Bronchitis can turn into a medical emergency but bronchitis is not always a medical emergency.
The good news is most cases of bronchitis can be treated easily at home.
You only need to see your doctor if your symptoms are severe or unusual – for example, if: your cough is severe or lasts longer than 3 weeks or you have a constant fever for more than 3 days.
If you have bronchitis and you have trouble breathing, call 911 or seek emergency help immediately.
There are other reasons why you should see your doctor for bronchitis treatment if you are not getting better at home.
These include: You are still coughing after 3 or 4 weeks.
When you have bronchitis some symptoms you might experience are shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, coughing, slight fever and chills that can feel like you have the flu.
Your mucus may be yellowish gray, clear, white.
The mucus could even be green. And in some rare cases there may be a streak of blood in the mucus when you have bronchitis.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs.
People who have bronchitis often cough up thickened mucus, which can be discolored.
Bronchitis may be either acute or chronic.
Acute bronchitis is often caused by a viral respiratory infection and improves by itself.
Symptoms of bronchitis include coughing up thickened mucus and shortness of breath.
Treatments for bronchitis usually include soothing remedies to help with coughing, which may last weeks.
Antibiotics are not usually recommended.
Although there are several different types of bronchitis, the most common are acute and chronic.
Acute bronchitis may also be called a chest cold.
Most symptoms of acute bronchitis last for up to 2 weeks.
The cough can last for up to 8 weeks in some people.
The best treatment for bronchitis includes rest, fluids, a humidifier, honey, lozenges and prescription medications and interventions, if necessary.
Acute bronchitis is sometimes referred to as a chest cold.
It can develop after an upper respiratory infection (URI), which you probably know better as the common cold.
Some ways to get rid of bronchitis include.
Drink lots of fluids, especially water. Try eight to 12 glasses a day to help thin out that mucus and make it easier to cough up.
Get plenty of rest.
Use over-the-counter pain relievers with ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), or aspirin to help with pain.