Bronchitis Causes & Risk Factors - OmniMedicalSearch.com

Conditions & Diseases: Lung & Respiratory Diseases & Disorders

Bronchitis

Causes & Risk Factors

Acute Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is often caused by the same virus that causes colds and other respiratory infections. The virus first affects the nose, sinuses and throat before spreading to the lungs where it attacks the bronchial tubes, making the chest feel heavy, congested and difficult to breath. In some cases, or if proper care is not taken, the virus can cause a secondary bacterial infection in the airways. The most common viruses are influenza A and B, rhinovirus, adenovirus, and the parainfluenza virus.

Cold and respiratory viruses spread through germs transmitted through the air by coughing or by coming into direct contact with your mouth, nose or eyes. Germs can also be carried on your hands or fingers after touching an infected surface, and then using your fingers to rub your eyes, wipe your mouth or blow your nose.

Secondary causes of acute bronchitis include pollutants in the air like those in an industrial work environment (coal miners, grain handlers, metal workers), and gastro-intestinal acids that back up into the wind pipe via heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

People at most risk for acute bronchitis include:

Smokers
Infants, school aged children, and the elderly,
People who endure cold and damp environments for an extended period of time
People under stress whose immune system may be suppressed
Individuals with poor hygiene
Patients who suffer from other heart and lung diseases

Chronic Bronchitis
The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking. Long-term exposure to second hand cigarette smoke and air pollution through certain occupations can also lead to chronic bronchitis.

Chronic bronchitis is also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Another type of COPD is emphysema, which is is a serious illness characterized as a significant decrease in the respiratory functioning of the lungs. Emphysema, COPD and chronic bronchitis are long term illnesses. The severity of these illnesses are tied to how long and how much a patient smoked, or was exposed to second hand smoke.

Article by Jason L Morrow
Founder & Editor
OmniMedicalSearch.com