Bronchitis - Risk Factors
Bronchitis results from swelling or inflammation of the bronchial tubes lining. This refers to the air passages which link the trachea or the windpipe to lungs. The mucous producing lining in the respiratory system acts as the protection and covering. For a patient afflicted with bronchitis, it gets difficult and painful inhaling and exhaling. There are two forms of bronchitis - acute and chronic.
Acute bronchitis persists approximately for ten days and in majority of cases is caused by a viral infection and gets resolved naturally without any medication. Severe cold generally results in acute bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis symptoms may be mild to severe and lasts for a long period - several months to many years. Chronic bronchitis sufferers are more vulnerable to general lung bacterial infections like pneumonia. There is prolonged inflammation and irritation of the bronchial tubes.
Bronchitis risk factors are those which do not directly cause the disease, but are indirectly associated with it. These risk factors increase the possibilities of contracting the disease, but do not necessarily guarantee that bronchitis will occur. It should also be noted that absence of one or many risk factors does not in any way shield you against contracting bronchitis. A few of the prominent risk factors associated with bronchitis are the following:
- Cigarette smoking: Smokers or those individuals who constantly reside with a smoker have great risks of getting both acute as well as chronic bronchitis. Children staying close to smokers are susceptible to bronchitis, asthma, middle ear infections, pneumonia and colds. Smokers tend to inhale tobacco smoke within their lungs. This results in irritation of the airways. As a consequence to this, mucus is produced leading to chronic bronchitis. A study had been conducted by the researchers named Troisi and colleagues who have confirmed that smoking has direct connection with asthma and chronic bronchitis. The study had been on for ten years amongst 74,072 women all in the age group of 34 to 68 years. It was proved that smokers were almost at five times risk of contracting chronic bronchitis in comparison to non-smokers.
- Low immunity: Bronchitis can develop on account of an individual suffering from some other acute illness, extreme cough and cold or a chronic disease which compromises the immune system. Elderly patients, young children and infants are vulnerable to getting bronchitis.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): In this type of condition, stomach acids constantly back up onto the esophagus resulting in chronic cough.
- Exposure to environmental pollution and on-the-job chemical irritants: Chronic bronchitis rates are higher among grain handlers, coal miners, metal holders and different other workers who have exposure to dust. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis worsen when sulfur dioxides as well as other forms of air contaminants increase. The cough related to occupational bronchitis is usually nonproductive or dry and clears off with your staying away from the pollutants.
Certain measures will help lower your chances of getting bronchitis. These may include avoiding smoking, protection from secondhand smoke, and maintenance of personal hygiene. Wearing a mask when exposed to people who are sneezing and coughing also can prevent bronchitis.