Recent Blog Articles
Why eat lower on the seafood chain?
Can long COVID affect the gut?
When replenishing fluids, does milk beat water?
Safe, joyful movement for people of all weights
Slowing down racing thoughts
Are women turning to cannabis for menopause symptom relief?
3 ways to create community and counter loneliness
Helping children make friends: What parents can do
Can electrical brain stimulation boost attention, memory, and more?
Palliative care frightens some people: Here’s how it helps
Diseases & Conditions
What to do for bronchitis
Although this upper respiratory infection may last longer than the common cold, it usually doesn't warrant antibiotics or medical treatment.
Image: decade3d/iStock
We all know the common cold very well; the average adult has several every year. "Chest colds," or bronchitis episodes, are much less frequent, affecting only 5% of adults per year. Perhaps because bronchitis is accompanied by a persistent, nagging cough, we tend to think of it as a more serious illness. It is the fifth most common reason people see their primary care provider.
What is bronchitis?
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi—the tubes leading from the trachea, or windpipe, to the lungs. Bronchitis often begins as an infection in your nose, sinuses, ears, or throat, and moves into the bronchi.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Free Healthbeat Signup
Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!
