Sipping hot beverages is sometimes helpful for wheezing , in particular those containing caffeine, which has been shown to temporarily relax airways in people with asthma. Follow your healthcare provider's orders to stay well-hydrated and take it easy. Don't push yourself, even if that means taking time off from work and turning over household tasks and other responsibilities to others.
Get plenty of sleep as well: Research has found sleep makes it easier for immune cells to fight infection. Acute bronchitis caused by a virus will resolve on its own without treatment. For bronchitis caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed but aren't always advisable. In addition to concerns about antibiotic resistance, research has found antibiotics to be only slightly effective for bronchitis.
In one study, they reduced the amount of time a person had symptoms by only half a day. Bronchitis requires special attention during pregnancy due to concerns about the health of the developing fetus and changes in the maternal immune system that may increase susceptibility to infection. Although rare, a viral infection can lead to complications during pregnancy that can affect both parent and baby.
If you're pregnant and develop bronchitis, let your healthcare provider know right away so they can determine how best to relieve your symptoms and monitor the progression of the infection. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.
Chronic Bronchitis. Updated February 26, Mehta S. American Academy of Family Physicians. Updated April 5, Sethi S. Merck Manual Consumer Version. Updated February Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Safety and effectiveness of the high-frequency chest wall oscillation vs intrapulmonary percussive ventilation in patients with severe COPD. Pelargonium sidoides extract for treating acute respiratory tract infections. Bone K, Mills S, editors. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier; Michigan Medicine. University of Michigan. Bronchitis: Should I take antibiotics?
Updated October 26, J Exp Med. Viral Infection s. Aug 31, Antibiotics for acute bronchitis. Published Jun Viral infections during pregnancy. So, your doctor can prescribe a drug however they think is best for your care. Learn more about off-label drug use. Studies show oral steroids often help you start to breathe easier very quickly. This makes you less likely to experience complications associated with long-term use of the medication.
Side effects from short-term use of steroids are usually minor, if they occur at all. They include:. Oral steroids can lower your immune system. Be especially mindful of washing your hands and reducing your exposure to people who may have an infection that can be easily transmitted. The medications can also contribute to osteoporosis, so your doctor may advise you to increase your vitamin D and calcium intake or start taking drugs to fight bone loss.
You can use an inhaler to deliver steroids directly into your lungs. Unlike oral steroids, inhaled steroids tend to be best for people whose symptoms are stable. You may also use a nebulizer. This is a machine that turns the medicine into a fine aerosol mist.
It then pumps the mist through a flexible tube and into a mask that you wear across your nose and mouth. Inhaled steroids tend to be used as maintenance medications to keep symptoms under control for the long term. Doses are measured in micrograms mcg. Typical doses range from 40 mcg per puff from an inhaler to mcg per puff. Some inhaled steroids are more concentrated and powerful so that they can help control more advanced COPD symptoms.
Milder forms of COPD may be controlled by weaker doses. The combination products described below are more commonly used. If your symptoms are gradually worsening, inhaled steroids can help keep them from progressing too fast. Research shows they may also cut down on the number of acute exacerbations you experience. If asthma is a part of your COPD , an inhaler may be particularly helpful. The possible side effects of inhaled steroids include a sore throat and cough, as well as infections in your mouth.
There is also an increased risk of pneumonia with long-term use of inhaled steroids. In these instances, an inhaled drug called a bronchodilator can help relieve coughing and help you catch your breath. To reduce the risk of oral infections, rinse your mouth and gargle with water after you use the inhaler. Steroids can also be combined with bronchodilators.
These are medicines that help relax the muscles surrounding your airways. Various medications used in a combination inhaler can target the large or small airways. Combination inhalers act fast to stop wheezing and coughing, and to help open up airways for easier breathing.
Some combination inhalers are designed to provide those benefits for an extended time after use. The best results occur if you take the combination medication every day, even if your symptoms are under control. Stopping suddenly may lead to worse symptoms. No significant treatment effects were observed for duration or severity of other acute lower respiratory tract infection symptoms, duration of abnormal peak flow, antibiotic use, or nonserious adverse events.
There were no serious adverse events. Because there were no reductions in the severity or duration of cough or other symptoms as a result of the steroid when compared with the placebo group , the authors do not recommend the use of steroids for treating the symptoms of bronchitis in patients without asthma.
We would not recommend their use for this group of patients.
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