If bronchitis has already begun, then it is best to treat it under the supervision of a qualified doctor, otherwise the risk of developing a variety of complications is high. In addition, an illness from an acute form can easily turn into a chronic one, treatment of bronchitis will be much more difficult than it could be.
general information
Bronchitis is an inflammatory process that affects the organs of the respiratory system and manifests itself as a strong cough. There are two main forms: chronicles, acute. The first is diagnosed if the cough is fixed for a quarter of a year or more. If the disease occurs briefly, but recurs with a disturbing frequency, it is called acute. There are many cases when bronchitis returns every couple of months, but lasts a week or a little more. To a greater extent this is characteristic of persons with a weakened immune system.
The treatment of bronchitis is selected based on the form found in the patient. Chronicle and acute types require different approaches, since the causes of the disease are different. Another type of bronchitis is called obstructive. It is accompanied by swelling of the respiratory system, coughing and inability to breathe, the patient suffocates.
Where did the trouble come from?
Since the causes of the disease in many respects determine what means of treatment for bronchitis should be used, it is reasonable to consider provocative factors. Most often, an infectious agent, a virus, a bacterium is observed in the body. Infection with atypical pathogenic microscopic life forms is possible - mycoplasma, fungi, chlamydia. The most common picture of the disease is a viral infection, against the background of which pathogenic bacteria are activated. More often, bronchitis is diagnosed in the fall, winter, during the period of epidemics of the common cold, flu.
In many ways, the risk of infection depends on the human immunity, local protective forces of the respiratory system. It is more likely that treatment of acute bronchitis is required if a person lives in contaminated, very dry air. Bad habits increase the danger of pathological processes. The strongest influence is smoking. In a chronic form, the disease can provoke frequent exposure to cold air, production factors, tobacco smoke. The latter concerns not only smokers, but also people who are forced to be near. Relapses of an infectious lesion of the respiratory organs, a weak immune system - all this provokes bronchitis, including the chronic form.
How to suspect a disease? Symptoms of bronchitis
Treatment is necessary if the person is constantly coughing. With the disease, both wet and dry cough are possible. If the pathology is provoked by a virus, at first the patient coughs weakly, gradually the character changes to productive, moist. This indicates the development of bacterial infection. Acute bronchitis is accompanied by fever, weakness, the patient feels bad. As medical statistics show, in adulthood, mainly patients prefer not to take sick leave because of such a disease, but suffer pathology “on their feet”. This provokes a severe course, initiates the processes of obstruction.
It is possible to understand that treatment of chronic bronchitis is necessary if a person is constantly coughing, and physical activity quickly causes shortness of breath. During exacerbations, the symptoms become brighter.
What to do?
The inhabitants are accustomed to thinking that there is nothing wrong with the symptoms of bronchitis in adults. Many people postpone treatment “until better times”, hoping that the disease will exhaust itself. Doctors are approached when it becomes unbearable to endure, and the boss at work strongly recommends going to the hospital so as not to spread the infection among colleagues. For some reason, it is generally accepted that bronchitis does not constitute a serious danger. In fact, this is a mistake, because the disease can easily cause numerous complications. Trust her treatment with a qualified doctor prescribing tests to identify an infectious agent. Already on the basis of data obtained during technological research, they decide how to deal with infection.
It must be remembered that coughing does not always require treatment of bronchitis in adults. Symptom may indicate another disease, even more serious and dangerous. If a cough starts to bother, it’s wise to make an appointment with a therapist. In addition, a pulmonologist, a doctor specializing in diseases of the respiratory system, will provide assistance. At the reception, the doctor will examine the patient, collect information about the course of the pathology, listen to the lungs, bronchi. If you suspect bronchitis, you will have to donate blood, sputum, undergo an X-ray to exclude tuberculosis, pneumonia. If the disease often recurs, an atypical infectious agent should be checked. In obstructive form, spirography is prescribed, checking how large the pulmonary respiratory volume is.
Acute form: what to do?
Treatment of bronchitis begins with the choice of the optimal diet, the appointment of a regimen and the selection of medications for the relief of pronounced symptoms. Until the heat subsides, you should be in bed, relax, sleep. The patient is recommended to drink a lot, use only light dishes, use mineral water with an alkaline composition. If a bacterial infection is detected, antimicrobials are prescribed. With the viral nature of the disease, special medication is not prescribed, since it is extremely difficult to determine which pathogen caused the disease.
