How to Get Rid of Bronchitis

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Bronchitis is a viral disease characterized by prolonged, excessive coughing. Acute bronchitis is a one-time condition that lasts for several weeks while chronic bronchitis is an ongoing condition that lasts at least several months or longer. Chronic bronchitis usually requires professional medical treatment, but acute bronchitis is usually treated at home unless infections or complications set in. Continue reading to learn more about what you need to do in order to get rid of bronchitis.

Steps

Home Treatments

1. Keep yourself hydrated.[1] You should drink 8-oz (250-ml) of fluid every one to two hours.
   • Staying hydrated helps to loosen congestion and maintain proper bodily functions.[2]
   • If your doctor has restricted your fluid intake due to other medical complications, you should follow his or her instructions concerning hydration.
   • Much of this fluid should be water or other low-calorie drinks to prevent yourself from taking in too many calories.
   • Juice, clear broth, and warm lemon water with honey are other good options. Warm drinks have the additional benefit of soothing throats that are sore from excessive coughing.
   • Do not consume drinks with caffeine or alcohol. These drinks will actually dehydrate you.
2. Get plenty of rest. Strive to get as much sleep as possible. You should aim to get at least 8 hours of sleep per night, but if your illness prevents you from sleeping through the night, you should at least rest by lying with your head down or propped up.
   • Sleep is a vital part of maintaining strong immune function.[3] Without enough rest, your body will be unable to fight the virus.
   • Limit the amount of physical activity you do while you have bronchitis. Basic tasks are usually fine, but you should avoid moderate or active exercise, since this degree of activity can trigger coughing fits and wear away at your body's immune system.
3. Use a humidifier.[4] Turn the humidifier on at night and sleep with it running.
   • Breathing in warm, moist air will loosen mucus in the airways, making it easier to breathe and reducing the severity of your coughs.
   • Clean the humidifier based on the manufacturer's instructions. If you fail to clean the humidifier, bacteria and fungi can grow inside the water container and distribute itself in the air. Bacteria or fungi in the air can complicate the bronchitis.
   • You could also sit in a closed bathroom with hot water running out of the shower for 30 minutes. The steam produced by the water will work in the same way as the vapor produced by the humidifier.
4. Avoid irritants. Pollution and cold air can make the condition worse.
   • Stop smoking and do not place yourself around others who do smoke. Smoke is a major lung irritant, and smokers are the most likely to develop chronic bronchitis.
   • Wear a mask when you anticipate being exposed to paint, household cleansers, perfume, or other strong, potent fumes.
   • Wear a face mask outside. Cold air can restrict your airways, worsening your cough and making it difficult to breath. Wearing an outdoor face mask will warm the air before it reaches your airways.
5. Take cough medicine.[5] An over-the-counter cough syrup should only be used if the cough becomes so disruptive that it interferes with your daily life.
   • Cough syrups are usually suppressants. They suppress or restrict coughs, and as a result, you will cough less and produce less phlegm.
   • Under ordinary circumstances, you want your cough to be as productive as possible to prevent excess mucus from sitting in your lungs and causing further infection. For that reason, cough syrups and similar suppressants should not be used consistently throughout the length of the illness.
   • If you cannot sleep due to a cough or if you are coughing so much that it becomes painful, you can alternate a cough suppressant with other medication to provide temporary relief.
   • It is recommended that you consult with your doctor before taking a cough syrup, but these medicines can be obtained without a prescription.
6. Use an expectorant. An over-the-counter expectorant will cause you to cough up more mucus.
   • The risk of developing pneumonia or other severe infections is increased in patients with bronchitis due to the amount of excess mucus produced. Use of an expectorant is recommended in order to expel this excess mucus, especially if you have non-productive coughs.
7. Take a pain reliever. Regular doses of aspirin or acetaminophen can be used if chest pain and other body aches become unbearable.
   • Note that pain relievers will not get rid of the bronchitis, but they will dull the pain. With the ache under control, it may become easier to continue productive coughing.
   • Do not take aspirin or acetaminophen if you are taking a cough medicine that contains a pain reliever or one that may otherwise conflict with pain relievers.

Professional Medical Treatments

1. Know when to see the doctor. If your bronchitis symptoms last for an extended period of time or if more severe symptoms develop, make an appointment with your physician.
   • Schedule an appointment with your doctor if your cough persists for over one month.
   • Call the doctor as soon as possible if you begin coughing up blood, having difficulty breathing, developing a fever, or feeling especially weak or ill.[6] You should also schedule an appointment if your feet begin to swell.
   • Contact your doctor if you begin coughing up a bad-tasting fluid. This is usually caused by stomach acid coming up from the stomach and dripping down into the lungs during sleep. A doctor will prescribe an acid-reducing medication to deal with this particular type of bronchitis.
2. Ask about antibiotics. A doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if he or she suspects that an infection is setting in.
   • Under normal circumstances, a doctor will not prescribe an antibiotic. Bronchitis is caused by a virus and antibiotics only fight bacterial infections.
   • If you begin coughing up more mucus or if that mucus becomes thicker, you may have a bacterial infection. This is when your doctor will usually prescribe an antibiotic. These antibiotics usually last anywhere from 5 to 10 days.
3. Find out about prescription bronchodilators.[7] These medications are usually used to treat asthma.
   • A bronchodilator generally comes in the form of an inhaler. The medicine is sprayed directly into the bronchial tubes, where it opens the tubes and clears out mucus.
   • These medicines might be prescribed if your bronchitis makes it difficult to breathe.
4. Consider checking into pulmonary rehabilitation.[8] If you have chronic bronchitis, you may need long-term therapy to strengthen your weakened lungs.
   • Pulmonary rehabilitaion is a special breathing exercise program. A respiratory therapist works with you one-on-one, designing an exercise plan that will slowly build up your lung capacity while helping you to breathe more easily.

Things You'll Need

• Fluids
• Humidifier
• Face mask
• Over-the-counter cough medicines and expectorants
• Pain reliever
• Bronchodilator
• Antibiotic

Sources and Citations

1. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/lung/cold-becomes-bronchitis?page=2
2. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cold-remedies/ID00036
3. ↑ http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/importance_of_sleep_and_health
4. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bronchitis/DS00031/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies
5. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/lung/understanding-bronchitis-treatment
6. ↑ http://health.williams.edu/ephnotes-newsletter/general-health-concerns/theres-nothing-cute-about-acute-bronchitis/
7. ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=109392&page=2
8. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bronchitis/DS00031/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

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