Bronchitis how many days of rest

Chronic bronchitis is caused by environmental irritants. It lasts for at least three months and recurs yearly. It is a long-term condition that needs ongoing treatment.

Chronic bronchitis is a life-long condition, but you can manage it with the help of a health professional. Lifestyle changes can reduce the symptoms of chronic bronchitis and prevent it from getting worse. Ask a medical professional for help quitting smoking and work on reducing your exposure to other irritants.

Physical activity can help strengthen your lungs, so ask about your options. You can prevent future infections by getting vaccines for the flu and pneumonia. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Acute bronchitis. Updated December 10, Chronic bronchitis.

Updated January 3, Medline Plus. Common cold. Updated February 7, Allan GM, Arroll B. Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence. Cleveland Clinic. Updated August 12, Antibiotics for acute bronchitis.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Chronic vs. How Long Each Lasts.

When To See a Doctor. Bronchitis vs. Pneumonia: How to Tell the Difference. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! It can be chronic or acute. The type of bronchitis you have determines how long it will last. Acute bronchitis typically lasts between 10 to 14 days, though you may experience symptoms up to 3 weeks in some cases. It can be brought about as the result of another illness, such as a cold or the flu. It can also result from allergies. Chronic bronchitis is a long-lasting form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD.

Symptoms from chronic bronchitis last at least three months, and subsequent episodes of bronchitis can come and go for two or more years following your recovery from the initial episode.

Acute bronchitis usually lasts from 10 to 14 days, but some symptoms may last longer. For example, you may have a lingering cough that lasts for a month or sometimes longer. This is true for both children and adults. Older adults may experience more severe symptoms over a longer duration of time.

These symptoms can include rapid breathing and confused thinking. Elderly individuals may also be at a higher risk for complications, such as pneumonia. Chronic bronchitis is more common in adults than in children. People with chronic bronchitis can also experience bouts of acute bronchitis. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include long-term irritation and inflammation of the bronchial tubes, and a chronic, phlegmy cough that lasts for at least three months.

This is followed by episodic bouts of bronchitis, which can come and go for two years or longer. Acute bronchitis can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if they suspect you have bacterial bronchitis. Antibiotics are not helpful for bronchitis caused by viruses. Chronic bronchitis is often caused by cigarette smoking. It can also be caused by exposure to environmental toxins, such as air pollution or secondhand smoke.

Around 90 percent of all cases of acute bronchitis are caused by viruses, such as the cold or flu, which are contagious. It lasts up to 3 weeks. It's more common in winter and often comes on after a common cold , sore throat or the flu.

Chronic bronchitis is a daily productive cough that lasts for 3 months of the year and for at least 2 years in a row. It's 1 of a number of lung conditions, including emphysema, that are collectively known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. Cigarette smoke and the chemicals in cigarettes make bronchitis worse and increase your risk of developing chronic bronchitis and COPD. A GP can help you give up smoking. If you have bronchitis and you're worried about coronavirus, you can get advice about coronavirus and bronchitis from the British Lung Foundation.

The main symptom of acute bronchitis is a hacking cough, which may bring up clear, yellow-grey or greenish mucus phlegm.

Other symptoms are similar to those of the common cold or sinusitis , and may include:. If you have acute bronchitis, your cough may last for several weeks after other symptoms have gone. Some people may have shortness of breath or wheezing as a result of inflamed airways. If you have a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, it could be COVID Most cases of acute bronchitis can be easily treated at home with rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs and plenty of fluids.

A GP may need to rule out other lung infections, such as pneumonia, which has symptoms similar to those of bronchitis. If they think you may have pneumonia, you'll probably need a chest X-ray and a sample of mucus may be taken for testing. If a GP thinks you might have an underlying condition, they may also suggest that you have a lung function test.

You'll be asked to take a deep breath and blow into a device called a spirometer , which measures the volume of air in your lungs. The virus is contained in the millions of tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. These droplets typically spread about 1m.