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Bronchitis: Airways
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Bronchitis is an inflammation of the breathing tubes (airways) that are called bronchi, which causes increased production of mucus and other changes. Acute bronchitis is the inflammation of mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes. This condition is usually a mild, and self-limiting condition, with complete healing and return to function.
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Bronchitis is an inflammation of the large breathing tubes (airways) that are called bronchi, which causes increased production of mucus and other changes. Although there are several different types of bronchitis, the two most common are acute and chronic (primarily affects adults).
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Chronic bronchitis is caused by inhaling respiratory tract irritants; it may ... be due to recurrent bouts of acute bronchitis. The most common cause, however, is the irritation of cigarette smoke. The cells that line the respiratory system contain fine, hair-like outgrowths called cilia. Normally, the cilia of many cells beat rhythmically to move mucus along the airways. When smoke or other irritants are inhaled or when there is irritation from repeated dry coughing, the cilia become paralyzed or snap off and the airways become inflamed, narrowed, and clogged. This leads to difficulty breathing and can progress to the life-threatening disease emphysema.
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Chronic bronchitis features regular coughing and spitting up of a great deal of thick mucus - up to an ounce a day. This mucus can partly block the airways, making breathing difficult. The condition is often dismissed as smoker's cough. The coughing is often ignored until the lungs have already been damaged. The result is [C]hronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This can lead to a chronic lack of oxygen.
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Chronic bronchitis (pronounced Bron-KI-tis) is an inflammatory condition of the airways. Your airway consists of tubes that connect your windpipe with your lungs. When the airway becomes inflamed by pollution, fumes, cigarette smoke, or other irritants, it swells in an effort to close itself and protect the lungs from the irritant. As a result, less air is able to flow to and from the lungs.
Chronic bronchitis is caused most often by exposure to airborne pollutants such as cigarette smoke, excessive dust in the air, or chemicals. The constant exposure to such pollutants begins to cause damage in the bronchioles (the smaller airways in the lungs), as the bronchial lining becomes inflamed.
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