Chronic Bronchitis & COPD

Chronic bronchitis is an inflammatory, irritable obstructive airways disease characterized by excessive mucus secretion that causes a productive cough lasting at least 3 months of the year for 2 consecutive years. A progressive, largely nonreversible disease of the airways, it is the result of their long-term irritation. Because this disease is characterized by its symptoms, people who are diagnosed are usually symptomatic. However, data indicate that damage occurs before symptoms are apparent.

Smoking cessation is the only intervention proven to halt disease progression. Most cases, however, are not diagnosed early enough because people do not seek medical help until the symptoms become disabling. In addition, the symptoms of chronic bronchitis are often misdiagnosed and treated as asthma, particularly in people under the age of 50. By the time the appropriate diagnosis has been made, irreversible lung damage is likely.

Unlike emphysema, which is defined by pathologic changes in the lung tissue, chronic bronchitis is defined by specific signs and symptoms. There are, however, changes in the airways that result in these clinical manifestations.

Pathologically, the first sign of chronic bronchitis is the obstruction of the bronchioles. This obstruction may be the result of excessive bronchomotor tone of airways smooth muscle, the production of excess mucus, or inflammation.

AFTER Chronic Bronchitis clinical changes are;

• excess production of mucus
• increased bronchomotor tone
• impaired clearance of mucus due to damage to the cilia
• chronic inflammation of the airways
• increased risk of bronchial infection

In Summary:

• chronic bronchitis is an obstructive airways disease characterized by:
• excessive mucus production
• productive cough lasting 3 months of the year for 2 consecutive years
• early diagnosis is essential to halt progression of the disease
• signs of chronic bronchitis include:
• excessive bronchomotor tone of airways smooth muscle
• production of excess mucus
• inflammation