Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in which the bronchi become chronically inflamed and produce excess mucus, narrowing the airways and making breathing progressively harder. It is clinically defined as a productive cough on most days for at least 3 months in each of 2 consecutive years. It is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, affecting 16 million Americans.
Symptoms
Persistent productive cough (with clear, white, or yellow mucus), shortness of breath especially with exertion, wheezing or chest tightness, reduced exercise tolerance, fatigue and disrupted sleep, frequent respiratory infections, and cyanosis (bluish lips or fingertips) in severe cases. Symptoms develop gradually and are often dismissed as a 'smoker's cough' for years.
Treatments
Smoking cessation (the only intervention proven to slow disease progression). Bronchodilators: short-acting (SABAs) for quick relief, long-acting (LABAs/LAMAs) for daily management. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) for frequent exacerbations. Pulmonary rehabilitation (exercise, breathing techniques, education). Long-term oxygen therapy for severe cases with chronically low blood oxygen. Annual influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. Severity is classified using the GOLD staging system (1–4) based on spirometry.
Risk Factors
Cigarette smoking (85% of COPD cases), long-term occupational exposure to dust or chemical fumes (mining, construction, manufacturing), air pollution and secondhand smoke, genetics (alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency), frequent childhood respiratory infections, age over 40.
Prevalence
16 million Americans are diagnosed with COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis. COPD is the 4th leading cause of death in the US. 85% of cases are linked to smoking. Many cases go undiagnosed until moderate or severe stages.
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