Table of contents:
- What are the complications due to bronchitis?
- 1. Prone to infection
- 2. Pneumonia
- 3. Aspiration pneumonia
- 4. Heart disease
- How to prevent the harm caused by bronchitis?
Bronchitis is an inflammatory condition of the lining of the respiratory tract that carries air to and from the lungs (bronchial). This condition is usually not cause for concern. However, in certain situations, bronchitis can create a number of complications. What are the dangers or complications that bronchitis can cause?
What are the complications due to bronchitis?
The dangers of bronchitis, both acute and chronic, can lurk the sufferer. However, the dangers that arise generally occur in people who experience chronic bronchitis because the disease is long-term and requires special attention.
Here are the dangers of complications of bronchitis that can potentially attack you:
1. Prone to infection
People with bronchitis are more susceptible to bacterial infections of the airways and lungs. Quoted from the website of Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, some people with chronic bronchitis can experience complications in the form of permanent respiratory infections.
If you have chronic bronchitis, treatment for other infections will take longer. As a result, the symptoms that appear can last longer and be more severe (exacerbation or worsening of symptoms).
Chronic bronchitis increases the risk of lung infections. Therefore, it is recommended that you get the influenza vaccine every year.
2. Pneumonia
One of the dangers of bronchitis is pneumonia. The most common causes of bronchitis are viruses. If not treated immediately it can cause decreased endurance. This then makes it easier for bacteria to enter, causing pneumonia.
Pneumonia is an infection that occurs in the air sacs of your lungs (alveoli). The air sacs can fill with fluid or pus. Although similar, pneumonia causes different symptoms than bronchitis.
These symptoms include:
- Cough
- Fever
- Shivering
People who have bronchitis are more prone to pneumonia because basically this disease occurs because the immune system is weak.
Some of the age groups below are more susceptible to the dangers of bronchitis in the form of pneumonia, namely:
- Age under 2 years old or over 65 years of age.
- Never had a stroke.
- Difficulty swallowing
- Have asthma, fibrosis, diabetes, liver failure, or another medical condition.
- Has limited mobility.
- While the healing period which affects the immune system.
- Are receiving therapy or treatment for cancer.
- Smoker.
- Alcohol drinkers.
In some cases, bronchitis can also progress to pneumonia while taking antibiotics for the treatment of bronchitis. This is because the antibiotics that are being consumed are only useful for treating the bacteria that cause bronchitis, while the bacteria that cause pneumonia can still develop.
3. Aspiration pneumonia
If you have bronchitis, you will have a persistent cough. This can increase your risk of choking when you chew food in your mouth.
When you choke, food will enter the wrong pipe and travel to your lungs. This condition has the potential to cause another bronchitis hazard, namely aspiration pneumonia.
This condition can be treated with a suction procedure with a special tube. However, life expectancy when you get aspiration pneumonia depends on your age and other situations.
4. Heart disease
Internal Medicine Journal mentioned that respiratory infections, including bronchitis, pneumonia, to the common cold can increase a person's risk of having a heart attack. This is another danger caused by bronchitis that you also need to be aware of.
The study examined 578 people who had had a heart attack because of blocked coronary arteries. The people then provided information about a history of respiratory infections and how often they had them.
The result, they claimed to experience several symptoms of respiratory infections before having a heart attack. These symptoms include sore throat, cough, fever, sinuses, and other symptoms similar to the flu.
The study concluded that respiratory infections, including bronchitis, were an acute trigger for heart attacks. This risk may be reduced. However, further research is needed to prove it.
How to prevent the harm caused by bronchitis?
One of the measures to prevent complications of bronchitis is to recognize your symptoms. If you experience symptoms of bronchitis, it is important to consult a doctor immediately in order to get the right treatment.
The doctor will immediately check whether the infection in your respiratory system has spread to your lungs or not. Your doctor may also check you regularly to see if your bronchitis is getting better or if it's getting worse.
Complications due to bronchitis can be a threat to anyone. The conditions mentioned above can worsen your general health condition. In order to avoid complications, it is recommended that you undergo bronchitis treatment recommended by doctors and live a healthy life, to be diligent in exercising specifically for bronchitis sufferers.
