Charlotte Bronchitis Diagnosis & Treatment Near Me

There is so much to do and appreciate in Charlotte, from the NFL Carolina Panthers, the NBA Charlotte Hornets, to the epicenter of Nascar at the Nascar Hall of Fame. It’s easy to ignore your cough for allergies and go to Carowinds thinking that the cough will go away. After a day of fun, you find yourself the next morning with a worse cough and terribly fatigued.

Acute bronchitis, also sometimes referred to as a chest cold, is caused by swelling of the airways in the lungs, called the bronchial tubes, which causes the production of mucus. This is what causes the coughing we associate with the ailment. Chronic bronchitis is more serious and refers to bronchitis that either doesn’t go away or keeps returning. AFC Urgent Care is here to provide an overview of bronchitis and how to better understand your sickness.

What is bronchitis?

Bronchitis is inflammation in your bronchial tubes caused by an infection. The inflammation can be caused by various factors:

• Viral Infections: Influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, rhinovirus, and coronavirus
• Bacterial Infections: Bordetella pertussis, Mycoplasma pneumonia, and Chlamydia pneumonia
• Exposure to irritants: Tobacco smoke, wildfire smoke, dust, fumes, and air pollution

The most common cause of triggering bronchitis is viruses that cause the cold and flu. These factors can cause the inflamed and swollen bronchial tubes that create bronchitis. That irritation will often make your body create mucus, which also decreases the amount of space in your airways. This makes it harder to breathe and creates the need for you to cough often.

Bronchitis can be acute, short-term, or chronic, long term.

• Chronic bronchitis is often caused by smoking or prolonged exposure to other noxious irritants. Individuals will often have a phlegmy cough but are not contagious.
• Most individuals have acute bronchitis that resolves in 7 to 10 days. This is caused by an upper respiratory bacterial infection that can be contagious.

Individuals with both acute and chronic bronchitis should get medical treatment.

Visit AFC Monroe Rd if you believe you have bronchitis.

Do I have it?

The symptoms of acute bronchitis usually don’t last more than three weeks and tend to get better over time, especially if you are looking after yourself.

Bronchitis symptoms include:

• Coughing with or without mucus
• Soreness in the chest
• Feeling tired (fatigue)
• Mild headache
• Mild body aches
• Sore throat

Visit AFC immediately if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.

• If your cough brings up blood or thick, dark mucus
• If your cough prevents you from sleeping
• If your cough causes chest pain
• If your cough has a barking sound and prevents you from speaking easily
• If you experience unintended weight loss
• If you have a foul-tasting fluid in your mouth
• If you have a fever over 100.4
• If you experience wheezing or shortness of breath

If you believe that you might have COVID-19 or the flu instead, visit AFC Monroe Rd for rapid testing.

What do I do?

Our team can tell you if you have bronchitis by conducting a physical exam and asking about your symptoms. In some cases, they may want to run a few tests, such as checking the oxygen levels in your blood, performing a chest X-ray, or testing your mucus to determine if bacteria caused your illness.

In most cases, antibiotics are not recommended in bronchitis treatment, as viruses often cause the illness. While there aren’t necessarily any cures for bronchitis, there are ways to make yourself feel better and help your body recover.

Here are some ways to do this:

• Rest as much as you can
• Drink lots of water
• Use a humidifier or vaporizer
• Use saline nasal spray or nose drops to relieve a stuffy nose
• Breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water or a shower
• Cough lozenges for temporary relief
• Use honey to relieve your cough

You can also ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter medications that help reduce inflammation, break down mucus, and relieve some of your discomfort.

How do I prevent it?

Here are some ways to reduce your risk of bronchitis:

• Get an annual flu shot as many cases of acute bronchitis is caused by the flu
• Wash your hands frequently
• Avoid close contact with people who have a viral infection
• Avoid cigarette smoke
• Wear appropriate face covering for working conditions or public

Visit AFC to schedule your flu shot.