If you cough every day with sputum production, and the cough lasts for 3 months or more, 2 years in a row, then it's defined as chronic bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis causes chronic cough, but chronic cough isn't all due to chronic bronchitis. There're other possibilities.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of bronchial tubes, the inner lining swells and grows thicker, narrowing the breathing passages. The membranes are irritated and secrete extra mucus, sometimes clog the small air passage.
In Bronchitis, people feel fatigue, tightness in chest, short of breath. In physical exam, the doctors can hear clearly the wheezing sounds when breathing. Sometimes the patient can hear the wheezing sound on their own.
However, to confirm Bronchitis, you doctor will need to order Pulmonary function test for you. If necessary, your doctor will order chest X-ray too.
Smokers are at higher risk at chronic bronchitis. In order to avoid chronic bronchitis, quit smoking, and avoid smoke of any type.
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