Types of Inhalers and Nebulizers

Just when you think you’ve gotten over that respiratory infection, bronchitis hits. The coughing, chest soreness, and fatigue can really get you down.

While acute bronchitis will usually go away without prescription treatments, chronic or an especially nasty case of acute bronchitis may require some extra help.

We explain inhaled treatments for bronchitis, including nebulizer and inhaler treatments, and how they may help.

Inhalers are medications that are delivered through the mouth and to the lungs.

Usually this is a device with a short mouthpiece that connects to a small canister you press down on. When you press down and inhale, the medication enters your mouth and goes down into your lungs.

A doctor may prescribe a few different types of inhaler medications for bronchitis. These include the following:

Beta-2 agonists

Some of the most common inhaler medications are short-acting beta-2 agonists. These include medications like albuterol and salbutamol.

Doctors prescribe beta-2 agonists to treat:

• asthma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• severe coughing that can come with acute bronchitis

These medications work by relaxing airway passages in the lungs, which can make it easier to breathe.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews analyzed the results of five different studies of beta-2 agonists as a treatment for acute bronchitis in adults.

They concluded that there’s little evidence to support the use of beta-2 agonists in adults with acute bronchitis.

However, they did find that inhalers helped people who tended to wheeze frequently, even when they weren’t sick.

Inhaled corticosteroids

Inhaled corticosteroids help to reduce airway inflammation. This can be helpful when you have bronchitis, because it’s usually after an upper respiratory infection and your lungs are already very irritated.

These medications won’t relieve a wheezing attack immediately, but they can help to reduce:

• airway swelling
• excess mucus
• tight airways

Examples of inhaled corticosteroids doctors prescribe include:

• beclomethasone
• budesonide
• fluticasone

Long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs)

These medications are similar to short-acting beta-2 agonists like albuterol. They aren’t meant for acute attacks of wheezing, but rather reduce the risk of wheezing all day.

Examples of LABAs include arformoterol tartrate (Brovana) and formoterol fumarate (Oxeze, Foradil).

Doctors usually prescribe these with inhaled corticosteroids.

Nebulizer treatments are another form of inhaled medications. Instead of a short mouthpiece, nebulizer treatments usually have a longer mouthpiece and an air compressor that helps convert the medication to a fine mist.

Doctors often prescribe nebulizers to children who may have a harder time using an inhaler properly.

Instead of having to time the pumps to breathe medication in, a person just takes deep breaths in and out to take in the medication.

Nebulizers are also useful for people who may require larger amounts of inhaled medications, such as those for:

• acute asthma attacks
• pneumonia
• COPD

A doctor would usually prescribe nebulized medications to treat acute bronchitis in children or for chronic bronchitis in adults.

Examples of nebulized medications include:

• Long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs). These medications are usually the same as those available for inhalers.
• Long-acting muscarinic agents (LAMAs). These medications work on different receptors in the lungs than beta-agonists to help open up the airways so you can breathe better. Examples of these medicines include umeclinium (Ellipta) and tiotropium (HandiHaler, Respimat).
• Short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs). Like with traditional inhalers, a person can use albuterol in a nebulizer. These are mostly for acute attacks in bronchitis, such as wheezing.
• Short-acting muscarinic antagonists (SAMAs). These are medications like ipratropium bromide (Atrovent). Doctors prescribe them to treat chronic bronchitis and COPD.

Many of these medications are available in combination, such as SABA-SAMA or LABA-LAMA.

Nebulized medications may not be as good a fit for adults without COPD, because nebulizers require special equipment and teaching to use.

Ideally, a person with acute bronchitis wouldn’t need this type of equipment.

In addition to nebulizers and inhalers, some people may inhale warm, humidified air (steam) at home to improve their breathing.

Sometimes cold air can irritate the lungs and worsen coughing when you have bronchitis. Warm, moist air may help you feel better and reduce coughing.

