without medications. Drinking plenty of fluids helps to make the secretions in your airways thinner and easier to clear. Sometimes a good cough suppressant can be helpful if the cough is very troublesome or keeping you awake at night. Sleeping with a humidifier in the room can also be helpful. Plenty of bed rest is needed to allow your body to heal itself.
....If you do have acute bronchitis, you can treat the symptoms quite well at home. You should contact your Doctor if you experience any of the following:
• Excessive difficulty in breathing
• Coughing up bloody phlegm |
• Green or yellow phlegm that last
longer that 2 days
• If you have a fever over 104F
..or
40C
• The cough lasts longer than
2
..weeks
• The person affected is quite
young
..or old or has a chronic
lung
..condition
• Chest pain
....More treatment options for chronic bronchitis are available because of the long-term nature of the disease. In addition to the |
options for acute bronchitis, many inhaled medications are recommended. They fall into two general categories, corticosteroids and bronchodilators. In general, corticosteroids try to help reduce the amount of inflammation and mucus production in the bronchioles. The bronchodilators try to help open your airways wider and allow more air to get in. If you have any questions about prescription medications for bronchitis, ask your Peoples Pharmacist.
....There are a few supplements that can be helpful for helping to
Ian Lloyd...Continued On Page 6 |
WHERE PEOPLE COME
FIRST