Bronchitis Specialist
Rapid Response Urgent Care
Family Practice and Urgent Care located in Pearland, TX
Nearly 9 million Americans were diagnosed with the respiratory inflammation bronchitis in 2015, and a majority of those affected were smokers. This debilitating condition can drastically impact your quality of life and can require ongoing treatment for regular sufferers. At Rapid Response Urgent Care in Pearland, Texas, Dr. Daniel Obi-Ofodile offers top-of-the-line treatment and prevention strategies for your bronchitis symptoms, all without the wait. To learn more, call to schedule your consultation or stop by the office today.
Bronchitis Q & A
What is bronchitis?
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes. These tubes are responsible for carrying air to and from your lungs.
What causes bronchitis?
The inflammation that occurs during bronchitis is usually caused by an irritant in your respiratory system. For example, a cold or respiratory virus can irritate the bronchial tubes, leading to an acute case of bronchitis.
People with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to the viruses that can lead to bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis is a type of bronchitis, which commonly affects smokers. Irritants in the air, such as dust or other fine particles, are also large contributors to chronic bronchitis.
What are the symptoms of bronchitis?
Bronchitis symptoms are fairly straightforward but can be mistaken for symptoms of another illness, such as the common cold. The major identifying symptom is the production of mucus during a cough. This mucus can range in colors from clear to white or green to yellow.
Other symptoms include:
- A persistent cough
- Fatigue
- Chest discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Occasional fever or chills
If you’re suffering from acute bronchitis, most of these symptoms should clear up with treatment within a week or so. Your cough may be the last symptom to subside.
Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, lasts for three months or more and tends to recur a few times each year. Though not often life-threatening, chronic bronchitis can lead to more severe respiratory issues such as pneumonia.
How is bronchitis treated?
One of the best approaches to treating bronchitis is prevention. Dr. Obi-Ofodile can provide vaccinations for the flu and other illnesses that commonly lead to bronchitis.
Giving up smoking does wonder for chronic bronchitis. You might also want to wash your hands more frequently and avoid those who are sick.
Since many cases of bronchitis emerge from viral infections, antibiotic medicines aren’t helpful. Dr. Obi-Ofodile might instead recommend treatment for your symptoms. Cough medicines or medicines for asthma can help alleviate coughing and breathing issues.
If Dr. Obi-Ofodile does suspect that another medical condition is causing your bronchitis, such as the flu or a bacterial infection, he’ll provide treatment to resolve that underlying illness.
If you regularly suffer from bronchitis and need relief, let Dr. Obi-Ofodile help. Call Rapid Response Urgent Care in Pearland, Texas, to schedule your consultation or visit the office today.