What is chronic bronch it is?

Chronic bronch it is

Chronic bronchitis is a chronic nonspecific inflammation of the trachea, bronchial mucosa and surrounding tissues. Clinically, the main symptoms are cough and expectoration , and the disease lasts for 3 months every year for 2 years or more. Other diseases with cough, sputum, wheezing symptoms were excluded (such as tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis, lung abscess, heart disease, cardiac insufficiency, bronchiectasis, bronchial asthma, chronic nasopharyngitis, esophageal reflux, etc.)

Etiology and pathogenesis

The etiology of this disease is not fully clear, it may be the result of long-term interaction of multiple factors. Mainly related to smoking, occupational dust and chemical substances, air pollution, infection and other factors. Cold is often an important cause of acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.

Most of the onset is latent and slow, the symptoms are mild at the beginning, and most of them are not taken seriously by the patients; there are also a small number of patients whose symptoms persist after acute upper respiratory tract infection. The course of the disease is long, with repeated acute attacks and gradual aggravation. The main symptoms are chronic cough, expectoration, and some patients may have wheezing.

Typical symptoms

I. Cough

Prolonged, recurrent, and progressively worsening cough is a major feature of chronic bronchitis. At first, the disease occurs only when the climate changes drastically in winter and spring or after exposure to harmful gases (such as smoking), and the cough relieves or disappears in summer or after stopping exposure to harmful gases (such as quitting smoking). After the slow development of the disease, it can be manifested as cough all year round, and worse in winter and spring. Generally, the cough is heavier in the morning and lighter during the day. Before sleeping, there is a burst of cough or expectoration. After the sticky phlegm is coughed up, the chest feels comfortable and the cough is relieved. A buildup of secretions and the inhalation of irritating gases (such as kitchen dust) can trigger a cough.

II. Expectoration

The sputum is usually white mucus or foamy serous. When complicated with infection, the sputum turns into mucopurulent or yellow purulent sputum, and the cough is aggravated. Expecting more sputum in the morning, the patient gets up or changes in body position can stimulate the discharge of sputum. The bronchial mucosa glands in advanced patients are atrophied, the amount of expectoration can be reduced, and the sputum is thick and difficult to expectorate, which brings great pain to the patient.

III. Wheezing or shortness of breath

Some patients have bronchospasm, causing wheezing, often accompanied by wheezing, which can be induced by inhalation of irritating gases. There is often no shortness of breath in the early stage; when recurrent attacks are complicated with chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema, it may be accompanied by varying degrees of shortness of breath.

Complication

I. Obstructive pulmonary emphysema

Obstructive emphysema is a common complication of chronic bronchitis that patients with alveolar wall fibrous tissue diffuse hyperplasia, coupled with lumen stenosis and sputum obstruction, and poor breathing, so obstructive emphysema can occur. In addition to cough, phlegm, asthma and other symptoms, gradually difficulty in breathing. At first, it was only shortness of breath during labor, and as the disease progressed, it also felt shortness of breath when resting.

II. Bronchial pneumonia

Chronic bronchial inflammation spreads into the peribronchial lung tissue, resulting in bronchopneumonia. Accompanied by fever, increased cough, increased sputum volume, and was purulent.

III. Other

Some patients can develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or even pulmonary heart disease (pulmonary heart disease).

Treatment principles

The purpose of treatment is to reduce or eliminate symptoms, prevent lung function damage, and promote recovery. The main treatment methods include infection control, cough relieving, expectoration, which antiasthmatic treatment should be given when accompanied by wheezing.

General treatment

I. Quit smoking and avoid inhaling harmful gases and other harmful particles.

II. Strengthen exercise, enhance physical fitness, prevent cold and keep warm, and prevent colds.

Patients with chronic bronchitis not only have limited life and decreased activity, but also cause changes in lung function. If the patient has obvious symptoms of hypoxia, oxygen should be continued. So how should patients with chronic bronchitis breathe oxygen?

I. Master the indications of oxygen inhalation. Oxygen inhalation can improve the symptoms of the respiratory system, but not all patients with chronic bronchitis need oxygen inhalation, so it is necessary to understand the indications of oxygen inhalation. Oxygen should be administered if the patient has significant respiratory limitation and symptoms of cyanosis.

II. Select the appropriate oxygen concentration. Patients with chronic bronchitis are recommended to use low-flow and low-concentration oxygen inhalation, and an oxygen concentration of 25% to 50% is more appropriate. If the oxygen concentration is too high, the pressure of the respiratory system will increase and a series of complications will occur. If the gas concentration is too low, it will not work.

III. Pay attention to the temperature and humidity of oxygen. When inhaling oxygen at home, pay attention to adjusting the temperature and humidity of oxygen. If the temperature of the oxygen is too low or the humidity is too low, it is easy to cause spasm of the airway after inhalation. If the temperature is too high and the humidity is too high, it can cause damage to the airway.

IV. Correctly handle the relationship between oxygen inhalation and medication. The main purpose of oxygen inhalation is to improve the clinical symptoms of patients, and it cannot play a role in curing the disease. Therefore, for patients with chronic bronchitis, it is necessary to insist on medication while inhaling oxygen.

Oxygen inhalation is very important for patients with chronic bronchitis, but it should be standardized and standardized in the process of oxygen inhalation. It is necessary to strictly grasp the indications of oxygen inhalation, and do not blindly and arbitrarily inhale oxygen. Chronic bronchial disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are common in our lives, are all common respiratory diseases. These diseases can cause serious physical and mental impacts on patients. Family members should pay attention to them. Regularly take patients to regular hospitals to check their lung function, improve the awareness of disease protection, and prevent further aggravation of the disease!