Acute Bronchitis: Symptoms, Remedies & Prevention

Acute bronchitis is a condition that causes the airways to swell up. When you have a swollen airway, it becomes difficult to breathe. This is why bronchitis is a dangerous disorder and you need to cure it immediately.

Thankfully, acute bronchitis is curable and you can also manage it with several home remedies. Take a look at this article to know more about the treatment options you have for acute bronchitis and why they are helpful.

Overview of Acute Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a common disorder where the bronchial tube is aggravated. It is commonly said to be a health condition that lies in between the common cold and pneumonia. Acute bronchitis may happen due to bacteria or a virus, but viral infections are more common. It is a short-lived ailment and can be and the acute bronchitis treatment can be done by some simple remedies.

Top 5 Symptoms of Acute Bronchitis

Here are the common symptoms of acute bronchitis

• Frequent cough
• Cough with mucus
• Wheezing
• Fever 
• Breathlessness 

If you encounter these symptoms, you may have acute bronchitis.

Top 6 Home Remedies for Acute Bronchitis

As mentioned above, acute bronchitis can be cured with the help of some home remedies and drugs. Here’s a detailed list of what helps the most:

Gargling 

Gargling with salt and lukewarm water helps to break down the mucus in your throat and flush it out. This not only reduces the pain in your throat, but it also helps you to breathe easily, and so is considered to be a handy cure when suffering from acute bronchitis.

Steam

Steam inhalation is extremely effective when you have bronchitis. The hot steam breaks up the thick layers of mucus and helps you to eliminate it from your body. This clears the blockage in the airways to a large extent, which in turn, makes it easier for you to breathe. Steam also allows the tensed muscles to relax and this reduces the coughing bouts, leading to quick and effective relief from bronchitis. 

Garlic

Garlic is a natural antibiotic as well as an anti-inflammatory substance. Garlic has long been used to treat several illnesses such as the common cold and flu. Garlic has been an effective cure for acute bronchitis as well since it helps to clear out the airways, reduce the coughing and mucus build-up to a large extent. You can have raw garlic, which is the most effective form to have garlic in. You can also fry it or add it to soups if the flavour is unbearable for you.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a wonder spice that has miraculous healing properties. This is precisely why many complex ailments such as acute bronchitis are cured with it. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral properties, making it a powerful cure for bronchitis. Turmeric also contains several antioxidants which help to eliminate the harmful toxins from your body and help to increase your immunity.

OTC medicines

There are some over-the-counter drugs that are commonly used as acute bronchitis medicines. These include Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen and cough syrups. It is highly advisable for you to check with a medical practitioner before you take any medicine. While the home remedies are largely harmless, acute bronchitis medicines may bring forth certain complications or side effects. This is why some medical supervision is required.

Antibiotics

If your condition deteriorates and your acute bronchitis doesn’t recede, your doctor may advise certain antibiotics to control the condition. However, if the bronchitis is caused by a virus, the antibiotics won’t help, so take the medicines with caution.

These are some of the common ways in which acute bronchitis can be cured. If you have this illness, follow the remedies mentioned above. Along with that, get sufficient amounts of rest and drink and eat well. Acute bronchitis lasts for a few days, so you will start feeling better soon.

Top 6 Preventive Measures for Acute Bronchitis

If you have acute bronchitis, or you are prone to the disorder, here are a few tips for you to remember:

• Do not smoke
• Have lots of fluids
• Wear a mask if you step outside in a polluted environment
• Sanitise or wash your hands frequently
• Eat a healthy and balanced meal
• Do regular breathing exercises

These measures will help in controlling acute bronchitis.

Conclusion

As you can clearly see from the points mentioned above, acute bronchitis is a manageable disorder, so do not panic if you have the disease. Get treated in a timely manner and you will start feeling better soon. A word of caution here is that you need to get evaluated by your physician if your symptoms keep worsening over the days. Don’t ignore that and get to the hospital right away. Also, maintain a healthy lifestyle and stay away from poor lifestyle habits such as smoking, lack of sleep and unhealthy diets. Take care of your health in a comprehensive way to keep all kinds of ailments away.