Asthmatic bronchitis is a condition in which there is inflammation and swelling of the air tubes that deliver air to the lungs. Bronchial tubes normally produce mucus that gives a protective cover to respiratory organs. In asthmatic bronchitis, however, the mucus production is excessive. The symptoms of asthmatic bronchitis include breathing difficulties, wheezing, and coughing. Although virus and bacteria can cause asthmatic bronchitis, its main causes are typically such external agents as smoking or pollutants and environmental toxins.
Smoking
Tobacco smoke irritates the air passages. This produces mucus that develops into chronic bronchitis.The first study to confirm this was conducted by Dr. Rebecca J. Troisi and colleagues, who published their results in the "Chest" journal in 1995. The authors followed 74,072 women for 10 years and found out that smokers were four to five times more likely to develop chronic bronchitis than the nonsmokers. Later, Katja Radon and colleagues reported in a study that was published in a September 2002 issue of the "Chest" journal that a person did not have to smoke himself to have an elevated risk for asthmatic bronchitis. Exposure to cigarette smoke in the workplace was enough to increase the risk for this condition significantly.
Environmental Toxins and Pollutions
Many environmental toxins and pollutions have been linked to asthmatic bronchitis. This condition is commonly found among coal miners, farmers and other people who are exposed to dust and different fumes. For example, Wijnand Eduard and colleagues showed in a study published in the September 2008 issue of the "Chest" journal that farmers who had been exposed to hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, inorganic or organic, had an increased risk of asthmatic bronchitis.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease may trigger or cause many pulmonary diseases such as asthmatic bronchitis. GERD is a condition in which the acid backing up from the stomach is causing the esophagus to become irritated or inflamed. Approximately 10 percent of adults suffer from GERD at least once a week. According to Dr. Gajanan S. Gaude's study published in the July 2009 issue of "Annals of Thoracic Medicine," both of these dieases, GERD and asthmatic bronchitis, seem to trigger one another.
References
- "Chest"; Cigarette Smoking and Incidence of Cigarette Smoking and Incidence of Asthma; Rebecca J. Troisi et al.; 1995
- Healthscout.com: Chronic Asthmatic Bronchitis
- "Annals of Thoracic Medicine"; Pulmonary Manifestations of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease; Gajanan S Gaude; July 2009
- "Chest"; Passive Smoking ExposureA Risk Factor for Chronic Bronchitis and Asthma; Katja Radon et al.; September 2002
- "Chest"; Chronic Bronchitis, COPD, and Lung Function in Farmers; Wijnand Eduard; September 2009
