What is chronic bronchitis?
Chronic, or long-term, bronchitis is a condition where the mucous membranes lining your bronchial tubes (which carry air to and from your lungs) swell and thicken due to constant, long-term irritation. The mucous membrane is the moist lining that protects and lubricates many tissues throughout the body, including the lung and airways. If the lining thickens too much, the airways narrow or shut off, resulting in coughing and shortness of breath.
What causes it?
•Smoking, frequent exposure to toxic air pollution (smoke, chemicals), second-hand smoke.
What can it lead to?
•If left untreated, chronic bronchitis can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
What can you do to prevent it?
Exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, avoid smoking cigarettes, avoid environments of high exposure to toxic air pollution
Resources
Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bronchitis/basics/definition/con-20014956
WebMD http://www.webmd.com/lung/understanding-bronchitis-basics
Special Thanks
Derek Chang graduated with a Bachelors degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Utah. Go Utes! He was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He aspires to become a physician-entrepreneur to find and create new ways of improving overall patient health. He enjoys skiing, hiking, camping, reading books, meeting new people, and learning anything new.
