Coughing when you’re feeling sick is very common. A cough is our body’s natural way to clear the airway of debris, and clear mucus buildup from the lungs. However, a cough can quickly take a turn for the worse if you don’t manage your symptoms effectively, or have underlying lung conditions. Bronchitis is a secondary infection that can cause a mild cough to turn into a much more serious condition very quickly. Keep reading to learn more about common symptoms of bronchitis and treatment options.
If you’re experiencing a severe cough, or have chest pain from coughing, it is important that you seek medical care. Secondary infections like bronchitis or pneumonia can cause severe illness without proper management and treatment. At AFC Urgent Care Southcenter, our walk-in urgent care clinic in Kent, WA offers patients in the Kent, Tukwila, and SeaTac areas with rapid cough diagnosis and treatment - all on a walk-in basis! Simply walk in when it’s convenient, or schedule an appointment online in advance below.
Causes and Symptoms of Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a respiratory infection that causes painful inflammation within the bronchial tubes in your lungs. Bronchitis commonly is caused by viral infections like colds or a case of the flu. Bronchitis can quickly cause a mild cold to turn into severe symptoms. Understanding the signs and symptoms of bronchitis is essential for treating it effectively.
Common symptoms of bronchitis include:
- Painful, dry cough
- Cough that’s difficult to control
- Throat irritation
- Wheezing
- Fever
- Chest pain or tightness
- Difficulty breathing
Understanding Bronchitis-Inducted Chest Pain
Bronchitis-induced chest pain can occur as the result of uncontrolled coughing. The inflammation in your lungs can lead to a severe cough, which typically doesn’t produce mucus and offers little relief from chest tightness or discomfort. As a result, you may experience muscle fatigue in the chest, back and shoulders. Patients often describe chest soreness from muscle fatigue, as well as sharp chest pain while breathing due to the inflammation in the lungs flaring while breathing. This can make it difficult to take a good, deep breath without starting a coughing fit or experiencing discomfort.
While bronchitis-induced chest pain can share a similar feeling to a fatigued or strained muscle, there are some key differences. Bronchitis induced chest pain can cause discomfort or even sharp pain when breathing, and is often accompanied by other respiratory illness symptoms like a severe cough. If you’re experiencing respiratory illness symptoms in addition to chest pain, it’s possible that you have bronchitis.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Bronchitis can happen to anyone, and typically occurs following a more mild viral infection. Individuals with underlying lung conditions are especially at-risk of developing a case of bronchitis from a mild respiratory infection. The intense coughing caused by bronchitis tends to irritate the airways and fatigue the chest muscles, which can lead to chest pain. The chest pain may worsen directly following an intense coughing fit, or when laying down. If you’re experiencing any difficulty breathing, or sharp pain when coughing or breathing, you should seek urgent medical care for an evaluation of your symptoms. It’s important to seek care earlier rather than later to avoid complications. Your medical provider will evaluate your symptoms, perform diagnostic testing to rule out other conditions or causes of your pain, and provide the necessary care to ensure you recover quickly.
Get Same-Day Treatment at AFC Urgent Care Southcenter
Respiratory illnesses like colds are very common during the winter months, however, if you’re experiencing chest pain in addition to typical respiratory illness symptoms, it’s time to seek medical treatment. At AFC Urgent Care Southcenter, your health is our priority! That is why we offer convenient illness care for patients in the Kent, WA area and surrounding communities. Simply walk-in when it’s convenient, we accept walk-in patients and have the shortest wait times in the area. Our clinic accepts most medical insurance plans, and has competitive self-pay rates. Visit us for rapid illness care!
