Bronchitis: symptoms, treatment and consequences

If the airways in the lungs, the so-called bronchi, are inflamed, experts speak of bronchitis. The main symptom is coughing, for which around 5 in 100 people seek medical treatment every year. The following text explains the causes, symptoms and possible consequences and presents helpful home remedies.

Signs of acute bronchitis

Many people suffer from colds and coughs, especially during the cold season. However, although the symptoms of the common cold and bronchitis are initially similar, they are not the same illness. Nevertheless, the two often go hand in hand or the inflammation of the deep airways occurs as a result of a cold cough.
The symptoms are annoying and it is important to cure the bronchitis properly to prevent it from spreading. So how can those affected find out whether they are suffering from a cold or whether they have already developed bronchitis, which may require treatment depending on its severity?
The quality of the cough changes over the course of the illness: at the beginning, there is often a dry, irritating cough that develops into a productive cough. This is when the body expels the irritating mucus from the airways.
The symptoms of bronchitis often occur more frequently at night. For this reason alone, treatment often makes sense in order to improve the quality of sleep and promote the body's regeneration. Depending on the intensity of the cough, it can be accompanied by chest pain, breathing problems and hoarseness.

Cough - symptom or self-help?

Viruses are responsible for the development of bronchitis in around 90 percent of cases. Only rarely are bacteria, fungi or environmental pollutants a possible trigger. Regardless of the exact cause behind the annoying symptoms, the following applies: when inhaled via the nose or mouth, the foreign bodies reach the deep branches at the end of the windpipe, where they become lodged and multiply.
As a result, the body's immune system reacts: the mucous membranes produce more mucus, which takes the pathogens and dead cell remnants out with it when coughing. Patients usually want to get rid of this annoying, sleep-robbing symptom, which is understandable. And yet coughing is useful and a helpful means for the body to advance the treatment of bronchitis itself.

Treatment of bronchitis

Provided you are generally healthy, the inflammation of the airways usually heals on its own, even without targeted treatment. If the bronchitis is accompanied by a nagging cough, pain and a feeling of fatigue, symptom-oriented therapy can be used.
You can get rid of the cough with these tips:
- Rest and take it easy
- Avoid sport and exertion in general
- Warm drinks for increased well-being
- Cough-relieving, pain-relieving and antipyretic medication
Home remedies can also be used for bronchitis and, if you feel up to it, can improve your condition. Wraps and compresses on the chest as well as steam inhalations promote the reduction of swelling in the mucous membranes and the removal of unwanted pathogens. Warm teas, just like honey, calm the urge to cough and allow those affected to calm down.

Important to know

The treatment of bronchitis is uncomplicated and is primarily based on the symptoms. However, sufferers should keep a close eye on the development of the disease so that it does not get worse.
In many cases, home remedies and plenty of rest are sufficient to improve well-being and alleviate the annoying symptoms of bronchitis. A fundamentally healthy body is able to counter such inflammatory diseases with its active immune system. Some symptoms often improve quickly and disappear almost completely. However, it can take several weeks before there are no more signs of bronchitis. It is therefore very important to be vigilant and monitor the signs closely over time.
If sufferers do not treat bronchitis despite the lack of improvement, this can have unpleasant consequences. The inflammation of the bronchial tubes may spread to the lung tissue and lead to further illnesses there. If other respiratory diseases are present, the immune system is weakened or the bronchitis persists for longer than eight weeks, the doctor should decide on suitable treatment.