Since the process is always accompanied by inflammation, it is necessary to prescribe drugs that stop it. Treatment of bronchitis in adults involves taking drugs made on fenspiride. The most famous drugs: “Sirespal”, “Fenspiride hydrochloride”, “Eladon”. To alleviate the condition of the patient, drugs are prescribed that facilitate the discharge of sputum. The choice of expectorants on the pharmacy shelves is great, and the doctor recommends a specific name, evaluating the condition of the patient. If the pathology is accompanied by shortness of breath, "Eufillin" is prescribed. To bring down the heat, you should use antipyretic drugs.
Chronicle: what to do?
Treatment of chronic bronchitis in the period of exacerbation is largely similar to the method described above. After stabilization of the patient's condition, gymnastics should be regularly done, tempered. The doctor will prescribe a direction for physiotherapy, choosing the procedure in accordance with the needs of the body. If possible, you should undergo treatment in a sanatorium or spend some time at a resort for patients with pathologies of the respiratory system. Chronic bronchitis imposes an absolute ban on smoking. If possible, you should change your place of work so as not to encounter harmful external factors, chemicals, and also change your lifestyle so that smokers do not breathe tobacco smoke.
Treatment of bronchitis with folk remedies at home, according to many, involves the use of steam inhalations, mustard plasters and cans. This is a persistent mistake - such measures are not only meaningless, but also dangerous for the patient, especially during a fever. Nebulizers come to the rescue, special decoctions of herbs, the composition of which is selected taking into account the needs of patients with bronchitis. Mineral water with high alkalinity is an indispensable medicine for this pathology. True, the mineral water itself will not show a really good effect - it is necessary to combine this affordable remedy with the drug therapy prescribed by the doctor based on the tests.
The best way to recover is not to get sick.
In order not to require treatment of bronchitis, you should change your habits, introduce preventive measures into everyday life. It is important to increase the body's defenses, activate immunity. To do this, the diet is enriched with vitamins, as necessary use special complexes containing minerals, trace elements, vitamins. By practicing gymnastics, hardening, eating right, spending time in the fresh air, a person maintains a normal immune system, which means that the risk of infection is reduced. In a period of particular likelihood of getting sick, it is wise to use funds to increase local immunity - they are presented in any modern pharmacy.
In order not to need treatment of bronchitis in adults, it is reasonable to get vaccinated when the epidemic period approaches. It is completely free and helps to improve the body's defenses. In addition, it is reasonable to change the situation in everyday life - to maintain a clean room, where a person spends the majority of his time, put a humidifier. It is important to carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene.
Acute form: important aspects
Only then therapy will be effective when an integrated approach to eliminating the disease is practiced. It is necessary to simultaneously maintain the body's defenses, eliminate microbial and viral infections, and restore bronchial patency. It is important to identify harmful factors and completely eliminate them. The classic treatment option for bronchitis is antibiotics, while the success of the event is determined by completing the full course of the drug. You can not abandon therapy at the first sign of improvement - the disease can return in a complicated form, and the microflora will receive resistance to the drug. If the doctor prescribed a remedy for a seven-day course, all these days you need to use the medication according to the instructions. Only responsible treatment helps prevent the transition of the form from acute to chronic - and it is much more difficult to cope with it.
To stop the activity of pathological microscopic life forms, antimicrobials, sulfonamides are used. Usually, treatment of bronchitis in adults is carried out using vitamin complexes. Particularly important are retinol, ascorbic acid and B vitamins. Only antimicrobials can not eliminate spasms, return bronchus patency, so you should use compounds that can expand the passages of the body. From home remedies, you should regularly make hot foot baths. To ease coughing, the patient is prescribed a hot drink - tea or milk.
Preparations: attendance and passwords
The most difficult treatment for bronchitis in children, because at a tender age, not all drugs are allowed. To minimize the negative effects of therapy, it is important to select a program for an appointment with a qualified doctor who knows all the features of using different groups of medicines. Quite often, children are prescribed macrolides, which are considered relatively safe. On the pharmacy shelves they are presented under the names "Azithromycin", "Macropen".
