Dealing With Bronchitis

Depending on the type of bronchitis that you have and its severity determines if you should seek help from a doctor for it.  We’ve talked about when you need to seek a doctor’s help in the last chapter.  But, what happens when you go to visit your doctor?

How Diagnosis Happens

To determine if you have bronchitis, your doctor will likely listen to your chest.  This helps him to determine what is happening inside by listening for mucus build ups.  In addition, he or she may also do a chest x-ray which will show the inflamed and enlarged air passageways that are likely the problem. 

Some doctors will also want a sample of the mucus to determine what type and how much bacteria are in your system.  The sample will consider the amount of bacteria found in the sputum when you cough.

Those that are suffering from chronic bronchitis are likely to have additional testing to insure that that is what you are suffering from.

The doctor will do a series of tests that will take into account your symptoms for conditions such as asthma and emphysema.  To do this, a pulmonary function test which is also called a PFT will be used.  During this test, you are told to blow into a device which is called a spirometer.  This determines how much volume of air your lungs have after you take a deep breath and have blown it out. 

The test is simple and takes just a minute to perform.  It causes you no pain at all.  In fact, if you have had bronchitis several times in the past year, ask your doctor to perform a pulmonary function test to help to determine if there is a possibility of facing chronic bronchitis.

Generally, from these tests, your doctor will be able to rule bronchitis or not.  If you are diagnosised with it, the next step will be to treat it, and if treatment is even needed in your case.

Doctors will determine the level of severity as well as the likeliness of treatment that you need.

Treatment Options From Your Doctor

Once your doctor has determined your condition is that of bronchitis, he or she will begin treatment for you.  If you have acute bronchitis, though, treatment may be limited.  In fact, it may be very difficult to treat your bronchitis because it is a virus.

Virus strains don’t usually react to antibiotics.  Bronchitis is often caused from a virus so your doctor can’t treat it with antibiotics.  The most basic and most common treatment that is used then is that of this combination.

• Getting extra rest is important to allow your immune system the help and strength that it needs.
• Take in plenty of fluids by increasing your consumption considerably to aid in restoring fluid that is being lost through mucus discharge.
• In addition, prescription and nonprescription medications can be used to stop the cough that accompanies bronchitis.

The third recommendation for taking medications to suppress a cough is not one that is always recommended.  That’s because it is important to your lungs to remove that mucus from your system.  Without a cough, your system can’t get the mucus out of your lungs and air passageways effectively.

Sometimes these medications are offered for night time use so that you can actually get some rest.  Yet, they shouldn’t be taken around the clock unless your doctor recommends doing so. 

If your doctor does tell you to take them, it’s important to take the right type.  Most of the time an over the counter cough medication, is all that you will need.  Look and read the labels to determine which the right one for you is.  Don’t take a medication that will keep you awake because rest is a very key element to improving your condition.

Antibiotics can be prescribed for you if your doctor determines that you have a bacterial infection which is causing your conditions.  Those that suffer from chronic bronchitis are more likely to receive this type of treatment for their bronchitis. 

Those that have problems with a chronic lung disorder often need this additional help.  Those that live in a home where there is smoking also may need an antibiotic to help reduce the seriousness and likelihood of developing an infection.  The development of a secondary infection can cause additional problems for those facing chronic health conditions.

If your doctor determines that you have asthma, or that your chronic condition is likely to develop asthma, then he or she may recommend additional treatment for your condition.  Those that are diagnosised with asthma will need an inhaler and sometimes additional asthma medications. 

These products have the goal of reducing the amount of inflammation in your air passageways as well as open them up to allow for better passage to your lungs.  This type of medication can be vitally important to those suffering from asthma.

From looking at your test results and listening to your lungs, your doctor will determine the right type of treatment for your condition.  Usually in cases of acute conditions, this treatment is simply rest and fluids. 

Yet, in the cases of chronic conditions, it is all the more important to provide you with the help you need through additional medication.  Without this medication, your condition can worsen into a life threatening condition such as pneumonia.