Bronchitis can have you feeling like you’ve been hit by a dump truck. It comes on fast, clogging up your lungs with mucus and causing you to cough violently. Oftentimes, it can leave you short of breath, keeping you on the couch and away from any type of activity. If you have asthma, typical bronchitis symptoms are enough to put you into the hospital (in extreme cases).
Common Symptoms of Bronchitis
Bronchitis is typically referred to inflammation of the bronchial tubes in your lungs. This causes the bronchial tubes to become narrow, making breathing labored and more difficult. As a result, some of the most common bronchitis symptoms you may experience are:
– Wheezing
– Excessive coughing with production of yellow or dark colored phlegm from mucus build up in lungs
– Shortness of breath
– Fever
– Chills
– Body aches and pains
When to Visit a Clinic
If you have been noticed the signs and have been experiencing the symptoms of bronchitis for more than a day or two, it’s time to see a doctor. If you’re in the Atlanta area and need to see a doctor immediately, you can visit any one of our WellStreet Urgent Care facilities to see an experienced and licensed physician who will diagnose and help treat your bronchitis promptly.
Should you be experiencing any symptoms like extreme shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, feeling dizzy or light-headed or coughing with such intensity that vomiting occurs, it is best to visit the closest emergency room. This is especially true if you suffer from asthma.
Typical Treatments for Bronchitis
In most cases, bronchitis is treated with a number of different medicines, both prescription and over the counter. Typical treatments for bronchitis include the use of a steroid (such as prednisone) to help reduce the swelling and inflammation of the bronchial tubes, allowing you to breathe better. An Albuterol inhalant may also be prescribed to help widen bronchial tubes as well. In some cases, you may receive a round of antibiotics to help fight off any remaining bacteria that doesn’t go away on its own.
For other symptoms related to bronchitis, the following over the counter medicines may be used:
– Guaifenesin to help loosen up any mucus stuck inside the lungs
– Ibuprofen or acetaminophen for body aches and pains, as well as to help reduce any fever.
Get Treatment Today
Don’t let your sickness get out of control or worse than it already is. When in doubt, visit us at WellStreet Urgent Care to get yourself healthy and back to feeling like yourself again!
