Bronchitis involves the lining of your bronchial tubes becoming inflamed, oftentimes due to smoking. Those with bronchitis often cough up thickened, discolored mucus. Acute bronchitis, also known as a chest cold, typically improves within a week, although their cough may linger for multiple weeks. Chronic bronchitis is more serious and involves an excessive cough that lasts a minimum of three months with multiple occurrences for at least two consecutive years.
If you have acute bronchitis, you might have cold symptoms, such as a mild headache or body aches. While these symptoms usually improve in about a week, you may have a nagging cough that lingers for several weeks.
A single episode of bronchitis typically is not a cause for concern, but it sometimes can lead to pneumonia. Repeated bouts of bronchitis may mean that you have chronic bronchitis, which is a form of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Call us at 309-452-0995 or 217-717-4404, if your coughing:
-Lasts longer than three weeks
-Disrupts your sleep schedule
-Causes a fever/wheezing/shortness of breath
-Creates excessive mucus/blood
Symptoms can include, but are not limited to, the following:
-Coughing/chest discomfort
-Production of mucus
-Fatigue
-Shortness of breath
-Slight fever
-Chills
