Bronchitis is when the tubes that carry air to your lungs, called the bronchial tubes, get inflamed and swollen. You end up with a nagging cough and mucus.
Most often, the same viruses that give you a cold or the flu cause acute bronchitis. But sometimes, bacteria bring it on.
In both cases, as your body fights the germs, your bronchial tubes swell and make more mucus. That means you have smaller openings for air to flow through, which can make it harder to breathe.
Your doctor usually can tell whether you have bronchitis based on a physical exam and your symptoms. They’ll ask about your cough, such as how long you’ve had it and what kind of mucus comes up with it. They’ll also listen to your lungs to see whether anything sounds wrong, like wheezing.
Your doctor may need to do some tests, depending on whether they think you have acute or chronic bronchitis.
Credit : WebMD
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