What are the symptoms of chronic bronchitis?
Symptoms may not be immediately obvious for chronic bronchitis. They include: • Chronic productive cough (a cough that produces mucus) that increases in strength and frequency • Shortness of breath or wheezing, especially during exercise • Chest pain What causes chronic bronchitis? Chronic bronchitis is caused most often by exposure to airborne pollutants such as cigarette smoke, excessive dust in the air, or chemicals. The constant exposure to such pollutants begins to cause damage in the bronchioles (the smaller airways in the lungs), as the bronchial lining becomes inflamed. Is chronic bronchitis dangerous? Untreated chronic bronchitis can be very serious. As the bronchitis worsens, air exchange during breathing becomes less efficient and places strain on the heart. In addition, people with chronic bronchitis have an increased risk of developing other illnesses, such as colds or pneumonia. If the bronchitis is caused by smoking, the bronchitis and breathing problems will get worse a
