Do I Have Chronic Bronchitis?
Bronchitis is a common condition that causes our breathing tubes (bronchi) to become inflamed. Typically, the condition forms just a few days after a cold or the flu and is most known to cause a dry cough and congestion.
However, did you know that your bronchial tubes could become inflamed long-term? Keep reading to learn more about the chronic form of bronchitis and when to seek treatment.
Diagnosing Chronic Bronchitis
Bronchitis can become a chronic condition if a patient has a cough and mucus most days for at least 3 months a year, for 2 years in a row. A doctor must also rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms. To diagnose chronic bronchitis, your doctor will perform a pulmonary function test, and may also order a chest X-ray or CT scan.
Other common symptoms of chronic bronchitis include:
- Wheezing.
- Chest discomfort.
- Swollen feet.
- Bluish lips and fingernails.
- Heart failure.
Patients with chronic bronchitis also experience acute cases of bronchitis more frequently and tend to get other infections often. Chronic bronchitis patients are also grouped into having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as well.
Risk Factors of Chronic Bronchitis
The biggest risk factor for chronic bronchitis is smoking but is common with patients that have over lung diseases, such as:
- Asthma.
- Pulmonary emphysema.
- Pulmonary fibrosis.
- Sinusitis.
- Tuberculosis.
- Upper respiratory infections.
Chronic bronchitis can also lead to further complications, such as a disability, narrowing of your breathing tubes, and trouble breathing.
When to Seek Treatment
If you believe you have bronchitis, you can seek a diagnosis from our team, though acute cases tend to go away on their own. However, if your symptoms worsen, you may have a chronic case and should visit an urgent care center for treatment.
If you are experiencing the following, please come visit our team at Urgentology Care today:
- Symptoms last more than three weeks.
- Mucus is discolored or has blood in it.
- You are having difficulty sleeping because of your symptoms.
- You have a fever higher than 100.4 F.
- You are experiencing shortness of breath or wheezing.
To book your appointment or for more information, contact our team today: (817) 799-7273