Chronic Bronchitis |
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DESCRIPTION
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Chronic bronchitis is one of the lung disorders classified as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In bronchitis, tissue in the airways leading to the lungs swells up, making the passages narrower. Chronic bronchitis affects the larger airways first, later reaching the rest of them.
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CAUSES
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Cigarette smoking is the leading cause. Others are air pollution, allergies, and infections. Dust or chemical-filled air at work can cause bronchitis. The disease becomes more likely as we get older.
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SYMPTOMS
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The main sign is a cough that lasts for at least 3 months, two years in a row. Other signs are trouble breathing, coughing up thick sputum, wheezing, and chest tightness. As chronic bronchitis worsens, the skin and nailbeds become pale or a bluish color. You may also have repeated lung infections and swelling in your hands and feet.
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CARE
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Chronic bronchitis can be controlled and even reversed with medicine and treatments to help make breathing easier. By avoiding the things that cause the disease, you can keep your bronchitis from getting worse.
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COMPLICATIONS
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s If you don't follow your doctor's directions, this disease will get worse, ending in death. However, the illness can be controlled with medicine, exercise, and diet.
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