The doctor may recommend treatment for bronchitis at home with a course of antimicrobial agents from the penicillin group. Have a good reputation Augmentin, Amoksiklav. Often issue recipes for Amoxil, Ospamox. Fluoroquinolones, which are presented in pharmacies under the names Levofloxacin, Norfloxacin, will also help with bronchitis. Finally, with microbial infection of the respiratory system, drugs from the group of cephalosporins are prescribed. The most popular drugs are Cefix, Cifadox. Doctors often recommend choosing Cefazolin or Ceftriaxone. All these medicines can be used at home, but strictly in accordance with the instructions and only if the doctor has prescribed such a drug. It should be remembered that allergic reactions, side effects are possible, the risk of which is significantly higher when trying to independently choose the right drug for yourself.
Which are there?
The medicines described above are presented in different forms of release. If adults are more often prescribed tablets or injections, then with the onset of symptoms of bronchitis in children, treatment involves the use of antimicrobial syrups or suspensions. Dosage, duration of the course are selected by the attending doctor. The doctor evaluates information from laboratory tests, the patient's condition, tolerance of different groups of drugs. Even if the symptoms completely disappear before the recommended duration, the medication is continued.
To relieve negative symptoms when using antimicrobial drugs, the patient is prescribed pro and prebiotics. These funds allow you to normalize the intestinal microflora, prevent diarrhea. Of the most famous, the Linex and Bifiform formulations are worth mentioning. Taking such drugs, the patient will feel better. Sometimes the doctor additionally recommends taking a course of drugs restoring the functionality of the liver. Known drugs: Karsil, Darsil. They help reduce the burden associated with the toxic effects of antibiotics on the organ. This is especially true with prolonged treatment.
Alternative methods in the fight against bronchitis
The treatment of bronchitis with folk remedies has proven itself well. It is safe, combined with traditional medical approaches, effective. One of the famous recipes is based on the root of the marshmallow. The product is combined with chamomile, rosemary in equal amounts, pour boiling water: a glass for a couple of tablespoons. The mixture is infused for at least half an hour in a water bath and is used as a tablespoon of food. The drug helps to relieve sputum discharge.
Another popular recipe is based on coltsfoot. Three times more licorice root and two parts of violet are taken for one part of the plant and the same amount of plantain. A glass of water is boiled for a couple of tablespoons, the liquid is mixed with grass and insisted on water for half an hour, then removed, allowed to cool and decanted.
Althea rhizomes can be combined with licorice root and coltsfoot. Four parts of the first component are taken in half less than the other two, add another part of the dried dill seeds. The medicine is prepared in two stages. First, the rhizomes of the marshmallow are infused for an hour in half a glass of cold water, after which a water bath is prepared and a container with half a glass of boiling water and other components is placed on it. Ready liquids are mixed and used as food. Dosage - a quarter cup. It is recommended to warm the infusion to a comfortable temperature before use, but do not make it too hot.
Herbs and recipes: what else to try?
With bronchitis, a mixture of coltsfoot, dried leaves of plantain and primrose inflorescences will benefit. All components are taken in equal proportions, interfere with horsetail (a portion of horsetail is one and a half times larger than the share of any other grass). For a couple of tablespoons boil a glass of water and let it brew for at least half an hour. For maximum effectiveness, the product is prepared in a water bath, then removed and allowed to cool naturally, then the resulting medicine is decanted. It is recommended to use it for food in a third of a glass after a meal twice - in the morning and in the evening. Before taking the herbal preparation is slightly warmed up so that the temperature is comfortable.
For two parts of plantain, snowdrop, coltsfoot, take half as much mint and anise, all herbs are mixed together and prepared, as described in the previous paragraph. The finished drug helps to stop inflammatory processes, it has an expectorant effect. Recommended for use shortly after a meal in the amount of half a glass. Frequency - up to four times daily until symptoms of bronchitis completely disappear.
Safe and reliable
One of the popular methods for eliminating bronchitis is Icelandic moss, infused in boiling water. Take one cup of liquid per teaspoon. The product is similar to tea, intended for consumption in the evenings, shortly before bedtime, once a day. The infusion should be hot, but not scorching. For maximum effect, you can sweeten the drink with natural honey.
Another recipe came to us from Siberia, it is effective both in bronchitis and in episodes provoked by some other factors. The initial component is black radish. The product is washed, cleaned and rubbed on a fine grater, after which the juice is squeezed out of the resulting mass. The liquid is mixed with honey and used as food. A single dosage is a couple of teaspoons. It is best to take the medicine before a meal and shortly before bedtime.