Chronic Bronchitis with Acute Exacerbation

Written By Chouhab on mardi 6 janvier 2009 | 05:46

By Amy Cheung

Sometimes, for an individual with chronic bronchitis, the physical manifestations will swiftly worsen all of a sudden. This is known as an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, otherwise known as AECB. Many patients who pass away from this disease unexpectedly die while suffering from an attack of AECB, hence an individual experiencing sudden AECB should receive medical care instantly to increase his/her chances of survival.

What Occurs In An Attack of AECB?

During an AECB, the previously irregularly constricted air passageways in one's lungs become even thinner, and even more thicker mucous is secreted. This will cause breathing to be particularly difficult. This may possibly occur simultaneously with a fever, chills and cold, and a sense of weakness in one's knees. If the abrupt occurrence of acute exacerbation is due to bacterial infection, the mucus expelled during expectoration may potentially be speckled with blood, or tinted with a more vivid than regular green or yellow. If the patient is experiencing fever, and has found blood in his/her mucus, there is a likelihood the doctor will recommend an x-ray to make certain that pneumonia is not the determining root of the condition.

What Are the Triggers of AECB?

Cases of AECB are usually triggered by a combination of the following:

-Bacterial or viral infections (e.g. cold, flu)

-Air pollutants that aggravate the respiratory system (e.g. smoke, fumes, dust)

-Changes in weather

To protect oneself from AECB, a patient with an acute form of bronchitis is encouraged to steer clear of areas with serious air pollution, to seek flu and pneumonia injections, and to keep a proper nutrition to protect one's immune system against infections.

If you are experiencing AECB, you must obtain medical care immediately. This condition has been observed to result in other conditions, as well as numerous cases are admitted to the hospital every year for complications from AECB. If you are suffering from this, try to stay calm. Breathe as steadily as possible, and levelheadedly call a physician or doctor for medical care. Since this condition can occur abruptly without preamble, it is strongly recommended to maintain any inhalants on you in emergency situations. Take care to ask your doctor, and confirm that such inhalers are okay to inhale during an attack of acute exacerbation, to prevent any complications. Try lying on your back with a humidifier running, or jumping in a lukewarm shower to improve your breathing and decrease the problems of AECB.

About the Author:

0 commentaires: