Bronchitis
Bronchitis is the inflammation of the lining of the bronchi. It is two types acute bronchitis & chronic bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by airway inflammation due to viral or bacterial infection; it may be contagious and recover after few days or weeks. In acute bronchitis Inflammation of bronchial wall leads to mucosal thickening, epithelial cell desquamation and denudation of basement membrane. About 5% of adults have an episode of acute bronchitis each year.
Chronic bronchitis is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with productive cough of more than 3 months occurring within a span of 2 years. The occurrence of chronic bronchitis in general population has been documented to vary between 3% to 7%. Among them 74% have COPD.
Cigarette smoking, older age, exposure to fumes history of respiratory disease such as asthma, cystic fibrosis these are some of the risk factors of chronic bronchitis. In chronic bronchitis viral infection, allergens, pollutants, smoke irritates the airway that leads to hyper secretion of mucus and produce inflammation. Bronchial wall became thickened and the bronchial lumen is narrowed and mucus may plug the airway. The alveoli adjacent to bronchioles may became damaged. The symptoms are the same for both acute and chronic bronchitis such as, cough with mucus, chest pain, tiredness, low grade fever, shortness of breath, wheezing.
The primary aim of the treatment is to reduce the over production of mucus, controlling inflammation and lowering cough. As per ayurveda, treatment principle for respiratory disorders is to balance both vatha and kapha,so the drugs used for these disease should possess the qualities like vatha kapha samana ,ushna veeyra,and vathanulomana.In bronchitis inflammation is present so considering the involvement of pitta as well as Agni is important to treat the disease.
