Bronchitis can be bacterial or viral, and both these types are referred to as serious health disorders. Read on to know how proper precautions and home remedies help lower its symptoms.
Bronchitis can be acute or chronic. It is caused due to lung infection which may spread from one infected person to another, through direct or indirect contact.
The acute one lasts for a few days or weeks, while the chronic one, which is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), can last for a few months. Both acute and chronic conditions lead to the inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes (airways in the lungs).
As a result, symptoms of cold and flu, like excessive secretion of mucus, are noticed. If left untreated, this can lead to pneumonia. COPD is caused due to excessive smoking, exposure to smoke and fumes, inhalation of irritating dust, and is associated with bronchial asthma.
Symptoms
Headache and body ache
Sore throat
Chest pain
Cough and cold
Shortness of breath or dyspnea
Chest congestion and tightness
Wheezing
Chill and fever
Fatigue
Home Remedies
Put some fenugreek seeds in water. Boil the water with some ginger. Strain the water, add some honey, and consume it, 4-5 times daily.
Almonds are loaded with vitamins, and can definitely provide you more strength. You can try ground almonds mixed in orange juice for some long-term benefit.
Take a mixture of ground ginger, cloves, pepper, and honey in a spoon. Heat it a little before consuming it. The mixture can be consumed 3-4 times daily.
Drink warm liquids to ease the throat pain caused by constant coughing. Tea, coffee, warm water, and soups work great.
Including some herbs like yarrow and marshmallow in your diet would be helpful for you.
You can use warm salty water for frequent gargling, as it helps get rid of throat pain.
Tea with bay leaves is equally effective.
To soothe the irritating throat, you can consume a few teaspoons of honey.
To soothe the throat, and to regain the energy, you can drink tea made from ginger root, clove, and cinnamon.
Morning cough and congestion can be relieved with a teaspoon of raw onion juice early in the morning.
Rubbing garlic oil to the throat (gargle with it) can offer you instant relief from itchy throat.
Drinking plenty of liquids helps flush out the mucous fast.
Drinking a glass of warm milk with a pinch of turmeric can help relieve the congestion in the chest.
Smoking should be strictly avoided, as it can increase the risk of infection, and thus can worsen the condition.
To treat bronchitis in children, a paste of ground almonds, poppy seeds, a pinch of turmeric, and honey can be offered with milk, before going to bed.
If the child follows some yoga exercises daily, it will be beneficial.
Mix mustard in warm water, and rub it on the child's chest. It will help alleviate the symptoms.
Clear chicken soup with ginger and garlic in it, or fresh chicken stock with a lot of pepper and ginger in it can help improve the health of the patient.
You can follow these tips to treat bronchitis at home, but you should also consult your physician. His suggestions would be crucial, as he will take into consideration your age, health, and health problems if any.
Prescribed medications would help relieve the symptoms fast. Excessive exposure to allergens, dust, pollens, gases, fumes, polluted air, etc., can worsen the symptoms, hence should be avoided.
Disclaimer: This is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.