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Sputum Bronchitis. Good Ways to Heal Bronchitis
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[size=4][b]Chronic Bronchitis Emphysema - COPD - Definition, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment[/b][/size][hr]What does COPD mean? COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It encompasses two types of disease processes namely chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Quite often, people who suffer from COPD show a combination of features of both disease processes. In lay person's term, COPD means persistent lung disease with features of airway narrowing. To be more specific, bronchitis means inflammation of the bronchi or the larger airways of the lungs whereas emphysema means destruction to the smaller airways and alveoli or airsacs of the lungs. Thus COPD is commonly used to describe chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both.

COPD sounds like asthma, are they any different? Yes. Both COPD and asthma cause similar symptoms, however, they are different in certain ways. COPD causes permanent damage to the airways. The obstruction is 'fixed', hence it is irreversible in general terms. However, airway narrowing in asthma is intermittent and reverses quite easily with medication. Having said that, both COPD and asthma is common, people who suffer COPD can have an asthmatic component and vice versa. There has been a gradual introduction to the world of Bronchitis Emphysema projected in this article. We had done this so that the actual meaning of the article will sink within you.

[size=large][b]What are the Treatments of COPD?[/b][/size][hr]First of all. Stop smoking. This cannot be stressed enough. Smoking cessation is the first thing you have to do if you want to get better. As the underlying mechanism of COPD is irreversible, medications are used with an aim to slow down it's progress. Drugs that are commonly used to treat COPD include short-acting bronchodilator inhalers (i.e. salbutamol), long-acting bronchodilator inhalers (i.e. tiotropium), steroid inhalers and tablets are all available drugs for treatment of COPD. Again, no treatment is more important that stop smoking. Lung transplant is the last option and should be reserved for people with severe COPD.

[size=large][b]What are the Symptoms of COPD?[/b][/size][hr]The two main symptoms dry cough and sore throat. COPD sufferers commonly complain about breathlessness and cough that develop gradually over a long period of time. The cough that COPD sufferer gets are usually productive which means they commonly cough up phlegm. The cough usually comes and goes initially but tends to become persistent as time passes. Breathlessness is usually intermittent and only occurs with exertion in the beginning, however if you continue to smoke, the breathlessness persists even when you are at rest, this can be quite distressing! Other symptoms are chronic sputum production, where you constantly cough up phlegm all day and recurrent chest infection. People with COPD are more prone to chest infection for obvious reasons, as the lining in the lung looses its normal defense mechanism against intruding bugs.

[size=large][b]What are the Causes of COPD?[/b][/size][hr]Smoking. Smoking is the number 1 cause of COPD. More than 90 percent of COPDs are caused by smoking, cigarette or otherwise. About 30 percent of long term smokers will eventually show symptoms of COPD of varying degrees. Other causes include air pollution and inherited enzyme deficiency namely alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

[size=large][b]How Does Smoking Cause COPD?[/b][/size][hr]Smoking inadvertently damages the lining of the airways. As with any other part of the body in response to injury, inflammation occurs. Inflammation stimulates the damaged lining to secrete mucus in an abnormal amount and also causes the airway to constrict (narrow). We were a bit tentative when embarking on this project on Chronic Bronchitis. However, using the grit and determination we have, we have produced some fine reading material on Chronic Bronchitis.

What tests are needed to diagnose COPD? A test called spirometry is often performed to diagnose COPD. Bronchodilators (drugs that cause the airway to dilate) are usually added to confirm the diagnosis. If the test result does not show improvement with bronchodilators, then COPD is very likely. Using the intuition I had on Emphysema Chronic Bronchitis, I thought that writing this article would indeed be worth the trouble. Most of the relevant information on Emphysema Chronic Bronchitis has been included here.

Sometimes, for a person with chronic bronchitis, the symptoms will quickly get worse all of a sudden. This is known as an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, or AECB. Many people that die from chronic bronchitis does so during an episode of acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, so a person having an attack of AECB must get medical attention right away to maximize his/her chances of survival.

Quote:Air pollutants that irritate the lungs (e.g. smoke, fumes, dust) -Weather changes To avoid AECB, a chronic bronchitic is advised to stay away from places with heavy air pollution, to get flu and pneumonia shots, and to maintain a healthy diet to strengthen the immune system against infections. We have written a humorous anecdote on Bronchitis to make it's reading more enjoyable and interesting to you. This way you learn there is a funny side to Bronchitis too!

You are experiencing AECB, you should seek medical treatment immediately. AECB has been known to cause other problems, and many are admitted to the hospital every year for complications from AECB. If you are experiencing this, remember not to panic. Keep your breathing as steady as possible, and calmly call a doctor of physician for advice. Because AECB can come suddenly without warning, it is always best to keep any doctor prescribed inhalants on you just in case. Make sure to check with your doctor, and make sure that these inhalers are fine to take when you are experiencing AECB, to avoid any further complications. Try lying down with a humidifier running, or hopping in a warm shower to help you breath and reduce the symptoms of AECB. It was at the spur of the moment that we ventured to write something about Chronic Bronchitis. Such is the amount of matter that is available on Chronic Bronchitis.

[size=large][b]What Triggers AECB?[/b][/size][hr]Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis are commonly triggered by one or more of the following: -Bacterial or viral infections (e.g. cold, flu) We were furnished with so many points to include while writing about Chronic Bronchitis Symptoms that we were actually lost as to which to use and which to discard!