Here are some ways you can incorporate steam or mist therapy into your bronchitis treatments:

• inhale steam from a bowl of boiling water, while hovering at least 8 to 12 inches away with a towel over your head to hold the steam in
• take a hot shower
• use a humidifier in your room, but be sure to carefully clean it after use

Many drugstores also sell plugin steam inhalers.

The side effects from inhalers and nebulizer treatments depend upon the type used. Examples of side effects include the following:

• Beta-2 agonists may cause tremors, nervousness, and shakiness.
• Corticosteroids can causesore mouth, cough, hoarse voice, or nosebleeds. Oral thrush can develop if a person doesn’t rinse their mouth out after use.
• LABAs can cause heart palpitations and tremors.
• LAMAs may cause constipation, dry mouth, and urinary retention.

If you experience any of these when you use an inhaler or nebulizer, talk to your doctor about ways to minimize these side effects. You can also find out if other medications are available.

They may suggest using a spacer device, which maximizes the delivery of the medication to the lungs. This minimizes the settling of medication to the back of the throat, which can lead to side effects.

With treatment and rest, you’ll ideally recover within about 1 to 2 weeks. It may take a bit longer for some people.

If your symptoms, especially your cough, persist beyond 3 weeks, consider scheduling another appointment with your doctor.

A doctor can evaluate you for other potential coughing causes, such as:

• asthma
• sinusitis
• COPD
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• heart failure
• pulmonary embolism

According to StatPearls, doctors may misdiagnose as many as one-third of patients with bronchitis when the patients actually have asthma.

You should talk with a doctor if you have a cough that persists after an upper respiratory infection, and it keeps you from completing everyday activities or starts to make your chest hurt.

If you have a fever that accompanies your symptoms, your infection may be bacterial. A doctor can prescribe antibiotics that can help bronchitis go away.

If your cough persists after 3 weeks, you may need to make another appointment with your doctor. Bronchitis will usually subside by this time, so you could have another medical condition.

Sometimes, bronchitis can lead to pneumonia. This is a severe lung infection.

Seek emergency medical treatment if you have worsening symptoms like:

• shortness of breath
• blue-tinted lips or fingernails
• confusion

Doctors usually treat bronchitis by treating its symptoms.

If your symptoms include wheezing and coughing, your doctor may prescribe an inhaler or nebulizer. These may help you manage your symptoms until you start feeling better.

Types of Inhalers and Nebulizers

Just when you think you’ve gotten over that respiratory infection, bronchitis hits. The coughing, chest soreness, and fatigue can really get you down.

While acute bronchitis will usually go away without prescription treatments, chronic or an especially nasty case of acute bronchitis may require some extra help.

We explain inhaled treatments for bronchitis, including nebulizer and inhaler treatments, and how they may help.

Inhalers are medications that are delivered through the mouth and to the lungs.

Usually this is a device with a short mouthpiece that connects to a small canister you press down on. When you press down and inhale, the medication enters your mouth and goes down into your lungs.

A doctor may prescribe a few different types of inhaler medications for bronchitis. These include the following:

Beta-2 agonists

Some of the most common inhaler medications are short-acting beta-2 agonists. These include medications like albuterol and salbutamol.

Doctors prescribe beta-2 agonists to treat:

• asthma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• severe coughing that can come with acute bronchitis

These medications work by relaxing airway passages in the lungs, which can make it easier to breathe.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews analyzed the results of five different studies of beta-2 agonists as a treatment for acute bronchitis in adults.

They concluded that there’s little evidence to support the use of beta-2 agonists in adults with acute bronchitis.

However, they did find that inhalers helped people who tended to wheeze frequently, even when they weren’t sick.

Inhaled corticosteroids

Inhaled corticosteroids help to reduce airway inflammation. This can be helpful when you have bronchitis, because it’s usually after an upper respiratory infection and your lungs are already very irritated.

These medications won’t relieve a wheezing attack immediately, but they can help to reduce:

• airway swelling
• excess mucus
• tight airways

Examples of inhaled corticosteroids doctors prescribe include:

• beclomethasone
• budesonide
• fluticasone

Long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs)

These medications are similar to short-acting beta-2 agonists like albuterol. They aren’t meant for acute attacks of wheezing, but rather reduce the risk of wheezing all day.

