Chronic Bronchitis An Incurable Obstructive Lung Disease

Chronic Bronchitis is best described as an irreversible obstructive lung disease affecting the bronchi causing inflammation, increased mucous secretion, and a productive cough. To familiarize ones self with this disease, it plays a large roll with a more commonly known condition called â€Å"Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease† or â€Å"COPD†. COPD is comprised of two diseases – chronic bronchitis, and Emphysema. It is important to recognize that chronic bronchitis may be represented as its alias â€Å"COPD†, but COPD is not necessarily chronic bronchitis. This is important since some treatments and diagnostics for this disease may not reflect that of COPD and visa versa. Innately, as medicine is practiced, in order to diagnose and treat an ailment, it†¦show more content†¦Pathologic changes resulting from these diseases are not easily defined, as there are many overlapping diseases and disorders associated with the same symptoms of both. What i s understood in the medical industry is that histological findings have shown that goblet cell hyperplasia causing excess secretions are present in chronic bronchitis, and an overinflated airway due to weakening of the tracheobronchial tree with foul smelling sputum is indicative of bronchiectasis. Symptoms And Diagnosis Following the pathologic changes of chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis, many patients will present with the following symptoms: shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing, productive cough and hemoptysis (Stauffer). Many of these symptoms will occur after the patient has recently contracted common cold viruses or other irritants as they weaken the body’s natural balance in the respiratory tract. With the majority of patients having a sudden increase of mucus production, this will have a tendency to obstruct the airways and prevent ventilation. In some cases the patient is able to clear the airway of the obstruction simply by coughing, but excessive coughing can lead to a much more problematic bronchospasm. Also, due to the weakened airway of bronchiectasis patients and increased thick sputum, coughing may prove to be vastly ineffective. These diseases are diagnosed with a combination of examinations such as Pulmonary Functions Tests (PFT), Chest