The bronchi, which are the tubes that connect the lungs and trachea, act as a passageway for inhaled air to enter the lungs and exhaled air from the lungs to the outside. In addition, if there is a foreign substance entering the bronchus, it is removed by ciliary movement and mucus of the bronchial mucosa to perform immune function. Acute bronchitis refers to a bronchial inflammatory disease in which mucus increases due to inflammation of the trachea and bronchial mucosa inside the bronchus. Acute bronchitis is mainly caused by upper respiratory tract infections caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. If the infection is caused by a virus, it can be transmitted through the respiratory tract or hands from a person who carries the virus. In addition, physical or chemical substances such as dust, gas, and smoke that irritate the bronchi and lungs are known to act as the cause. Due to these characteristics, the incidence of acute bronchitis is high in the elderly and infants with low immune function. In addition, if you have pulmonary tuberculosis, have chronic lung disease, or have undergone pleural plastic surgery, you should be careful because infection can easily occur. It is also reported that acute bronchitis occurs frequently during the changing seasons or cold winter, when the bronchial tubes are prone to dryness. Now, let’s take a closer look at the main symptoms, treatment, and prevention of acute bronchitis.
Main symptoms of acute bronchitis
When acute bronchitis occurs, the mucous membrane of the trachea swells and mucus is secreted, causing the trachea to narrow. This action causes phlegm to form in the bronchial tubes, and symptoms such as cough, low fever, and sore throat occur. And these symptoms can get worse after 3-4 days. At the same time, various symptoms such as coughing and discharge of sputum cause bronchospasm, which stimulates the airways, which can cause breathing difficulties. In addition, when coughing becomes severe, chest pain may occur, and systemic symptoms such as vomiting, chills, muscle pain, and malaise may also occur.
In some cases, acute bronchitis recovers spontaneously over time. However, if the symptoms persist without improvement, more inflammation of the bronchial tubes is generated, which can worsen the symptoms and cause various complications. If not properly treated early, especially in infants, it can progress to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Therefore, if the above-mentioned cough and other symptoms persist for more than a week, it is recommended to seek medical attention. In particular, if the cough persists for more than 2 weeks or gets progressively worse, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis because there is a possibility of other related diseases as well as acute bronchitis.
Treatment and prevention of acute bronchitis
1. Accurate diagnosis and treatment
Acute bronchitis is diagnosed by checking the main symptoms such as cough, sputum, and fever, and then through examination. Afterwards, according to the diagnosis result, symptomatic treatment is carried out centered on rest, lifestyle, and eating habits for the purpose of relieving symptoms. Although antibiotics or antiviral drugs are not preferentially treated, it can be used selectively to prevent secondary infection and the type of pathogen. In addition, if there are symptoms of bronchial obstruction or a lot of sputum, chronic obstructive disease and asthma may be treated with drugs such as bronchodilator, and if fever or cough is severe, antipyretic and You can proceed with treatment with antitussives.
2. Personal hygiene such as hand washing
Since acute bronchitis infection is caused by viruses and bacteria, it is important to always wash your hands and carefully manage personal hygiene to block these infections. Wash your hands and feet thoroughly after going out, and use soap or detergent when washing your hands. In addition, it is recommended to wear a mask on days when fine dust is severe or when respiratory diseases are prevalent.
3. Drinking plenty of water
In order to prevent and manage acute bronchitis, it is very important to drink enough water to prevent dryness of the bronchial mucosa. When the bronchial tubes are dry and dehydrated, they cannot function properly to prevent viruses, bacteria, and fungi from infiltrating from the outside, so it is recommended to drink 7 to 8 glasses of water a day. In addition, maintaining proper indoor humidity as much as water intake plays an important role in protecting the bronchial tubes, so it is a good way to maintain an appropriate indoor temperature of 18-20℃ and indoor humidity of 40-60%.
4. Balanced nutrition and exercise habits
Since acute bronchitis tends to occur when the immune system is weak, it is very important to maintain a regular diet containing vitamins and minerals to strengthen immunity and a regular exercise habit. Also, it is an important management habit to regularly consume various foods such as ginger, bellflower, pear, lemon, and citron, which are representative foods that are good for the bronchial tubes. In addition, it is recommended to eat non-stimulating foods when the symptoms are severe, because consuming spicy and irritating foods when coughing can further damage the bronchial tubes.
In addition, it is important to quit smoking because smoking can reduce the body’s ability to block bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and cause irritation of the airways. It is suggested that exposure to secondhand smoke should be avoided as much as possible, as exposure to cigarette smoke indirectly as well as direct smoking has the effect of stimulating the airways.
