When a nagging cough settles in your chest, causes a lot of physical discomfort, and significantly disrupts your everyday life, you may be wondering what to do about it.
Deep, persistent coughs can have several possible causes, ranging in severity from a common cold to a chronic condition like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If you’ve been dealing with a cough for a few weeks, it’s probably time to get to the root cause.
For instance, bronchitis is often the cause of a cough that’s long-lasting and sits in your chest. While bronchitis can clear up on its own, it may indicate a more serious underlying health issue that requires attention.
It can sometimes be difficult to tell if you should be worried about your cough, so our team led by Elaine Phuah, DO, MBA, FACOI, and Leon Tio, DO, MA, FACOI, at Clover Internal Medicine Associates in Fort Worth, Texas, wants to provide some telltale signs that your cough could be from bronchitis, when to seek treatment, and how our team can help.
Bronchitis refers to inflammation of the airways that lead to your lungs. When those airways become swollen and inflamed, they fill with mucus, causing you to cough. Coughing is the main symptom of bronchitis.
There are two types of bronchitis: acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis is the most common and is typically caused by a virus, such as the common cold, influenza, or a bacterial infection. Typically, acute bronchitis develops suddenly but resolves within 10 days, although the cough may persist.
Chronic bronchitis is actually a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It comes on more slowly and either returns frequently or never goes away. Long-term bronchitis can be caused by smoking or long-term exposure to secondhand smoke and air pollution.
Though coughing is the telltale symptom of bronchitis, other symptoms can include:
If your cough persists, it may also keep you awake at night and make it difficult to sleep.
Typically, acute bronchitis can be treated by getting plenty of rest, taking anti-inflammatory medications, and drinking plenty of hydrating fluids.
However, if your cough persists for more than three weeks, you have a fever for more than three days, or you’re especially weak and tired, don’t delay seeking treatment from our team.
Our team can perform a diagnostic evaluation to determine the cause of your cough, which will help us create an effective treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
If a lingering virus causes your cough, you may have to wait it out. In that case, we can provide symptomatic care to help manage your cough, allowing you to rest and recover.
However, there could be an infection that requires antibiotics, or you may be dealing with chronic bronchitis that needs long-term care, including steroids to reduce inflammation or breathing treatments to help clear the airways.
For expert diagnosis and treatment of bronchitis, look no further than our team at Clover Internal Medicine Associates. Book an appointment with us by calling or scheduling online today.
