In some cases, for someone with chronic bronchitis, the signs will swiftly get worse unpredictably. This is known as an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, otherwise known as AECB. Many patients that pass away from a chronic form of bronchitis does so while suffering from a sudden onset of AECB, so a person suffering from an attack of AECB must get emergency care right away to increase one's chances of surviving the attack.
What Happens In An Attack of AECB?
Through a period of an AECB, the already irregularly constricted air passageways in the lungs become even thinner, and even more more profuse mucous is secreted. The condition will result in a person's regular breathing to become all the more labored. This may occur alongside a slight fever, chills and cold, as well as feeling weak in the knees. If the sudden AECB is due to bacterial infection, the mucus heaved during expectoration may potentially be speckled with blood, or tinged with a brighter than regular green or yellow. If the person is stricken with fever, and has found blood in their mucus, there is a good chance the attending doctor will take a chest x-ray to make sure that other factors such as pneumonia is not the underlying root of the problem.
What Are the Triggers of AECB?
Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis are frequently triggered by a combination of the following:
-Bacterial or viral infections (e.g. cold, flu)
-Air pollutants that aggravate the respiratory system (e.g. smoke, fumes, dust)
-Weather changes
To avoid AECB, a person with chronic bronchitis is counseled to avoid areas with serious air pollution, to get pneumonia and flu shots, as well as to keep a proper nutrition to protect the immune system against infectious agents.
If you are suffering from AECB, you should get medical treatment as soon as possible. AECB has been observed to result in other problems, as well as many are documented every year due to complications from AECB. If you are stricken by AECB, try to stay calm. Breathe as steadily as possible, and steadily phone a physician or doctor for medical care. Since AECB can come unpredictably without warning, it is imperative to keep any doctor prescribed inhalants within reach in emergency situations. Make sure to ask your physician, and ensure that such inhalants are fine to inhale during an attack of AECB, to avoid any complications. You may benefit from lying down with a running humidifier, or jumping in a warm shower to improve your breathing and alleviate the symptoms of AECB.