Sunday, January 25, 2009

How To Cure Chronic Bronchitis

By Amy Cheung

The chronic form of bronchitis, known as chronic bronchitis is doubtlessly a very frustrating and even debilitating condition to have. The difficulty in breathing, the coughing up of phlegm, and a number of sleeping difficulties act as constant signs that someone is suffering from the illness chronic bronchitis. In the advanced stages of chronic bronchitis the person involved may observe hyperventilation or labored breathing, hypoxemia or blood oxygen insufficiency along with malfunction of the right area of the heart. So, is there an effective cure for this disease?

Sadly, there is no known cure for chronic bronchitis to this day. However, there are forms of treatment available to curb the symptoms as well as delay the condition's progression. Through suitable medical therapy supplemented by the necessary changes in lifestyle, a patient with chronic bronchitis has more improved chances of enjoying life to the fullest and optimizing his/her lifespan. Examples of these treatment options are discussed in the sections that follow.

Common Medical Treatments for Chronic Bronchitis

Bronchodilators: Introduced through an inhaler, bronchodilators function to widen the airways in the lungs to help alleviate breathing difficulties.

Mucolytics: These drugs make mucous thinner and quicker to eliminate via coughing.

Oxygen therapy: This condition makes it difficult to breathe oxygen into the lungs. Oxygen therapy is sometimes used to boost quantity of oxygen in the body to normal levels.

Helpful Lifestyle Changes for Chronic Bronchitics

Quit Smoking: Smoking cigarettes is one of the chief triggers of this condition, and persistent smoking when one has been already diagnosed with the condition will absolutely aggravate its symptoms and may cause an exacerbated chronic bronchitis.

Proper Exercise: Sometimes, physicians will suggest an fitness routine identified as pulmonary rehabilitation to patients afflicted with chronic bronchitis. This program entails teaching the patient specific exercises that will make the breathing muscles stronger to ease breathing.

Eat Healthy: The fundamental vitamins and minerals will strengthen the body's immune system to protect against infections that chronic bronchitics are so prone to.

Other Useful Tips

Avoid Polluted Air: Air pollutants like dust, fumes as well as 2nd hand smoke may serve to irritate the lungs to exacerbate the chronic bronchitis.

Get Vaccines: Because chronic bronchitis the condition will make someone more at risk of getting infections, taking flu and pneumonia shots might be good actions to undertake.

Though there is still no known cure for this affliction, an inflicted individual may still get medical care to alleviate the symptoms as well as to avoid any further difficulties arising from the condition. The best option an individual may undertake if he/she is afflicted with chronic bronchitis is to quit smoking cigarettes , start a healthy diet plus get plenty of sleep. Those that comply with this practice will perceive a decrease in the physical manifestations of their disease, and will have taken the right steps in averting the illness from further developing into emphysema or a variety of other conditions.

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