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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Bronchitis
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
Bronchitis
by dn4192, Feb 24, 2002 12:00AM
From my readings, it appears that to have bronchitis, you need to be a smoker. Can non smokers have bronchitis?
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Mar 01, 2002 12:00AM
, Mar 01, 2002 12:00AM
Acute bronchitis is an irritation of the airways in the lungs. It is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Symptoms generally include cough with mucus, chest discomfort, fever and extreme tiredness.
Chronic bronchitis is a cough with mucus that lasts for at least 3 months in a row 2 years in a row. Most instances of chronic bronchitis are due to cigarette smoking. For people with a family history of emphysema, they may get bronchitis from repeated exposure to high air pollution or from work exposures. People with sinus problems or post-nasal drip may have a cough with mucus that can act like that seen with chronic bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis is a cough with mucus that lasts for at least 3 months in a row 2 years in a row. Most instances of chronic bronchitis are due to cigarette smoking. For people with a family history of emphysema, they may get bronchitis from repeated exposure to high air pollution or from work exposures. People with sinus problems or post-nasal drip may have a cough with mucus that can act like that seen with chronic bronchitis.
Anyone can get bronchitis--you definitely don't have to have been a smoker or even been around lung irritants. You can get more info about bronchitis by checking out http://nationaljewish.org/medfacts/uri.html
which explains colds and bronchitis.
Smokers sometimes get chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Aloha,
Starion