Owing to the increase in easily accessible information or data from the internet, it is a common practice for people in todayās age to look up their symptoms online. Once a person has received a proper diagnosis, such as that of bronchitis from their doctor, they may turn to the internet to ask the one question most people are afraid of asking their doctors, can bronchitis kill you?
What is Bronchitis?
Bronchitis is the name given to one of the many lung diseases. As the name suggests, it is the inflammation of the lung and bronchial tubes (airway passages). This causes the respiratory passage causes them to swell up at the site of inflammation, hindering the passage of airflow from the nose to the lungs. While it is also commonly referred to as a chest cold, the symptoms of bronchitis tend to be much more miserable as it is a progression of a common cold or any other viral infection.
Acute or Chronic Bronchitis ā Which One Is Worse?
Acute bronchitis is a short-lived form of bronchitis, lasting for roughly 10 to 14 days and presenting with less severe symptoms of bronchitis. In some cases of acute bronchitis developing into chronic bronchitis, the condition may last for up to three weeks. The trademark symptom of acute bronchitis is a cough that lingers after flu or the common cold.
On the other hand, chronic bronchitis persists for a long period and is a far more serious form of bronchitis. While chronic bronchitis may not kill you, it causes permanent physiological and structural damage to the respiratory passages (bronchi).
Since this is an incurable lung disease, the symptoms of chronic bronchitis flare up from time to time. The American Lung Association reports that although the symptoms of chronic bronchitis may not permanently go away, the patient is likely to observe periods of severe and moderate symptoms.
Can Bronchitis Kill You?
Considering this disease inhibits your body’s ability to carry out the normal gaseous exchange (removal of CO2 and supply of O2 to the body), the common question arises, can bronchitis kill you? Precisely, no. A large majority of acute bronchitis cases are minor if treated in due time. However, rare complications of chronic bronchitis to pneumonia or respiratory failure can be fatal. In such cases, bronchitis itself cannot kill you. Instead, the advancement of this disease to more severe conditions could be lethal.
Signs and Symptoms of a Progressing Bronchitis
Diseases that follow the progression of bronchitis can kill you. It is important to know when your treatment is successful in curing acute bronchitis or reducing symptoms of chronic bronchitis. The following symptoms may hint at your treatment not being effective, for which you must visit your doctor.
- Blue fingertips or lips
- Coughing up blood or blood in mucus
- A feeling of significant weight on your chest
- Frequent shortness of breath
- Persistent fever for three days or longer, especially if it is higher than 101 Fahrenheit (a sign of pneumonia)
- Severe cough during nighttime
- Severe episodic pangs or persistent chest pain
- Symptoms of acute bronchitis that last more than three weeks
- Wheezing
The above-mentioned symptoms of bronchitis are similar to those of severe allergies, asthma, influenza, sinusitis, pneumonia, lung cancer, and even gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). When you start presenting with these symptoms, getting a prompt and accurate diagnosis is necessary. Bronchitis may follow with other severe illnesses that may be life-threatening.
Can Smoking With Bronchitis Kill You?
The progression of bronchitis may not always be a result of ineffective treatment methods. Anyone can develop severe diseases following bronchitis that can be fatal. Such is the case with patients who smoke even after getting a diagnosis of acute or chronic bronchitis. Smoking with bronchitis is lethal and can kill you due to the progression of bronchitis to pneumonia or other severe respiratory illnesses. It is said that smoking with bronchitis can kill you because it is associated with increased mucus production, which obstructs the airways and weakens the immunity system.
Smoking alongside acute or chronic bronchitis nullifies or reduces the effectiveness of the treatment you may be receiving. Even a single cigarette puff further damages the tiny hair-like structures (cilia) on the surface of your respiratory tract. This obstructs the normal ciliary function of brushing out debris, excess mucus, and irritants from the airways. Further smoking may lead to permanent lung damage.
What Causes Your Bronchitis To Progress?
Other risk factors that significantly contribute to the progression of bronchitis to pneumonia or other respiratory conditions include patients who:
- Are younger than 2 or older than 65 years of age
- Drink excessive alcohol
- Have asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, heart failure, or other chronic illnesses
- Have difficulty swallowing
- Have had a stroke in the past
- Have limited mobility
- Smoke tobacco or consume certain illicit drugs
- Suffer from any other disease in the COPD category
- Take medications that compromise their immune system
Preventing the Progression of Bronchitis to Pneumonia
If you fear that bronchitis may kill you, it is best to put a halt to it in the beginning stages and prevent its progression. The sooner you recognize the symptoms of bronchitis, the more effective your prevention measures will be. If you have bacterial bronchitis, you are more likely to develop pneumonia than with viral bronchitis. The bacteria multiply and spread rapidly if not treated in due time. The spread of bacteria can be limited or decreased greatly by taking appropriate antibiotics.
In some cases, people who adopt the treatment method of consuming antibiotics may also develop pneumonia. You must know whether your bronchitis is viral or bacterial. Since antibiotics are unable to counter viral infections, they will not aid in treating bronchitis. Similarly, patients with bacterial pneumonia taking antibiotics may also show little to no betterment in their condition. This is because antibiotics are made to target a specific type of family of bacteria. In people with bronchitis due to multiple bacteria, the antibiotics only aid one specific type of bacteria while the others continue to multiply and spread through the bronchial or lung tissue.
To prevent further progression of your respiratory condition, you must:
- Avoid or quit smoking
- Get plenty of rest and duly follow the prescribed treatment
- Stay away from allergens or other things that may irritate your respiratory passage, such as dust or pets
- Take hot showers instead of cold ones
- Use a humidifier and sanitize it after every use
Conclusion
While bronchitis itself may not kill you, smoking with bronchitis or indulging in habits that may lead to the progression of this respiratory condition might. However, with modern technology and apt treatment methods, many people can recover from severe respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia.
While appropriate treatment is available, you never know when your disease progresses to a stage from where it is difficult to come back. This is why it is always suggested to visit a doctor when you start showing early signs of bronchitis and receive treatment as soon as possible.
At HG Analytics, we have made it easier for you to prevent the progression of bronchitis. Our team of professionals works with the sole notion of preventative wellness in mind and offers you a wellness screening to diagnose your condition at its earliest. Reach out to us today if you suspect you may have bronchitis or that your bronchitis may be progressing.