Examples of LABAs include arformoterol tartrate (Brovana) and formoterol fumarate (Oxeze, Foradil).

Doctors usually prescribe these with inhaled corticosteroids.

Nebulizer treatments are another form of inhaled medications. Instead of a short mouthpiece, nebulizer treatments usually have a longer mouthpiece and an air compressor that helps convert the medication to a fine mist.

Doctors often prescribe nebulizers to children who may have a harder time using an inhaler properly.

Instead of having to time the pumps to breathe medication in, a person just takes deep breaths in and out to take in the medication.

Nebulizers are also useful for people who may require larger amounts of inhaled medications, such as those for:

• acute asthma attacks
• pneumonia
• COPD

A doctor would usually prescribe nebulized medications to treat acute bronchitis in children or for chronic bronchitis in adults.

Examples of nebulized medications include:

• Long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs). These medications are usually the same as those available for inhalers.
• Long-acting muscarinic agents (LAMAs). These medications work on different receptors in the lungs than beta-agonists to help open up the airways so you can breathe better. Examples of these medicines include umeclinium (Ellipta) and tiotropium (HandiHaler, Respimat).
• Short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs). Like with traditional inhalers, a person can use albuterol in a nebulizer. These are mostly for acute attacks in bronchitis, such as wheezing.
• Short-acting muscarinic antagonists (SAMAs). These are medications like ipratropium bromide (Atrovent). Doctors prescribe them to treat chronic bronchitis and COPD.

Many of these medications are available in combination, such as SABA-SAMA or LABA-LAMA.

Nebulized medications may not be as good a fit for adults without COPD, because nebulizers require special equipment and teaching to use.

Ideally, a person with acute bronchitis wouldn’t need this type of equipment.

In addition to nebulizers and inhalers, some people may inhale warm, humidified air (steam) at home to improve their breathing.

Sometimes cold air can irritate the lungs and worsen coughing when you have bronchitis. Warm, moist air may help you feel better and reduce coughing.

Here are some ways you can incorporate steam or mist therapy into your bronchitis treatments:

• inhale steam from a bowl of boiling water, while hovering at least 8 to 12 inches away with a towel over your head to hold the steam in
• take a hot shower
• use a humidifier in your room, but be sure to carefully clean it after use

Many drugstores also sell plugin steam inhalers.

The side effects from inhalers and nebulizer treatments depend upon the type used. Examples of side effects include the following:

• Beta-2 agonists may cause tremors, nervousness, and shakiness.
• Corticosteroids can causesore mouth, cough, hoarse voice, or nosebleeds. Oral thrush can develop if a person doesn’t rinse their mouth out after use.
• LABAs can cause heart palpitations and tremors.
• LAMAs may cause constipation, dry mouth, and urinary retention.

If you experience any of these when you use an inhaler or nebulizer, talk to your doctor about ways to minimize these side effects. You can also find out if other medications are available.

They may suggest using a spacer device, which maximizes the delivery of the medication to the lungs. This minimizes the settling of medication to the back of the throat, which can lead to side effects.

With treatment and rest, you’ll ideally recover within about 1 to 2 weeks. It may take a bit longer for some people.

If your symptoms, especially your cough, persist beyond 3 weeks, consider scheduling another appointment with your doctor.

A doctor can evaluate you for other potential coughing causes, such as:

• asthma
• sinusitis
• COPD
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• heart failure
• pulmonary embolism

According to StatPearls, doctors may misdiagnose as many as one-third of patients with bronchitis when the patients actually have asthma.

You should talk with a doctor if you have a cough that persists after an upper respiratory infection, and it keeps you from completing everyday activities or starts to make your chest hurt.

If you have a fever that accompanies your symptoms, your infection may be bacterial. A doctor can prescribe antibiotics that can help bronchitis go away.

