Medications
Start with over-the-counter medications. For fever or pain, an analgesic such as aspirin or paracetamol (Tylenol) is a good choice. After that, what you take should be tailored to your symptoms.
HELP FROM HERBS
Certain herbs, long used in folk medicine, can bolster your immunity, soothe your cough and loosen mucus.
For acute bronchitis
The following herbs as helpful for easing a bronchial cough:
Horebound makes your cough more productive. You can make horehound tea, or sir 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of liquid extract into a cup of hot water, add honey to taste. Drink 2 or 3 cups of the tea a day until you start to feel better.
Slippery elm coats your irritated throat with a gel-like substance. You can make a cup of slippery elm tea, or stir 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of powdered extract into a cup of hot water. Drink 2 or 3 cups a day until symptoms subside.
For chronic bronchitis
This group of herbs helps strengthen your immune systenm, enabling you to fight off recurrent problems. Because their effectiveness diminishes with use, rotate them over the course of a month.
salbutamol (Ventolin) and salmeterol (Serevent). Inhalers relax the muscles around bronchial tubes, helping you breathe more easily.
Lifestyle Changes
In addition to taking medications, you can do a number of things on your own to speed up your recovery.
Rest. Your body needs to recuperate, so call your boss and say you'll be taking a few days off. Now's a good time to catch up on sleep and open those books you've been meaning to read. (Besides, if you don't take it easy, you're likely to feel sick even longer.)
Drink plenty of fluids. This will keep your mucous membranes moist, helping you to cough up sputum. Drink at least eight glasses of water or other clear liquids every day.
Keep nasal passages moist and clean. Any type of moist air will help loosen sputum. Run a humidifier or vaporiser in your bedroom at night (clean your unit frequently with bleach to kill germs). use an air purifier or an air conditioner (with a clean filter) to remove dust, pollen and other nasal irritants from the air.
>Am I at risk of getting pneumonia?
In rare cases, germs, can migrate from your bronchial tubes into your lungs, causing pneumonia. However, this usually affects children, and elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Warning signals include a high fever (38.8 degrees-40 degrees C), shaking chills, rust-coloured sputum and chest pain. If you experience any of these, call your doctor.
Natural methods
Consuming the recommended five to nine daily servings of fruit and vegetables may prevent a future bronchitis attack. Both fruit and vegetables contain substances called flavonoids, which help protect cells throughout your body--including those in your bronchial tubes and lungs--from disease. Research done in the Netherlands has found that eating plenty of foods rich in these substances can protect against chronic bronchitis. In addition, fruit and vegetables are excellant sources of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which bolster immunity. You can also turn to herbal teas and immune-boosting herbs. (see above).
Start with over-the-counter medications. For fever or pain, an analgesic such as aspirin or paracetamol (Tylenol) is a good choice. After that, what you take should be tailored to your symptoms.
- If you have a wet cough, your body is ridding itself of infected sputum and you should allow it to do so. You need to use an expectorant containing quaifenesin (Robitussin, Sinumist-SR), which will help you bring up more sputum with every cough. Take a cough suppressant only at night to help you sleep.
- If you have a dry, hacking cough, try a cough suppressant that contains the ingredient dextromethorphan (such as Dexi-Tuss liquid). The name of the enough medicine will end with 'DM'. Take care if you're still coughing up sputum; a suppressant may make your symptoms worse or prolong your illness.
- If you have dark yellowish-brown, thick sputum, you may have developed a secondary infection, especially if you have a high fever. Such as infection--more common in children, the elderly and people with comprised immunity---can be treated with an antibiotic, such as amoxycillin. Be sure to take full course of the drug (usually 10 to 14 days), or your infection may return.
- If you're constantly coughing or short of breath, talk with your doctor about trying a bronchodilator. Also use to treat asthma, these inhalers contain short-acting beta2-agonists, with ingredients such as
HELP FROM HERBS
Certain herbs, long used in folk medicine, can bolster your immunity, soothe your cough and loosen mucus.
For acute bronchitis
The following herbs as helpful for easing a bronchial cough:
Horebound makes your cough more productive. You can make horehound tea, or sir 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of liquid extract into a cup of hot water, add honey to taste. Drink 2 or 3 cups of the tea a day until you start to feel better.
Slippery elm coats your irritated throat with a gel-like substance. You can make a cup of slippery elm tea, or stir 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of powdered extract into a cup of hot water. Drink 2 or 3 cups a day until symptoms subside.
For chronic bronchitis
This group of herbs helps strengthen your immune systenm, enabling you to fight off recurrent problems. Because their effectiveness diminishes with use, rotate them over the course of a month.
- Echinacea helps your cells produce a natural virus fighter called interferon. At the first sign of bronchitis, start to take 200 mg of echinacea twice a day.
- Astragalus is used in Chinese traditional medicine to build stamina and vitality. Take 200 mg twice a day.
- Pau d'arco aids the body's defence against viral infections. Take 250 mg twice a day.
- Medicinal mushrooms (reishi or maitake) assist in warding off disease. Take 400-700 mg of either daily.
salbutamol (Ventolin) and salmeterol (Serevent). Inhalers relax the muscles around bronchial tubes, helping you breathe more easily.
Lifestyle Changes
In addition to taking medications, you can do a number of things on your own to speed up your recovery.
Rest. Your body needs to recuperate, so call your boss and say you'll be taking a few days off. Now's a good time to catch up on sleep and open those books you've been meaning to read. (Besides, if you don't take it easy, you're likely to feel sick even longer.)
Drink plenty of fluids. This will keep your mucous membranes moist, helping you to cough up sputum. Drink at least eight glasses of water or other clear liquids every day.
Keep nasal passages moist and clean. Any type of moist air will help loosen sputum. Run a humidifier or vaporiser in your bedroom at night (clean your unit frequently with bleach to kill germs). use an air purifier or an air conditioner (with a clean filter) to remove dust, pollen and other nasal irritants from the air.
>Am I at risk of getting pneumonia?
In rare cases, germs, can migrate from your bronchial tubes into your lungs, causing pneumonia. However, this usually affects children, and elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Warning signals include a high fever (38.8 degrees-40 degrees C), shaking chills, rust-coloured sputum and chest pain. If you experience any of these, call your doctor.
Natural methods
Consuming the recommended five to nine daily servings of fruit and vegetables may prevent a future bronchitis attack. Both fruit and vegetables contain substances called flavonoids, which help protect cells throughout your body--including those in your bronchial tubes and lungs--from disease. Research done in the Netherlands has found that eating plenty of foods rich in these substances can protect against chronic bronchitis. In addition, fruit and vegetables are excellant sources of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which bolster immunity. You can also turn to herbal teas and immune-boosting herbs. (see above).
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