What are the symptoms of chronic bronchitis?

Chronic bronchitis is a recurring disease. Patients will cough and spit for a long time. As the disease worsens, the attacks will become more and more frequent and will plague patients throughout their lives. It is a major hidden danger for many diseases. However, many friends do not know that they have this disease, mainly because they do not know the main characteristics of the disease and do not take it seriously. Now, let me tell you about the characteristics of chronic bronchitis.

Chronic bronchitis is a chronic nonspecific inflammation of the trachea, bronchial mucosa and surrounding tissues due to infectious or non-infectious factors. Chronic bronchitis is more common in middle-aged and elderly people, commonly known as "old chronic bronchitis". If chronic bronchitis is not well treated, it may develop into obstructive pulmonary emphysema and cor pulmonale within 5 years.

The main cause of chronic bronchitis is repeated infection by viruses and bacteria, which causes chronic nonspecific inflammation of the bronchi. When the temperature drops suddenly, the small blood vessels in the respiratory tract spasm and ischemia, and the defense function decreases, it is conducive to the disease; chronic stimulation such as smoke, dust, and polluted atmosphere can also cause the disease; smoking causes bronchospasm, mucosal mutation, reduced ciliary movement, and increased mucus secretion, which is conducive to infection; it is also related to allergic factors.

1. Cough: Long-term, repeated, and gradually worsening cough is a prominent manifestation of this disease. In mild cases, the disease only occurs in winter and spring, especially in the early morning before and after getting up, and there is less coughing during the day. In spring and autumn, the cough is relieved or disappears. Severe patients cough in all seasons, which worsens in autumn and winter. They cough day and night, especially in the morning and evening.

2. Coughing up phlegm: The phlegm is usually white, mucous and foamy. It is more common in the morning and is often difficult to cough up due to its viscosity. After infection or cold, symptoms rapidly worsen, sputum volume increases, viscosity increases, or becomes yellow purulent sputum or is accompanied by wheezing. Occasionally, there is blood in the sputum due to severe coughing.

3. Asthma: When combined with respiratory tract infection, asthma (wheezing) symptoms may occur due to congestion and edema of the bronchiolar mucosa, sputum blockage and bronchial lumen narrowing. The patient has a wheezing sound in the throat when breathing and a wheezing sound when auscultating the lungs.

4. Repeated infections: Repeated respiratory infections are prone to occur in cold seasons or when the temperature changes suddenly. At this time, the patient's asthma worsens, the amount of sputum increases significantly and becomes purulent, accompanied by general fatigue, chills, fever, etc. There are moist sounds in the lungs and an increase in white blood cell count in the blood.

In my country, 15% of chronic bronchitis patients are over 50 years old. If the disease is not effectively treated, it will easily lead to various complications, and even endanger life in the end. Therefore, patients must pay attention to it and go to a regular hospital for examination and treatment. I wish all patients and friends a speedy recovery!