If your cough persists after 3 weeks, you may need to make another appointment with your doctor. Bronchitis will usually subside by this time, so you could have another medical condition.

Sometimes, bronchitis can lead to pneumonia. This is a severe lung infection.

Seek emergency medical treatment if you have worsening symptoms like:

• shortness of breath
• blue-tinted lips or fingernails
• confusion

Doctors usually treat bronchitis by treating its symptoms.

If your symptoms include wheezing and coughing, your doctor may prescribe an inhaler or nebulizer. These may help you manage your symptoms until you start feeling better.

All about inhalations for bronchitis

Contents

• Are inhalations effective for bronchitis?
• Inhalations for respiratory diseases at home
• Rules for inhalation
• Useful video about the treatment of chronic bronchitis

Why many patients who have been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, in desperation, sort through all possible drugs, stop smoking, strive to lead an active lifestyle , but in the end they break down and throw their health? Because it is not only pointless, but completely useless to treat chronic respiratory diseases and not do inhalations.

Tablets and injections are important. However, only inhalations for bronchitis bring drugs directly to the affected area. Properly performed inhalation is the key to successful treatment of respiratory diseases.

Are inhalation treatments effective for bronchitis?

The term “inhalation” is of Latin origin and literally translates as “inhalation”. Even in ancient times, it was noticed that the condition of patients with respiratory diseases improves significantly if they stay in salt caves for some time. Over time, many devices and tools appeared that made it possible to do therapeutic inhalations at home.

Today, inhalations for bronchitis have not lost popularity, there are three types of procedures:

• Steam inhalations. This is the simplest modification available to everyone. To carry out this procedure at home, a small pot of hot water is enough, in which you must first add the medicinal components. The steam rising from the container consists of large particles of water and medicine that penetrate directly into the respiratory tract.
• Aerosols. Classic inhalers used by patients with bronchial asthma contain a drug that is sprayed in the form of medium-sized particles.
• Nebulizer. The most efficient inhalation device. Due to the special principle of operation, the nebulizer sprays the medicine in the form of a cloud of tiny particles that penetrate deep into the respiratory tract.

Three inhalations – three spray sizes – three exposure levels. The bronchial tree is a branched structure, where each subsequent branch is smaller in diameter than the previous one.

1. The trachea and large bronchi are the widest part of the respiratory tract, and in case of tracheobronchitis, it is enough to do only steam inhalations and use aerosols.
2. The middle bronchi are smaller in diameter and only small particles can enter, which can be obtained using an aerosol and nebulizer.
3. Small bronchi and bronchioles are the final and narrowest sections of the bronchial tree, where only the smallest particles generated by the nebulizer can penetrate.

See also: How to choose and use a nebulizer for children

Inhalations, unlike tablets and injections, act directly on the affected bronchi. To evaluate the effectiveness of inhalation in bronchitis, you can draw an analogy with other diseases. For example, for large skin burns, tablets, injections and droppers, of course, are prescribed, but they will be of no use if the affected surface is not treated locally.

With respiratory diseases, everything is the same. Inhalations for bronchitis allow you to deliver the drug directly into the respiratory tract. The effectiveness of such therapy is much higher, and side effects are minimal.

Inhalations for respiratory diseases at home

Traveling through salt caves has long ceased to be an indispensable component of the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases. Today, everyone can make full and effective inhalations at home.

Steam inhalation

Large particles of steam have a good effect on the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, which makes the procedure very effective for obstructive bronchitis and diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

To perform steam inhalation, you will need a small pot, a kettle of hot water and medicine. Next, you need to do the following:

1. Pour hot water into a pot and add the required amount of medicine to it.
2. Cover with a towel so that the steam goes directly into the respiratory tract, and does not scatter around.
3. Breathe the steam for 5-10 minutes, no more and no less.

