Different Types of Chronic Bronchitis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Different Types of Chronic Bronchitis - Essay Example Chronic bronchitis can easily be prevented by not smoking and avoiding second-hand smoke, as well as pollutants such as too much dust. Many argue that the recurrent incidences of acute bronchitis can most definitely lead to the development of chronic bronchitis. Methods of treatment include the use of steroids and bronchodilators, as well as PDE4 inhibitors. Alternative treatments include antibiotics, pulmonary rehabilitation, supplemental oxygen therapy, home remedies and over-the-counter cough suppressants.   According to the Marshall Cavendish Corporation, â€Å"bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi, the main airways in the lungs† (2008, p. 128). Bronchitis can be acute or chronic. Chronic bronchitis is one of the major forms of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). It is more serious than acute bronchitis. According to Arcangelo and Peterson (2006) â€Å"chronic bronchitis is a productive cough and sputum production for 3 months per year for at least 2 years, and an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis is defined as worsening of respiratory symptoms such as a cough, sputum, and dyspnea† (p. 327).   Arcangelo and Peterson (2006) add that chronic bronchitis may be caused by a number of abnormalities of the bronchial mucosa. Chronic bronchitis patients are vulnerable to respiratory infections. This is due to the irritating substances they inhale and due to the fact that the substances are chronic, they lead to impaired mucociliary clearance. As nonciliated metaplastic cells replace ciliated epithelium and the mucous secreting goblet cells become proliferated, the result is impaired mucociliary clearance (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2006).