[size=medium][b]Risk Factors for COPD - Think Copdifferently[/b][/size]
[Image: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/979/i...tors5.jpeg]


[size=large][b]What Happens During AECB?[/b][/size][hr]During an AECB, the already narrower-than-normal air passageways in the lungs become even narrower, and even more and thicker mucous is secreted. This will cause breathing to become even more difficult. This may be accompanied by a fever, chills, and feeling weak in the knees. If the sudden acute exacerbation is due to bacterial infection, the mucus coughed up during expectoration may be speckled with blood, or colored a brighter than normal yellow or green. If the individual is suffering from fever, and has discovered blood in their mucus, there is a good chance the doctor will take a chest x-ray to make sure that pneumonia is not the underlying cause of the symptoms.

[size=large][b]'Smoking Kills[/b][/size][hr]If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life.' Brooke Shields (American actress) Cigarette smoking is the number one preventable cause of premature deaths in the United States. In the year 2000, it is estimated that 8.6 million Americans had 12.7 million medical conditions that were caused by cigarette smoking. For current smokers, the most prevalent were chronic bronchitis (49%), followed by emphysema (24%). For former smokers, the three most prevalent conditions were chronic bronchitis (26%), emphysema (24%), and previous heart attack (24%). Lung cancer accounted for 1% of all cigarette smoking-attributable illnesses Each year in the United States, approximately 440,000 persons die of a cigarette smoking-attributable illness. This results in 5.6 million years of potential life lost, $75 billion in direct medical costs, and $82 billion in lost productivity.. Smoking is responsible for 30% of all coronary heart disease deaths. Smoking however remains very prevalent, with almost 21 million men and 18 million women continue to smoke. The sad part is that a significant percentage of children continue to take up smoking each year.

Second hand or passive smoke is also associated with health risks in both children and adults. This environmental tobacco smoke contains a complex mixture of over 4000 chemicals, many toxic and about 40 proven to cause cancer in humans. The EPA estimates that environmental tobaccos smoke causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer and about 37,000 coronary heart disease deaths in nonsmokers each year. Children, exposed to secondhand smoke before and after birth, are at a greater risk of developing high blood pressure, cleft pallets and lips, childhood leukemia, attention deficit disorder and childhood wheezing. Besides Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), second hand smoke is also associated with an increase in acute lower respiratory tract infections, asthma, chronic respiratory symptoms and middle ear infections in children. Adults experience an increased risk of lung cancer, nasal sinus cancer, heart disease mortality, acute and chronic coronary heart disease morbidity and eye and nasal irritation, when exposed to second hand smoke. It also greatly increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, both in children and adults. No wonder Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels noted, 'Every citizen who stops smoking, or loses a few pounds, or starts managing his chronic disease with real diligence, is caulking a crack for the benefit of us all. '

'Smoking is related to practically every terrible thing that can happen to you. ' Actress Loni Anderson. Smoking does not just damage the cardiovascular system. It can make men infertile and reduce their potency. It causes chronic lung disease like bronchitis and emphysema, and also the irritating chronic cough and increased phlegm production. It increases susceptibility to the flu and increases wrinkling. It has been linked to hearing loss, cataracts, rheumatoid arthritis and many cancers. Pregnant women who smoke face the danger of spontaneous abortion, still birth and sudden infant death syndrome after childbirth. The title of this composition could be rightly be Bronchitis. This is because what is mentioned here is mostly about Bronchitis.

Smoke ten to fifteen cigars a day. At my age I have to hold on to something.' George F. Burns (American comedian 1896- . Geoge Burns may have been genetically blessed or just plain lucky. Most people who smoke will see the risk of dying from heart disease go up by almost three times. The risk of stroke will double. Smoking increases blood pressure, accelerates the progression of arteriosclerosis, decreases the good HDL cholesterol, and increases the tendency for the blood to clot. Even after heart bypass surgery, continuing smoking increases the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. Smokers also suffer from more peripheral arterial disease and aneurysms. Women who smoke and use oral contraceptives increase their risk of heart attack ten fold and increase their risk of strokes and blood clots in the legs We hope you develop a better understanding of Bronchitis Emphysema on completion of this article on Bronchitis Emphysema. Only if the article is understood is it's benefit reached.

Smokeless tobacco should not be used as an alternative to cigarettes. It is highly addictive and often more difficult to give up. This is because of its high nicotine content. Using smokeless tobacco also increases the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and stroke. Saying that all that is written here is all there is on Bronchitis Emphysema would be an understatement. Very much more has to be learnt and propagated bout Bronchitis Emphysema.

[size=large][b]So Quit Today[/b][/size][hr]You will not only look younger but smell better. You will also live a better and longer life. And save a lot of money. It has also been said that cancer cures smoking. Perhaps I can add that premature death will definitely cure your smoking. So do not be like Mark Twain (American Humorist, Writer and Lecturer. 1835- 'It's easy to quit smoking. I've done it hundreds of times.' Quit once and quit forever. Once you are through reading what is written here on Chronic Bronchitis, have you considered recollecting what has been written and writing them down? This way, you are bound to have a better understanding on Chronic Bronchitis.

You stop smoking, the benefits start almost immediately. The body begins to repair itself almost immediately. Several clinical studies have shown the cessation of smoking results in a substantial decrease in recurrent heart attacks, sudden cardiac death, total coronary heart disease mortality, and ischemic stroke. People who quit smoking cut their risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm in half. Within a few days or weeks, exercise endurance and cardiovascular capacity improve, and the good high density lipoprotein cholesterol increases. Within a year, the risk for most cardiovascular diseases will be cut in half. Within 5 to 15 years after stopping smoking, the risk of having a stroke decreases to the same level as that of someone who never smoked. After 15 smoke free years, the cardiovascular system will be as healthy as of somebody who had never smoked. And the incidence of all smoking related cancers--of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas--decreases.
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RE: Sputum Bronchitis. Good Ways to Heal Bronchitis - by curtcasey1 - 09-03-201612:29 AM

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