To carry out steam inhalations for obstructive bronchitis at home, you can use the following drugs, which are widely used in the treatment of many respiratory diseases:

• essential oils of eucalyptus, fir, juniper, pine and other conifers,
• a teaspoon of baking soda diluted in 1.5 cups of water,
• fresh garlic and onion juice in the amount of 1-1.5 teaspoons diluted in 0.5 liters of boiling water,
• 20 mg of St. John’s wort, sage, chamomile, calendula and 25 g of oak bark, insist in 0.5 l of boiling water,
• 30 g of chamomile and pine buds to insist in 0. 5 liters of boiling water.

The same remedies are quite suitable for diseases of the ENT organs and acute tracheobronchitis.

Even with such a simple procedure as steam inhalation, care must be taken, as hot steam can burn the face and mucous membranes. Of course, if there is an allergy to any of the described components, then it is strictly forbidden to use it.

See also: Lump in the throat: why does it occur?

Aerosol inhalers

Aerosol inhalers are most often produced in ready-made form, but there are also devices that need to be filled with drugs (for example, ultrasonic nebulizers). In the last century, every asthma patient had a pocket inhaler, because it can be used to alleviate an attack. It is to soften, and not to cut off – the aerosol consists of medium-sized particles that do not penetrate into the small bronchi, and it is they who spasm during an attack.

On the other hand, the rather large diameter of the sprayed particles makes this agent the best option for inhalation in obstructive bronchitis, especially often recurrent. –> In order for inhalation to be effective, the following recommendations must be followed:

• Aerosol should be sprayed mid-inspiratory,
• you need to inhale the medicine, and not keep it in your mouth or swallow it.

The following medicines are used in aerosol inhalers:

1. Bronchodilators (berodual, berotek, atrovent and others). These drugs expand the lumen of the bronchi, relieve spasm and greatly facilitate breathing. Bronchodilators are used not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of bronchospasm.
2. Antitussives. Reduce the excitability of the receptors of the bronchial mucosa and thereby relieve cough.
3. Mucolytics and mucokinetics. This group of drugs effectively thins sputum and stimulates its expectoration, which is very useful in acute tracheobronchitis. They are strictly forbidden to be used together with antitussive drugs, otherwise it will lead to “swamping” of the lungs.
4. Antibacterial preparations and antiseptics. They destroy the pathogenic flora, preventing the development of an infectious and inflammatory process.
5. Hormonal and antiallergic preparations. They reduce swelling of the mucous membrane, eliminate bronchospasm, relieve the inflammatory reaction.
6. Essential oils are a good addition to any inhalations for bronchitis. Oils have anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous and moisturizing effects.

The doctor selects drugs in each individual case. Unauthorized use of the described drugs can lead to serious complications and side effects that require emergency medical attention.

Inhalation using a nebulizer

A nebulizer is a special inhalation device that sprays drugs in the form of tiny particles that can reach the furthest reaches of the bronchial tree. At the present stage, the nebulizer is the most effective device for inhalation in bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis. The device can be purchased at almost any pharmacy at an affordable price and used at home.

See also: White lumps in the throat: causes and treatment

The nebulizer is devoid of another serious drawback that steam and aerosol inhalers have. Suspension from the medicinal product is not formed as a result of heating, but by the formation of fine dust. In this regard, there is absolutely no risk of burning the respiratory tract. –> For inhalation using a nebulizer, the following drugs can be used:

1. Atrovent is an old, but no less effective bronchodilator. Eliminates bronchospasm, relieves an attack of bronchial asthma, facilitates breathing.
2. Salbutamol is another bronchodilator sold in pharmacies in various forms, including diluted. It is used both for the treatment and for the prevention of diseases of the lower respiratory tract.
3. Magnesium sulfate is used to relieve the condition in the absence of severe bronchospasm.
4. Lazolvan is a powerful mucolytic. Liquefies phlegm, stimulates expectoration.
5. Fluimucil is another mucolytic that preferentially thins viscous sputum. With a dry cough, it is not recommended to use it.

It must be remembered that in order to avoid serious complications, which are typical for both acute and chronic respiratory diseases, you should consult a doctor before starting inhalation.

