Everyone coughs to clear their throat from time to time. But when a cough is persistent or starts to get phlegmy, you might have a chest cold – also known as bronchitis. Bronchitis is very common and can usually be treated at home. But if your cough lingers for more than a few weeks, it could be cause for concern.
We’ll share what you need to know about bronchitis, at-home treatments, and the signs and symptoms that let you know when you should get medical care. We have options that can help you get affordable care quickly to help you start feeling better.
Bronchitis is a condition that causes inflammation in your lung’s airways
Bronchitis affects roughly one out of 20 Americans every year. If you have bronchitis, it means that there’s swelling or inflammation in the bronchial tubes that carry air into your lungs. The inflammation narrows the airway, making it harder to breathe.
Bronchitis is often caused by a viral respiratory infection
Bronchitis typically develops from a cold or other respiratory infection, including the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19. This commonly leads to short-term (acute) bronchitis. But sometimes bronchitis-causing bacteria can infect your airway. This is more common in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The main symptom of bronchitis is a cough. In the beginning, it’s usually a dry cough, but over time, it can turn into a wet cough with a lot of mucus. In some cases, bronchitis causes violent coughing fits (intermittent coughing) or wheezing.
Other common symptoms of bronchitis are:
- Chest congestion or chest tightness
- Feeling run-down or tired
- Low-grade fever
- Mild headache or body aches
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore throat
Bronchitis feels different depending on how long you’ve had it
In the early stages of bronchitis, it can feel like breathing in cold, dry air during a Midwest winter. As time goes on, people with bronchitis will often deal with painful, persistent coughs. Some say it feels like when you’re drinking water and it goes down the wrong way. Others deal with more sharp stabbing pains that can feel like their lungs are full of glass.
Bronchitis versus pneumonia and COPD: It’s tough to tell them apart on your own
All three conditions share many of the same symptoms, including congestion, phlegm/mucus and wheezing. Because they’re so similar, it’s pretty challenging for most people to tell them apart at home. If you’re concerned about your symptoms, reach out to your doctor – they’ll be able to say for sure which one you’re struggling with.
There are two main types of bronchitis
There are several types of bronchitis, but the most common are acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term). Acute can last for a few weeks and usually isn’t severe, while chronic continues to come back and may get worse over time.
Acute bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is very common and can often last for at least two weeks. Some people may even experience coughing and other bronchitis symptoms for up to 4-6 weeks. Most people can manage their symptoms at home and often don’t require further treatment. But if your cough or other symptoms don’t begin to improve or start to worsen after two weeks, it’s important to see your doctor or clinician before the bronchitis becomes chronic.
Chronic bronchitis
When a cough lasts for several months to years, it could be chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis most often occurs in people who smoke, but it can impact non-smokers as well – especially if they have asthma, live with someone who smokes or have frequent exposure to irritants like dust or pollution. Chronic bronchitis is more serious because it could turn into pneumonia or COPD.
Bronchitis can be managed with self-care and home remedies
Most cases of bronchitis can be treated at home. To help relieve bronchitis symptoms, make sure you:
- Don’t smoke or vape
- Get plenty of rest to let your body heal
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids to help thin mucus
- Cover your face or wear a mask when you’re going to be exposed to cold air, cleaning products or other irritants
Over-the-counter and prescription medications can also be used to manage bronchitis symptoms.
Over-the-counter and prescription medication
Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), and other cold and flu products like guaifenesin (Mucinex) can help you manage bronchitis symptoms. But your doctor may also recommend an inhaler, antibiotics or other medications depending on your symptoms and medical history. These medications are used to reduce inflammation so you can breathe more easily or, in the case of a bacterial infection, antibiotics can kill bacteria.
Other therapies
If you’re suffering from chronic bronchitis, your primary care team may refer you to a pulmonologist for more advanced care, if needed.
If your cough or other respiratory symptoms stick around for more than two weeks, and don’t seem to be improving or they’re worsening, make an appointment with your primary care doctor, visit urgent care or get care from the comfort of your home with Virtuwell.
If your persistent cough is accompanied by a fever higher than 100.4° F (38° C), shortness of breath, bloody mucus or other serious symptoms, seek emergency care right away.