Manifestation of usual and chronic bronchitis
In severe forms of bronchitis due to swelling of the wallsand blockage of the bronchi with sputum, obstruction of patency may occur, which is accompanied by impaired ventilation of the lungs. Because of this, cyanosis, increased shortness of breath, wheezing in the chest, especially on exhalation are noted. In these situations, there is a great danger that the disease will become chronic. That is why bronchitis and its treatment are inseparable concepts. In acute bronchitis, a blood test usually shows an increase in the number of leukocytes and an increase in ESR. An X-ray can show an expansion of the roots of the lungs. The pulmonary pattern becomes more contrasting. Usually, bronchitis lasts for 2-3 weeks and ends with recovery, but bronchial patency and external respiratory function are restored, as a rule, a little longer. If recovery occurs after 4-6 weeks, then doctors call this a protracted course of bronchitis. One of the most serious complications of bronchitis is pneumonia or its transition to a chronic form, which can often be observed in weakened patients and the elderly. Characteristic manifestations of chronic bronchitis are cough, phlegm and shortness of breath. But with this form of the disease, the nature of the cough becomes slightly different. Cough with phlegm at the very beginning of the disease occurs only in the morning. After a short time, the cough begins to bother during the day, while intensifying in the cold season. Over the years, this cough becomes constant and very painful. The amount of phlegm also increases, it becomes purulent or mucopurulent. Shortness of breath also progresses. The disease can manifest itself as obstructive syndrome: too much mucus in the bronchi, combined with spasm, disrupts the passage of air in the bronchi and leads to very strong attacks of suffocation. Chronic inflammation can cause sclerosis of the bronchial wall, atrophy of glands, muscles, cartilage and elastic fibers of the bronchi, the development of emphysema. Over the years, patients develop respiratory failure, and cough, phlegm and shortness of breath become constant realities of life. Thus, even “spitting” bronchitis can significantly ruin a person’s life.
Medication for bronchitis
In case of bronchitis the patient needs bed rest orsemi-bed rest, good nutrition, plenty of fluids (tea with honey or raspberry jam, milk with soda, linden blossom or raspberry infusion), warm alkaline mineral waters. Smoking is strictly prohibited during bronchitis - it is best to take advantage of this break and forget about this bad habit forever. The use of mustard plasters on the back and chest, cupping or pepper plaster is possible only with the permission of a doctor. The room where the patient is located should be warm, but at the same time it must be constantly ventilated. At the first symptoms of bronchitis, many immediately try to start taking antibiotics, since they can be bought without a prescription at any pharmacy. But in fact, these drugs should be used with great caution. Do not forget that antibiotics have strong side effects that can suppress the intestinal flora and reduce immunity. The stronger the antibiotic, the more serious the complications. If there is no purulent sputum and there are no inflammatory changes in the blood, then you should stop taking antibiotics. In case of mild bronchitis, it is best to use simple medications: aspirin, paracetamol, and some expectorants. Coltsfoot, plantain leaves, elecampane roots, thyme and thermopsis, anise fruits, and wild rosemary shoots have an excellent expectorant effect. Herbs can be purchased at the pharmacy in the form of pressed briquettes. A single dose (one slice) of such a briquette should be poured with 200 ml of boiling water and left to infuse for 15-20 minutes. After the herb has infused, it should be strained and drunk warm. This procedure should be carried out 3-4 times a day.
Drugs for dry cough
There are many medications that will helpget rid of cough, for example, "Pertussin", "Mukaltin", "Terpin hydrate", "Bromhexine". But all medications can be taken only after a doctor's prescription. It is worth noting that the drug "Bromhexine" begins to act a couple of days after its first intake. The course of treatment can last up to 3 weeks. Sometimes, when taking bromhexine, allergic reactions such as itching and skin rash are observed. In this case, you need to stop taking the drug. If the above medications do not help, then you need to take medications that suppress the cough reflex itself. Usually this is "Codeine", which is prescribed in the form of mixtures, powders and tablets. But you need to remember that this drug can be addictive, so it should be used with great caution and only after consulting with your doctor. "Tusuprex" and "Libexin" help very well with cough, but they are not addictive.