Inhalation rules

Regardless of the method of inhalation, certain rules must be observed during this procedure. Following these simple recommendations allows you to make the treatment absolutely safe, and at the same time achieve a speedy recovery.

• All inhalations (except for emergency inhalations) are carried out on an empty stomach or 1 hour after a meal.
• During inhalation, breathe calmly and evenly.
• After inhalation, physical activity should be limited for 1 hour. It is advisable not to talk so that the drug has time to act on the bronchial mucosa.
• If several drugs are prescribed, then inhalations are carried out first with bronchodilators, and then with expectorants.
• It is strictly forbidden to use oil solutions in nebulizers.

Competent therapy of respiratory diseases is unthinkable without inhalations. It is an affordable, safe and convenient way to treat acute and chronic bronchitis, as well as bronchial asthma. However, one should never forget that self-treatment can lead to sad consequences. Recovery is possible only if the treatment is carried out under the supervision of a physician.

Shuravin Pavel,

Useful video about the treatment of chronic bronchitis

treatment of bronchitis in an adult, symptoms of acute and chronic bronchitis

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi of various origins, but mainly of an infectious nature. According to the location of the focus of inflammation, tracheobronchitis is distinguished (the trachea and large bronchi are involved), bronchitis, which affects the bronchi of medium and small caliber, bronchiolitis (the process is localized in the bronchioles).

Types of bronchitis

The disease is subdivided into types according to several criteria: by etiology, course, by the type of violations of the ventilation capacity of the lungs. The cause that triggered the development of inflammation may be of an infectious, allergic nature or arise from the inhalation of toxic substances into the respiratory tract. Infectious bronchitis can be viral, bacterial, or fungal. Allergic occurs under the influence of an allergen. Bronchitis can also occur as a result of the adverse effects of chemical and physical factors, may be associated with professional activities.

According to the clinical principle, bronchitis is subdivided into acute and chronic . Acute bronchitis in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is designated by the J20 code. This is an acute inflammation of the bronchi, which, with proper therapy, can be cured within two, maximum three weeks. In chronic bronchitis (code J41), periods of relapse and remission periodically replace each other.

According to the type of disturbances in the ventilation capacity of the lungs, bronchitis is obstructive and non-obstructive . Obstructive bronchitis is accompanied by bronchial edema and bronchospasm, and requires complex therapy. In addition to drugs from the standard protocol for the treatment of bronchitis, bronchospasmolytics are needed to relieve bronchial obstruction.

Symptoms of bronchitis

The first signs of bronchitis resemble the symptoms of SARS. First of all, these are wheezing and cough: dry or wet with a small amount of sputum. Dry cough is characteristic of viral bronchitis, greenish sputum with a productive cough indicates the bacterial nature of the disease. On auscultation, hoarse breathing and wheezing are heard.

The volume of sputum increases within two to three days. The temperature rises to the level of subfebrile (37-38 ° C). The rise in temperature depends not so much on the severity of the disease, but on the state of immunity. The stronger the immune system, the more pronounced the temperature reaction. In some cases, bronchitis occurs without fever.

Treatment of bronchitis in adults

Treatment of bronchitis is a complex approach that includes medication, inhalation, breathing exercises, a diet with plenty of fluids, warm drinks. Do not self-medicate. Medicines are prescribed by a doctor based on the results of tests, including complete blood count and sputum examination. Clinical recommendations, in addition to mucolytics and bronchodilators, include agents to combat infectious agents.

Antibiotics are indicated only for bacterial origin of bronchitis. With viral bronchitis, antiviral drugs are prescribed. Acute bronchitis, which occurs without complications, is treated at home. In this case, you need to take seriously the observance of the bed, or at least a sparing regimen.

Inhalation for bronchitis

Aerosol therapy is a popular treatment for bronchitis, but only if the correct inhalation technique is followed. Advantages of inhalation over other drug delivery methods:

• the necessary concentration of the medicinal substance is created in the lungs;
• therapeutic result is achieved with a lower dose of the drug;
• when applied topically, there are no side effects characteristic of the systemic action of drugs;
• when inhaled, a rapid response of the body to the drug occurs.

