Table of Contents
Table of Contents

Chronic Bronchitis

Ever experienced a severe cough that shakes the chest and makes you spit slimy sputum? Do you remember the wheezing musical sound, breathlessness, and chest pain that came along with it? If yes, it could have been a peculiar case of bronchitis.

Bronchitis, as the name suggests, is the inflammation of the bronchi, a part close to your lungs in the respiratory tree. They are the airways in the lower respiratory tract that serves air to the lungs. An infection of the ear, nose, throat, or sinuses can later transform into bronchitis. Bronchitis can be described as two types based on its onset and development- acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis (or chest cold) is of sudden onset and lingers around for a few weeks. Most of the cases could be of viral origin.

When bronchitis lasts more than three months, we call it chronic bronchitis. One of the hallmark features of this condition is a productive cough with sputum production. A number of factors can cause chronic bronchitis, and sometimes it can appear as the symptom of any other primary disease such as tuberculosis. It was estimated that about 9 million adults were affected by chronic bronchitis by the end of 2018. Though tobacco usage is the leading cause of chronic bronchitis, it was noted that there was about a 4-22% chance of non-smokers getting this. Other causes are exposure to chemical vapors such as hair spray, irritants like cloth dust and grains, low immunity, gastric reflux disease, burning coal and plastic, air pollution, etc. Global statistics show that about 20% of adult males and 5% of adult females are vulnerable to chronic bronchitis. It could also be present with other diseases like-

  • Tuberculosis
  • Asthma
  • Pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lungs)
  • Sinusitis
  • Upper airway tract infections
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • COVID-19

It is not a life-threatening condition but can affect the quality of life and invite other associated diseases.

Signs and Symptoms

Each individual may be presented with different symptoms, yet, to summarize:-

  • Cough that lasts months
  • Expectoration- the mucus can be clear, yellow, yellowish green, white, or grey, and sometimes with a tinge of blood
  • Wheezing and whistling sounds from the chest
  • Chest irritation
  • Bluish lips, nail bed, and fingertips
  • Pedal edema (swollen feet)
  • Breathing difficulty – shortness of breath
  • Tightness in chest

Ayurveda Treatment for Chronic Bronchitis

Ayurveda mentions different types of breathlessness and cough under the headings shwasa and kasa. In chronic bronchitis, breathing difficulty can be correlated to the Tamaka type of shwasa, where there is a wheezing or crackling sound due to the activity of vata on the kapha-obstructed respiratory channels, cold due to the incorrect course of vata with kapha, throat irritation due to kapha, tightness or gripping pain in the chest due to a messed up vata, expectoration that comes with kapha, breathing difficulty, etc.

Our Approach

A properly planned Ayurvedic treatment can restore the quality of life hampered by chronic bronchitis. For this, all you need are trusted resources, skillful practitioners, and quality medicines. Apollo AyurVAID is a pristine institution that bears the virtue of Ayurveda. Our doctors, skilled and proficient in their field, are here to help you, by providing you with comfort and reassurance. In-depth assessment of the condition, precise diagnosis, thorough samprapti vighatana (breaking the disease pathway), properly planned prakriti-oriented treatment, quality procedures, safe and hygienic environment, etc are our peculiarities. We offer you complete care and cure for the conditions that ail you.

We are: –

  • First NABH-accredited hospital in India
  • The winner of the esteemed National Award for Best Ayurvedic Centre of the year 2017 from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • Industry’s best customer satisfaction score of 92%, rated by our clients

Our Outcome

The goals of chronic bronchitis treatment in Ayurveda are to get rid of the root cause, manage the symptoms, bring about changes in lifestyle and diet as per the severity of the condition, and prevent a recurrence. Both vata and kapha are cold in nature, so as per the core rules of Ayurveda, internal medicines and external therapies with hot potency should be applied to counteract both of them. Timely panchakarma treatments can help relieve the symptoms and manage complications. In weak patients where panchakarma cannot be done, internal medicines of hot potency and pungent, astringent tastes are administered to curb the doshas. Cardamom (Elettaria cardamom), long pepper (Piper longum), black pepper (Piper nigrum), turmeric (Curcuma longa), Indian laburnum (Cassia fistula), etc are a few drugs of choice. These internal and external therapies correct the course of vata, detoxify the body, remove obstructions, and balance the doshas.

Rejuvenative (Rasayana) formulations like Chyavanaprasha, Pippali rasayana, Agastya haritaki, Vyaghri haritaki, Haridra khanda, etc do a job beyond words in relieving the issues associated with chronic bronchitis. Yoga practices like Pranayama (breathing exercises) increase airway patency and conduct more air to the lungs.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are chronic bronchitis and asthma the same?
Though symptoms are similar, bronchial asthma and bronchitis are different diseases divided by their causative factors. Asthma can develop as a result of genetic factors- that is, if your parents had asthma, you are likely to get it too. The respiratory infections you contracted as a child can also trigger episodes of asthma. Environmental factors like dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, air pollution, certain insects, stress, and cols can cascade asthma attacks. On the other hand, chronic bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchi and can occur as a symptom of asthma. A viral or bacterial infection could cause chronic bronchitis. Also, asthma comes in episodes while chronic bronchitis symptoms are seen persistently over months or even years.
2. How does Yoga help in managing chronic bronchitis?
Yoga has several breathing exercises that help increase the airflow to the lungs. Pranayama is the most popular one among them. They enhance the functioning of airways and the lungs and enable proper air movement. These help the patient relax and dilate the bronchial tree. Yoga postures such as Savasana, Shalabhasana, Bhujangasana, and Paschimottanasana are known to increase chest volume, vital capacity, and blood circulation to respiratory organs.
3. What dietary changes can I make to cope with chronic bronchitis?
Always consume hot or warm foods, Avoid cold and dry food items, Preferred tastes are pungent, astringent, and salty Choose mildly oily food over dry, light food, The use of spices like ginger, turmeric, and black pepper is encouraged, Leafy vegetables and pulses are to be included in the daily diet, Excess use of potatoes, cauliflower, tomato, coconut oil, fermented foods, fizzy beverages, sweets, rice flour, milk, and dairy products is not encouraged.

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