Can I smoke if I have bronchitis?

The acute bronchitis usually appear after a person has suffered a cold or a flu – like disorder. This disease that affects the bronchi is caused by a virus or bacteria that infects the nose first, then the throat and sinuses. The infectious agent then spreads to cause airway discomfort until it reaches the lungs.

Although infection in the respiratory tract is more common to occur with a virus than with a bacterium, the latter can also reach the bronchi, however, it is more common in patients with chronic obstructive disease, better known as COPD. .

On the other hand, chronic bronchitis is prolonged, that is, the person usually develops a cough with phlegm for several months. It is important to go to a professional in the presence of any symptoms for a correct evaluation and to offer the correct treatment for each case.

Inflammation of the bronchial tissue can trigger a series of symptoms whose intensity and presence will depend on the degree of the alteration, the following being the most common to manifest:

• Feeling discomfort in the chest.
• Coughing up phlegm, either green or clear.
• Feeling constant fatigue
• Wheezing in those with asthma.
• Difficulty breathing normally and is usually worse with physical activity.
• Chest pain when coughing.
• Fever and chills
• Headache.

There are certain cares that can help the patient with this disorder to feel better. If you are one of those who wonder if you can smoke with bronchitis, the answer is no . Tobacco is not only harmful to the whole body, but mainly affects the respiratory tract and, according to The Nemours Foundation, 80% of cases of chronic bronchitis are caused by smoking or being exposed to cigarette smoke ^{[1 ]} . For this reason, it is advisable to eliminate or at least minimize this habit as soon as possible.

Likewise, both smoking and being in passive contact with tobacco smoke is strictly contraindicated in those people who are already experiencing symptoms of bronchitis because, due to the toxic particles of cigarettes, these patients tend to take longer In recovering from inflammation because they are more vulnerable to infection, symptoms can be more intense and there is a greater risk of complications such as pneumonia.

In the case of dependence on cigarettes, the patient must go to the specialist to control and eliminate this habit that damages the body and look for the best alternative for it, such as nicotine replacement therapies. It is important that you always seek the support of your doctor to be able to quit smoking if you are addicted, since relapses are very possible without control.

Most patients do not require the consumption of any antibiotics for acute bronchitis that is caused by a virus, so the infection usually clears up on its own within approximately 7 days, however, in some patients it is necessary to administration of certain drugs prescribed by a specialist when bronchitis is caused by bacteria.

On the other hand, there are some medications that can be obtained without a prescription and that are helpful to eliminate or reduce symptoms, such as phlegm, however, it is essential never to self-medicate and that you consult a professional before ingesting any type of medication to avoid complicating the clinical picture.

Regarding other measures, the patient must:

• Drink lots of fluids.
• Rest for as long as you can.
• Use a humidifier.
• Take lukewarm baths to breathe in the steam for a while.
• Take a drug recommended by the doctor to lower fever.
• Use an inhaler if you also have asthma or other lung conditions.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Can I smoke if I have bronchitis? , we recommend that you enter our category of Lung and respiratory tract .