Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes, frequently accompanied by cough, hypersecretion of mucus, and expectoration of sputum. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by an infectious agent and of short duration. Chronic bronchitis, generally the result of smoking, may also be known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Emphysema.

	Acute Bronchitis The Condition "Acute bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial tree, which is a network made up of the tubes that carry air to and from the lungs..." Our Question about air pollution exposure "If you smoke or are around damaging fumes (such as those in certain kinds of factories), you are more likely to get acute bronchitis and to have it longer because your bronchial tree is already damaged..." Recommendation Increased Water Consumption "Ensuring plenty of fluids prevents the mucus thickening associated with dehydration and eases mucus removal in patients with bronchitis..." Recommendation Comfrey "Comfrey has been used with benefit in cases of bronchitis and irritable cough, where it will soothe the irritation and promote expectoration..." Recommendation Digestive Enzymes "Digestive pancreatic enzymes have been used to hasten the recovery process in both acute and chronic bronchitis..." Recommendation Licorice Root "Licorice root, among other herbs, is a commonly-used expectorant to ease mucus removal in bronchitis..." Recommendation Personal Hygiene Changes "One good way to avoid getting acute bronchitis is to wash your hands often to get rid of any viruses..." Recommendation Tobacco Avoidance "If you smoke, the best defense against acute bronchitis is to quit..." Recommendation Sugars Avoidance / Reduction "Due to its inhibition of the immune system, sugar consumption should be stopped until all bronchitis symptoms have ceased..." Antibiotics As A Treatment "...Combining bromelain and antibiotic therapy has been shown to be more effective than antibiotics alone in treating a variety of conditions including pneumonia, bronchitis, staph skin infections, thrombophlebitis, cellulitis, pyelonephritis, perirectal and rectal abscesses, and sinusitis..." Asthma Relationship to Allergy to Foods (Hidden) "...This inflammatory, obstructive phase is the most important mechanism of chronic asthmatic bronchitis..." Chanca Piedra (Break-Stone) As A Treatment "...asthma, fever, tumors, bladder infections, as a diuretic, for painful joints, jaundice, indigestion, vaginitis, viruses of the reproductive tract, proctitis, poor circulation, excessive phlegm, bronchitis, and coughs..." Cigarette Smoke Damage Relationship to COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) "...People who smoke or have chronic bronchitis have an increased risk of emphysema..." Relationship to Acute Bronchitis "If you smoke or are around damaging fumes (such as those in certain kinds of factories), you are more likely to get acute bronchitis and to have it longer because your bronchial tree is already damaged..." COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) The Condition "...Patients typically have symptoms of both chronic bronchitis and emphysema, but the classic triad also includes asthma..." Relationship to Pneumonia "Lung diseases - such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema - are risk factors for the development of pneumonia..." Recommendation Bromelain "Bromelain has been shown to reduce cough and thin mucus secretions for easier removal in chronic bronchitis, but probably not in acute bronchitis..." Recommendation Cysteine / N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) "...Double-blind research has found that NAC supplements improved symptoms and prevented recurrences in people with chronic bronchitis..." Recommendation Calming / Stretching Exercises "In an experiment conducted in Western Australia, 22 male patients aged 52 to 65 were selected for severe breathing problems such as chronic bronchitis - emphysema - that made normal breathing impossible..." Recommendation Increased Fruit/Vegetable Consumption "...Studies comparing different populations have shown that increasing fruit consumption appears to reduce the risk of developing chronic bronchitis..." Recommendation Particulate Matter Avoidance "Long-term effects of particulate air pollution on the incidence of bronchitis, emphysema and asthma have been documented..." Recommendation Red Clover "Red Clover tincture has long been a treatment for whooping cough and bronchitis..." Cysteine / N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) As A Treatment "...This is especially important during asthma, bronchitis, and bouts of hayfever..." Edema (Water Retention) The Condition "...Severe chronic lung disease such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis increase the pressure in the blood vessels to the lungs..." Excess Sugar Consumption The Condition "...Skin itch; Bladder/bowel dysfunction; Diarrhea; Hypothyroidism; Sleepiness; Bloating; Dizziness; Immune system dysfunction; Tension; Blurred vision; Earaches; Indigestion; Visual impairment; Bronchitis; Eczema; Joint/muscle pains; Watery eyes; Candida; Fainting; Lacking mind control; Weight retention; Cold intolerance; Forgetfulness; Loss of short term memory; Yeast infections..." Frankincense As A Treatment "...It is especially useful to the respiratory system during seasonal changes and aids in coughs, excess mucous, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, colds and flu..." Green Tea As A Treatment "...Green Tea can strengthen a weak immune system against common illnesses such as the flu, bronchitis or infections that take a long time to heal or return quickly..." Guaifenesin As A Treatment "...It relieves the coughs of colds, bronchitis, and other lung infections..." Gulf War Illness The Condition "...by disabling fatigue, intermittent fevers, night sweats, arthralgia, myalgia, impairments in short-term memory, headaches, skin rashes, intermittent diarrhea, abdominal bloating, chronic bronchitis, photophobia, confusion, transient visual scotomata, irritability and depression and other signs and symptoms that until recently have defied appropriate diagnoses..." Horsetail Grass As A Treatment "...Other uses: aging, arthritis, asthma, backaches, breasts, milk secretion, bronchitis, bruises, burns, bursitis, cancer-skin, circulatory problems, cirrhosis, edema, fracture, hair loss, heart disease, inflammation, intertrigo, kidney ailments, lyme disease, muscle cramps,..." Hydrotherapy As A Treatment "...Constitutional Hydrotherapy is recommended for ... Bronchitis..." Hyperbaric Oxygen As A Treatment "...Signs and symptoms of oxygen toxicity include: Nausea and vomiting, dry cough, seizures, substernal chest pain, sweating, bronchitis, pallor, shortness of breath, muscle twitching, pulmonary edema, anxiety and/or respiratory changes, pulmonary fibrosis, visual changes, tinnitus, hallucinations, vertigo, hiccups and..." Ivy Leaf As A Treatment "...153] One double-blind human trial found ivy leaf to be as effective as the drug ambroxol for treating the symptoms of chronic bronchitis..." Monolaurin As A Treatment "...In studies performed at the Respiratory Virology Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Monolaurin was shown to remove all measurable infectivity against the following RNA and DNA viruses ... Bronchitis..." Mullein As A Treatment "...It seems to be particularly helpful, and used historically, for respiratory conditions including coughs, colds, emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma..." Pleurisy Related Topic "...Most pleurisy (and usually the milder form) follows or accompanies bronchitis or late winter chest colds..." Pneumonia Recommendation Bromelain "In a clinical study of 124 patients hospitalized with chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, bronchiectasis, or pulmonary abscess, those receiving bromelain orally showed a decrease in the volume and pus-like quality of the sputum..." Sjogren's Syndrome The Condition "...People with Sjogren's also tend to have lung problems caused by inflammation, such as bronchitis (affecting the bronchial tubes), tracheobronchitis (affecting the windpipe and bronchial tubes), and laryngotracheobronchitis (affecting the voice box, windpipe, and bronchial tubes)..." Thuja As A Treatment "...bronchitis As an expectorant - to clear phlegm by inducing coughing As an emollient - to produce softer, warmer, moister skin Other skin-related applications As a parasiticide - against parasites..." Tylophora As A Treatment "...Uses This plant has been traditionally used as a folk remedy in certain regions of India for the treatment of bronchial asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism, and dermatitis..." Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) The Condition "...Persistent pulmonary disease may manifest as persistent bronchitis and pneumonia..." Yeast / Candida Infection The Condition "...Psychological and Allergic ... Bronchitis (recurrent)..."

Last updated: Oct 22, 2008