But the appointment of inhalations requires a qualification from a pulmonologist, which not every doctor has. He must correctly prescribe a therapeutic solution, select a nebulizer of a suitable design for the patient and teach inhalation techniques. According to the experts of the European Respiratory Society, only 10% of the effectiveness of inhalation is due to the medicinal substance, 90% – to the correct technique of inhalation .

Breathing exercises for bronchitis

Breathing exercises are a proven method of restoring the respiratory system for decades. Breathing exercises, introduced into daily practice, will help get rid of many diseases, including the effects of bronchitis. To expel sputum, it is enough to practice daily for 15-30 minutes.

One of the most popular sets of breathing exercises is Strelnikova’s breathing exercises. Alexandra Nikolaevna Strelnikova experienced the effect of the method on herself. The problem was familiar to her: as an opera singer, she lost her voice due to asthma.

Strelnikova’s therapeutic gymnastics is a combination of a certain breathing technique and a set of movements that compress the chest and direct air into the lower lobes of the lungs. Full diaphragmatic breathing occurs, blood oxygen saturation increases.

Medicines for bronchitis

Various tasks are solved in the treatment of bronchitis:

• Antivirals and antibiotics fight viruses and bacteria. Not every antibiotic is suitable for pregnant women.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce fever, fight inflammation, and reduce pain.
• Mucolytics thin sputum and help to expel it from the body.
• Antitussive drugs suppress unproductive dry cough.
• Vasoconstrictor drugs reduce swelling of the bronchial mucosa.
• Bronchodilators relieve bronchospasm in obstructive bronchitis.

In the treatment of dry cough, one should not miss the moment when the unproductive dry cough of the first days of the disease is replaced by a productive one with sputum. At this stage, the antitussive drug is replaced with a mucolytic. If you continue to take an antitussive that suppresses the cough reflex, there will be problems with sputum removal.

Rengalin universal remedy can help with this problem. These tablets are suitable for the treatment of both dry and wet coughs. The drug has already been awarded the national award “Brand No. 1 in Russia” three times in the nomination “The best cough remedy”. Suitable for both adults and children from 3 years of age.

Prevention of bronchitis

The most common cause of bronchitis is infectious. For its prevention, the same measures are taken as for the prevention of viral and bacterial infections. In addition to the fact that inflammation of the bronchi is a serious disease in itself, its complications are dangerous. To prevent infection, avoid contact with sick people. Wash your hands regularly. During the period of seasonal exacerbation of infections, refuse to attend mass events.

Recurrent bronchitis often worsens in autumn. For the prevention of exacerbation, exercise therapy exercises are useful, including breathing exercises:

• improved bronchial function;
• increased oxygen supply;
• improves blood flow to the pleural area,
• liquefies and excretes sputum;
• increases the absorption of drugs;
• regenerate bronchial tissues;
• increases immunity.

Frequently asked questions

Is there bronchitis with coronavirus or not?

Coronavirus pathogens multiply in receptors located in the nasal passages and in the bronchioles, the thinnest branches of the bronchial tree. So covid causes bronchiolitis, not bronchitis.

How to distinguish bronchitis from other diseases?

The main differences are in the location of the focus of inflammation and the nature of the clinical picture. For example, tracheitis develops above the bronchi. With proper treatment, there is no threat of developing pneumonia, unlike bronchitis, in which pneumonia is a possible complication. And bronchitis differs from pneumonia in a less forced course. Symptoms develop gradually, while pneumonia develops abruptly and aggressively.

Is bronchitis contagious?

Allergic bronchitis is not contagious. And inflammation of the bronchi of a bacterial and viral nature is just as dangerous for others as any other infection.

Is it possible to get vaccinated against coronavirus in case of chronic bronchitis?

During remission it is possible. Chronic bronchitis is not a contraindication to vaccination if there is no allergy to the components of the vaccine.