Treatment | Chronic Bronchitis

How to Improve Your Condition and Prevent Further Complications

While acute or short-lived bronchitis will typically clear up within a week, there is no cure for chronic bronchitis. Your doctor will work with you to relieve your symptoms and make breathing easier. Your recovery will largely depend upon how far your chronic bronchitis has advanced.

Bronchitis makes you more susceptible to upper respiratory infections, right-sided heart failure, emphysema, and pulmonary hypertension. So, it is important to carefully monitor your condition.

There are several types of therapies that your doctor may recommend, including:

• Inhaled medicines
  Inhaled medicines, like bronchodilators, are used to help open the airways and expel mucus. You will use an inhaler to draw the medicine into your lungs.
  
  
• Ingested medicines or pills
  Pills, like theophylline or steroids, may be prescribed in severe cases of chronic bronchitis, especially when asthma is also present. The pills are most often designed to reduce swelling in your airway. Your doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic if an infection is present in the lungs.
  
  
• Oxygen therapy
  If your doctor determines that your oxygen level is low or if your lungs have been damaged by chronic bronchitis, he or she may suggest that you use oxygen therapy. A small device will supply extra oxygen to your airway to make breathing easier.
  
  
• Pulmonary rehabilitation
  Pulmonary rehabilitation is administered by a respiratory therapist. The therapist will work with you through a series of exercises to strength your lungs, improve your lung capacity, and get you breathing easier.
  
  

How to Improve Your Condition and Prevent Further Complications

• Don’t smoke.
  If you already smoke, quit. Damage to the lungs can be reversed.
  
  
• Exercise.
  It is important to get regular exercise at least three times a week to improve the condition of your lungs. Discuss exercise with your doctor before beginning any type of program. He or she may be able to recommend a program specifically suited to your needs.
  
  
• Avoid exposure to pollutants or other irritants.
  You should wear a mask or respirator if you are using paint, varnish, or other product that emits strong fumes. You should also try to avoid secondhand smoke and dust. Because your lungs are more susceptible to respiratory infections, it is also important to avoid contact with people who have colds.
  
  
• Eat a well-balanced diet and maintain your ideal body weight.
  If you are overweight, your lungs must work harder to support your body, and your breathing will become more difficult. Ask your doctor to determine your ideal body weight. Your doctor may also recommend that you speak with a dietitian to help you improve your diet and meet your nutritional goals.
  
  
• Get a flu vaccine every year and a pneumonia vaccine as needed.
  Chronic bronchitis has made your lungs more prone to infection, and these vaccines will help you prevent other breathing complications.
  
  
• Wash your hands.
  To protect yourself from illness, wash your hands frequently.