Understanding Bronchitis
Air Pollution and Allergies: A Connection?
Medical Author: Alan Szeftel, MD, FCCP
Medical Editor: William
C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Does the "air we breathe" have an impact on the
rising incidence of
allergies and asthma? Hay fever was
rare in Japan before World War II. However, pollen allergy is now common and mostly affects those living in
Japanese cities and near highways. Allergic disease is also more common in highly developed
countries in North America and Europe and less common in Third World countries.
This suggests that there must be something about modern, urban life that
promotes allergy. Let us examine the impact of air pollution.
By far the most important indoor pollutant is tobacco smoke, which is
strongly associated with allergic sensitization, asthma, and other
respiratory
illnesses. Exposure to smoke results in the body's enhanced ability to produce
IgE (the allergy antibody) that attaches to allergens (for
example, pollen, dust mites
and dander). The IgE response is a key trigger of allergic reactions. Parental
smoking increases the risk of their children having many respiratory illnesses,
including bronchitis, chronic
cough, and asthma.
What Is Bronchitis?
Bronchitis is a respiratory disease in which the mucous membrane in the lungs' bronchial passages becomes inflamed. As the irritated membrane swells and grows thicker, it narrows or shuts off the tiny airways in the lungs, resulting in coughing spells accompanied by thick phlegm and breathlessness. The disease comes in two forms: acute (lasting less than 6 weeks) and chronic (reoccurring frequently for more than two years). In addition, people with asthma also experience an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes called asthmatic bronchitis.
Acute bronchitis is responsible for the hacking cough and phlegm production that sometimes accompany an upper respiratory infection. In most cases the infection is viral in origin, but sometimes it's caused by bacteria. If you are otherwise in good health, the mucous membrane will return to normal after you've recovered from the initial lung infection, which usually lasts for several days.
Chronic bronchitis is a serious long-term disorder that often requires regular medical treatment.
If you are a smoker and come down with acute bronchitis, it will be much harder for you to recover. Even one puff on a cigarette is enough to cause temporary paralysis of the tiny hair like structures in your lungs, called cilia, that are responsible for brushing out debris, irritants, and excess mucus.
If you continue smoking, you may do sufficient damage to these cilia to prevent them from functioning properly, thus increasing your chances of developing chronic bronchitis. In some heavy smokers, the membrane stays inflamed and the cilia eventually stop functioning altogether. Clogged with mucus, the lungs are then vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections, which over time distort and permanently damage the lungs' airways. This permanent condition is called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Your doctor can perform a breathing test, called spirometry, to see if you have
developed COPD.
Acute bronchitis is very common among both children and adults. The disorder often can be treated effectively without professional medical assistance. However, if you have severe or persistent symptoms or if you cough up blood, you should see your doctor. If you suffer from chronic bronchitis, you are at risk for developing cardiovascular problems as well as more serious lung diseases and infections, you should be monitored by a doctor.
Next: What causes bronchitis? »
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From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com  |
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- Bronchoscopy - Read about bronchoscopy, a procedure used to view a patient's lung, airways, voice box, vocal cord, trachea, and many branches of bronchi. There are two types of bronchoscopes, flexible fiberoptic and rigid. Source:MedicineNet
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Learn about COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease which is primarily two related diseases - chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Source:MedicineNet
- Chronic Cough - Read about chronic cough causes such as GERD, postnasal drip, rhinitis, asthma, sinus infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, smoking, and more. Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment information is included. Source:MedicineNet
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Last Editorial Review: 2/1/2008
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