Are you worried that you may have bronchitis? Many people do. Tens of thousands of searches take place each month on the internet by people looking to get more information about bronchitis. If you believe that you may have bronchitis, you need to be able to identify the 5 signs & symptoms of this disease.

Bronchitis is an illness that occurs as a result of a blockage that takes place in the air passages. This blockage is usually as the result of foreign elements such as air pollution or microbiological germs such as bacteria and viruses. There are 5 signs and symptoms that you can identify to determine if you have bronchitis.

Bronchitis comes in two forms. Knowing the difference between the two is vital in terms of treatment. They are acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis.

The first type of bronchitis is acute bronchitis. This version of bronchitis takes place as a result of bacteria or virus presence in the lungs. If you have acute bronchitis you will demonstrate symptoms for a period of days mostly, but sometimes it can extend into weeks with symptoms.

Chronic bronchitis is the more serious type of bronchitis. This is the type of bronchitis that usually results as a side effect of smoking. Unlike acute bronchitis, which usually last days or weeks, chronic bronchitis can last several months, if not even years.

The first sign of bronchitis is mucus buildup. The mucus build up causes a hacking and consistent coughing as the body attempts to force it out of the air passages so you can breath. The mucus that you force up is either a yellow color or a green color and it serves as one of the main signs that you have bronchitis.

The second sign of bronchitis is throat and chest discomfort. When the mucus builds up in the body, it creates pressure in the chest region causing chest discomfort. When it is forced up by the coughing, this creates pressure in the throat region. It can even create a burning sensation in both regions.

If you feel that you are tired all of the time, this is another sign that you may have bronchitis. People who suffer from this illness experience difficulty in breathing, in particular when they find themselves coughing constantly.

The constant coughing and breathlessness experienced by someone who has bronchitis results in fatigue in which the person feels sluggish and tired. The breathing difficulty may also be accompanied by a wheezing sound when attempting to breathe.

Sometimes when you are suffering from bronchitis a fever may set in. This is common if the cause of your bronchitis is due to bacteria or viral buildup. One way that the body fights off these microscopic invaders is to raise the overall temperature of the body, causing the fever. The fever may also include signs of chills and fatigue.

The fifth sign is a headache. The headache can come from many causes, the constant coughing and wheezing, the mucus buildup, the side effects of a fever or chill. Pain in the head region is certainly common when it comes to symptoms of bronchitis.

If you are experiencing many if not all of these symptoms, this is a good sign that you may have bronchitis. As such you should make an appointment with your doctor as he or she can recommend the best strategy to helping you rid yourself of this illness.