Inhalation with bronchitis
In case of bronchitis, inhalations with expectorants are indicated.means, heated alkaline water, sodium bicarbonate (2% solution), eucalyptus and anise oils. You can use both a steam and an ultrasonic inhaler. For steam inhalation, you can take the most ordinary saucepan, in which you need to heat 4-5 glasses of water, add various drugs that cause an anti-inflammatory effect (iodine tincture, eucalyptus leaves, essential oils). A cone-shaped funnel is rolled up from very thick paper, the wide end of the resulting "construction" must be tightly covered with the saucepan, while the person breathes through the second (narrow end) of the funnel, which is placed directly in the mouth. You can breathe in steam directly above the saucepan, covering yourself with a sheet or a wide towel. With any method, the distance from the mouth to the place where the steam comes out should be at least 30 cm.
Treatment of allergic and chronic bronchitis
To treat allergic bronchitis you needtake antihistamines (Suprastin, Tavegil, Diazolin, etc.), zaditen, intal, bronchodilators; in severe cases, glucocorticoids may be prescribed after consultation with a doctor. Chronic bronchitis should be treated as early as possible, and the treatment should be continuous and strictly individual. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate all factors that can provoke the disease, and the treatment itself should be aimed at eliminating the inflammatory process in the bronchi, improving bronchial patency and restoring the normal immune background of the body. Treatment of the chronic form of this disease requires the use of antibiotics. Thus, the treatment of bronchitis is significantly accelerated. Patients with these forms of the disease are prescribed expectorants, bronchodilators and mucolytics. An expectorant effect is provided by such agents as mucolytics, thermopsis infusions, potassium iodide, coltsfoot leaves, plantain, marshmallow root, proteolytic enzymes and cysteine derivatives. Inhalations of onion or garlic phytoncides (onion or garlic juice mixed with a solution of novocaine or sodium chloride 1:3) have a beneficial effect.
Green pharmacy for the treatment of bronchitis
Many well-known medicinal plants haveexpectorant properties (coltsfoot, plantain, elecampane roots, thyme herb, wild rosemary shoots, thermopsis herb, anise fruits), but the list of useful recipes from the huge arsenal of traditional medicine is not limited to these names. It is thanks to folk remedies that bronchitis can be cured very quickly. The correct choice of folk remedies helps to reduce the doses of traditional medications, removes inflammation, reduces the manifestations of allergies and improves the discharge of sputum. However, it is necessary to remember that the treatment of bronchitis with folk remedies can be unsafe, as they sometimes cause allergic reactions. Treatment of bronchitis at the earliest stage should begin with drinking warm whey, sucking sugar with a few drops of almond oil several times a day. An excellent expectorant folk remedy is the most common onion juice. It is better to replace the usual tea or coffee with hot milk with a pinch of soda and honey. Mustard plasters can be replaced with water pepper. Traditional medicine recommends the following for the treatment of bronchitis:
Prevention of bronchitis
It is better to prevent any disease than to cure it.treat. This also applies to bronchitis. First of all, you need to protect your throat in the cold season, but you do not need to dress too warmly - when moving and walking, you will overheat and sweat, which can lead to a cold and bronchitis. Hardening will help those who often suffer from bronchitis, sore throats, tonsillitis. Hardening allows you to use the body's capabilities and mobilize its defenses at the right time, thereby eliminating the influence of unfavorable factors. To achieve a healing effect, each exposure to cold must correspond to the capabilities of each individual organism. A positive effect is obtained only if the cooling is "covered" by a thermal reaction. Severe hypothermia, especially for those who are just starting to harden, is unacceptable. Hardening is aimed at increasing the temperature resistance of the body parts most vulnerable to cold. Hardening of the nasopharynx and feet is very useful. Feet are hardened using foot baths. You should start with a water temperature of at least 26° C, gradually reducing it by several degrees per week. The water temperature can be brought to 12-14°. After each bath, the feet should be thoroughly wiped (until they turn red). Hardening of the nasopharynx is done in two stages. In the first, the nasal passages are accustomed to rinsing with water (32-35° C). Using a pipette, you need to drip water into both nostrils. You need to draw in the water, throwing your head back, while inhaling. After the nasal passages get used to rinsing, you can move on to rinsing with cooler water. Rinsing should be combined with gargling.
