Any disease is easier to prevent than cure. This truth seems hackneyed to many, but it has not become less relevant, especially with regard to such a serious disease as chronic bronchitis. It may be a consequence of the flu or SARS, but it may have other causes.
Prevention of chronic bronchitis is precisely aimed at eliminating the factors that provoked this disease.
Basic information
Chronic bronchitis is an inflammatory process in the bronchi, accompanied by a constant unproductive cough (with a slight secretion of sputum).
Not every protracted bronchitis can be considered chronic, but only a disease in which symptoms are observed for at least three months a year for at least two years. And, of course, it is important to make sure that these signs do not speak about other diseases of the respiratory system.
All bronchitis is dangerous in that pathological phenomena can spread to the lungs, leading to the development of diseases such as pneumosclerosis or emphysema.
Reasons for development, treatment
Prevention and treatment of chronic bronchitis is not possible if the causes that caused this disease are not established. Some of the reasons include:
- prolonged exposure to irritating factors on the bronchi, for example, dust, carbon dioxide, various harmful substances in the workplace;
- recurrent respiratory infections, most often of a viral nature, although they can also be caused by pathogenic microorganisms (pneumococci);
- constant dry air in the room;
- prolonged exposure to cold (when a person inhales cold air).
The cause of chronic bronchitis may be a genetic predisposition, but this is relatively rare. In addition, one should take into account the presence of predisposing factors, which include chronic inflammatory processes in the organs of the respiratory system, a decrease in the body's immunity, and an unfavorable environmental situation.
The treatment of chronic bronchitis directly depends on the cause that caused it. It is possible to take antiviral drugs (for example, Novirin), antibiotics, bronchodilators (theophylline).
At home, inhalations are made with essential oils of eucalyptus and juniper.
Primary prevention
All preventive measures that are taken to prevent chronic bronchitis can be divided into primary and secondary prevention. They differ in what stage of the disease the patient tries to prevent exposure to harmful factors.
Primary prevention of chronic bronchitis is a whole range of measures that are aimed both at preventing the development of this disease, and at preventing its progression. Basically, they should eliminate the above reasons, which lead to inflammatory processes.
Partially, measures of primary prevention of bronchitis should be taken at the enterprise. It is about protecting workers from exposure to harmful production factors. In addition, companies must ensure that toxic substances do not enter the environment.
But the prevention of the acute form of the disease, and the prevention of exacerbations of chronic bronchitis to a large extent still depend on the patient himself. It is he who must consult a doctor in a timely manner in the presence of symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, carry out rehabilitation of chronic foci of infection (and for this it is necessary, among other things, to go to the dentist regularly, as caries can also play a negative role in the development of pathology).
Prevention of chronic bronchitis in the elderly can have its own characteristics. The fact is that they often go to the doctor later, since chronic bronchitis in them can develop asymptomatically for a long time. In this case, even as it develops, the symptoms will be uncharacteristic, since they mainly come down to tightness and burning in the chest, headaches, etc.
At the same time, for the elderly, this disease is dangerous because it can lead to heart failure. That is why at this age it is especially important to pay attention to breathing exercises and strengthening immunity.
Prevention of complications of chronic bronchitis is aimed at restoring the function of not only the respiratory system, but also other internal organs, which may suffer due to lack of oxygen.
An important role is played by influenza vaccination. It allows you to eliminate one of the most common causes of chronic bronchitis. Vaccination is carried out every year at least one month before the onset of the ARVI season with drugs that have been approved by the WHO and contain strains of both seasonal influenza, characteristic of the area, and the variety that is predicted in the coming season.
Prevention of acute and chronic form: general principles
First you need to understand what is the prevention of acute and chronic bronchitis. In the first case, usually the cause of the disease is a viral and bacterial infection. Moreover, usually a person first "catches" a viral disease, and on the second or third day a bacterial infection joins, and pathogenic microbes enter the bronchi.
Therefore, the prevention of acute bronchitis, which could eventually become chronic, resembles preventive measures against influenza and SARS.
The rules are simple.
Public places
In the cold season, when immunity is reduced and viruses are active, large crowds should be avoided. Of course, complete isolation is impossible, because you have to travel to work by public transport.
In this case, you need to wear a medical mask. It also does not guarantee 100% protection, but it is still better than nothing. You just need to consider that its protective effect is designed for about two hours, after which the mask needs to be changed.
Immunity strengthening
Immunity should be taken care of. Although today scientists say that the antiviral effect of ascorbic acid is greatly exaggerated, in fact, vitamins are very necessary for natural protection, especially in winter. It is not even necessary to take vitamin complexes, it is enough to balance the diet by including seasonal vegetables, citrus fruits, drinks from dried or frozen berries.
A lot of vitamin C is found, for example, in blackcurrant, in wild rose. Also, to strengthen the immune system, it is important that the body receives enough protein, preferably of animal origin.
Hygiene
It is necessary to observe the rules of hygiene. Viruses can persist for a long time, not only on the skin of the hands or nasal mucosa, but even on those things in which a person goes outside. Therefore, leaving the house, it is worth taking wet wipes with you. And, of course, after visiting places where there are many people at the same time, you should treat your hands with an antiseptic gel, rinse your nose with seawater (“Aquamaris” type sprays will do), and sometimes you can also rinse your throat.
Speaking about the simplest preventive measures, do not forget about wet cleaning. She should be regular. The apartment should be aired daily, even in winter.
It is very important that the air in the room is humid enough. Due to the operation of central heating systems in the winter, it becomes very dry, and it affects the bronchi annoyingly. Specialty humidifiers are sold in pharmacies, but they are quite expensive, so you can use cheaper methods - for example, just hang a wet towel on the radiator.
An important role in the prevention of acute and prophylactic bronchitis is played by physiotherapy exercises - these are mainly complexes of breathing exercises. If the state of health allows, it is worth paying attention to aerobic training, which improves the functioning of the respiratory system as a whole.
Secondary prevention
Secondary prevention of chronic bronchitis is aimed at preventing exacerbations in this disease. It also includes the active treatment of various respiratory infections. It all depends on the patient’s lifestyle, on how much he is configured to change the situation.
The fact is that the most basic thing that he has to do is to give up bad habits, and first of all - from smoking, since it is precisely this that most often leads to such situations. This is not easy, just the willpower and support of relatives is not enough here, most often medical attention is required.
In addition, in order to avoid exacerbations, you need to visit a doctor at least twice a year, even if the patient feels well and has no signs of chronic bronchitis.
At the first symptoms of respiratory failure, it is all the more important to seek medical help. The faster a person does this and begins to take medications prescribed by a doctor, the more chances there are to prevent a full exacerbation of the disease.
Massotherapy
Useful therapeutic massage. There are various types of it. For example, many experts recommend vibration massage.
Another effective method is postural drainage, when the patient spends 20 minutes twice a day in a certain position, in which the bronchi are released from the remnants of sputum.
Salt
For the prevention of exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, an option such as a salt cave is recommended.
Such facilities are equipped not only in resorts, but also in medical centers. Patients breathe salt fumes, which relieve inflammatory processes.
Physical therapy as a preventive method
Prevention and treatment of chronic bronchitis necessarily include exercise therapy. Such gymnastics involves a set of dynamic and static exercises, the purpose of which is to normalize the drainage function of the bronchi, reduce inflammatory processes, increase natural immunity. Such gymnastics is contraindicated only in the presence of asthmatic status or respiratory failure.
Respiratory exercises are done with acute bronchitis to prevent its transition to a chronic form. Moreover, they start it during the period of bed rest, approximately on the 3-5th day, lying or sitting on the bed.
Basically, it includes various breathing exercises (such as "arms up on the inhale, arms down on the exhale"), and only after a week you can proceed to the exercises dynamic, starting with the simplest - walking in place. Breathing exercises are not as easy as they seem. You need to learn a certain type of breathing when you inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth.
Doctors recommend doing therapeutic exercises according to Kuznetsov. Remembering it is very simple: these are the already mentioned exercises with raising and lowering the hands, only they are done in a faster rhythm, and breathing should be the same as described - with increased expiration of the mouth. There is also an effective Strelnikova technique, but for her, you still need to master breathing using the abdominal muscles. In the absence of contraindications, you can do yoga, but only under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
Doctors warn that the set of exercises for the prevention of chronic bronchitis in adults should be periodically changed. To do the same movements day after day for several years is at least inefficient.