.
- · Another home remedy for bronchitis cure is - peel 50 grams fresh ginger and cut into small slices. Boil the slices with 100 grams maltose in 2 glasses water for 30 minutes. Drink it hot, twice a day, in one day.
Bronchitis diet
Orange juice and water
In acute bronchitis, the patient should fast on orange juice and water till the acute symptoms subside. Thereafter, he should adopt an all-fruit diet for two or three days.
All-fruit diet and then well-balanced diet
In the case of chronic bronchitis, the patient can begin with an all-fruit diet for five to seven days, taking three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits. After the all-fruit diet, he should follow a well-balanced diet with emphasis on seeds, nuts, grains, raw vegetables, and fresh fruits. For drinks, unsweetened lemon water, or cold/hot plain water may be taken.
Other Bronchitis treatments
Hot Epsom salts bath
A hot Epsom salts bath every night or every other night is valuable during the acute stages of the attack. This bath is prepared by dissolving 1 ½ kg of Epsom salt in 60 litres of water having a temperature of 37.8"C. The patient should remain immersed in the bath for about twenty minutes. In the case of chronic bronchitis, this bath may be taken twice a week.
Hot towels application over upper chest followed by cold towel
Hot towels wrung out and applied over the upper chest are helpful in both chronic and acute bronchitis. After applying three hot towels in turn for two or three minutes each, one should always finish off with a cold towel. A cold pack can be applied to the upper chest several times daily in acute conditions. The procedure is to wring out some linen material in cold water, wrap it two or three times round the affected part and cover it with flannel. The pack can remain for about an hour at a time.
Fresh air and outdoor exercises
Fresh air and outdoor exercise are also essential for the treatment of bronchitis. The patient is advised to take a morning walk every day.
Yogic kriyas
He should also perform yogic kriyas (cleansing exercises) such as jalneti and vamandhauti, and yogic asanas (body postures) such as ekpaduttanasana, yogamudra, bhujangasana, shalabhasana, padmasana, and shavasana. Simple pranayamas (breath-hoIding procedures) like kapalbhati, anuloma-viloma, ujjai, and bhramari will also be beneficial.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
If you have bronchitis, getting mucus up and out of your lungs is a primary concern, because mucus-filled lungs breed bacteria that can cause pneumonia, says Sally Wenzel, M.D., associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a pulmonary specialist at the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, both in Denver. Avoiding inhaled irritants is important, too. And keeping your immunity strong can help prevent the worst complications of bronchitis.
Here's what you can do.
Toss the cigarettes. If you smoke, consider that lingering cough as an early warning signal of lung damage. "Smokers are much more likely to develop bronchitis than nonsmokers," says Dr. Wenzel.
If you stop smoking, you may cough up even more mucus for a time, but that's actually a good sign. "It means that your lungs are working to clear themselves out," she explains. As your lungs heal, the cough will soon fade.
Women who stop smoking may be surprised to notice that they get fewer so-called chest colds--and that goes for their children, too, who will no longer suffer the ill effects of secondhand smoke.
Ask others not to smoke in your vicinity. Breathing someone else's cigarette smoke can make your bronchitis worse, Dr. Wenzel says. "Stay away from secondhand smoke."
Get misty. "When you breathe in moist air, you help thin out mucus, which makes it easier to clear out the lungs," explains Karen Conyers, a respiratory therapist at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. Taking a hot shower or bath, draping a towel over your head and breathing the steam from a bowl of hot water or running a humidifier in your bedroom as you sleep can all provide the moisture that your airways need to stay clear.
Drink your fill. Imbibing water also helps thin mucous secretions in the lungs, Conyers says.
"Eight eight-ounce glasses a day is the minimum," says Dr. Wenzel.
Try a cup of mullein tea. A brew of this herb is said to soothe mucous membranes and help remove mucus from the lungs, reports Nan Kathryn Fuchs, Ph.D., a nutritionist in Sebastopal, California, and nutrition editor of the Women's Health Letter.
To make the tea, steep a handful of dried mullein leaves (about two teaspoons per cup) in a pot of freshly boiled water for about ten minutes. Strain and drink up to three cups a day. Check at a health food store for dried mullein leaves.
Blow up balloons. Respiratory therapists sometimes have their patients blow into a device with an adjustable valve that exercises the lungs the same way as blowing up balloons.
"By taking deeper breaths and blowing harder than one would normally, blowing up balloons may help people move mucus up and out of their lungs," Conyers says.
Eat onions. "Onions contain a number of ingredients, including quercetin, a compound in the bioflavonoid family that may help protect the lungs from infection," says Dr. Fuchs. In test-tube experiments, quercetin proved effective against several viruses.
Add some spice to your life. Red peppers, curry and other spicy foods that make your eyes water or nose run can help thin mucous secretions, says Dr. Fuchs.
When To See A Doctor
Bronchitis can set the stage for pneumonia, so see a doctor promptly if your cough gets worse, if you feel weak and tired or have a fever or if you're short of breath. The only sure way to determine whether or not you have pneumonia is a chest x-ray. If you have pneumonia, you'll be given antibiotics.
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