Bronchitis is an acute or chronic disease of the respiratory tract, accompanied by an inflammatory process in the bronchi. The main symptom of the pathology is a severe cough, which produces a small amount of viscous sputum. This is a reflexive protective reaction of the body that helps clear the airways. The disease is easily treatable, but in the absence of medical intervention, numerous complications arise. The transition from an acute form of pathology to a chronic form, requiring long-term antibiotic therapy, is especially dangerous.
Treatment tactics
Before treating bronchitis and cough in an adult, the therapist conducts a thorough diagnosis of the patient. Laboratory and instrumental studies are necessary:
- to determine the type of disease and the stage of its course;
- to detect the cause of the inflammatory process: the type of pathogen or allergic agent;
- to establish the number of infectious foci and their localization;
- to assess the condition of the bronchial mucous membranes.
Bronchitis is a common complication of untreated ARVI or colds. At the initial stage of inflammation, a person experiences attacks of barking, strong and dry cough. Therefore, therapy is aimed at converting it into a productive form, in which a lot of sputum is formed, and it is easily removed from the bronchi. If the disease is severe, then to prevent complications (pneumonia and bronchial asthma), patients are treated in the pulmonology department. In other cases, outpatient therapy is indicated: taking medications, inhalations, compresses and rubbing.
Depending on the patient’s health condition and the severity of symptoms, treatment tactics are determined. The standard treatment regimen consists of the following measures:
- destruction of pathogenic pathogen:
- restoration of the lumen of the bronchi and bronchioles;
- acceleration of sputum excretion;
- eliminating the factors that provoked the pathology.
Chronic bronchitis develops for one reason: having felt better, a person begins to neglect medical recommendations or completely stop treatment. With a sharp decrease in immunity, the viruses or bacteria remaining in the body are activated - the symptoms of bronchitis return. Therefore, pulmonologists discontinue medications only after patients have fully recovered.
When diagnosing bronchitis, differential diagnosis may be required
How to relieve stuffy ears with a runny nose
Often, when you have a runny nose, your nose and ears become stuffy.
Treating a stuffy nose is much easier than dealing with a symptom such as stuffiness in one or both ears. Many parents, faced with such a problem, ask the question: when they have a runny nose, their ears are blocked - how to treat it? Can I take some action on my own? Or is it better to visit a specialist? Often such phenomena occur in children and frighten parents. The immune system of children is at the stage of formation; the body is still poorly protected from the introduction of infections of various kinds. Children often develop colds in the nose, which leads to problems with the throat and ears.
Problems with nasal congestion in adults and children are associated with the anatomical structure of the auditory organ. The organ of hearing is divided into three sections. The outer ear consists of the outer auricle, auditory canal and eardrum. The middle ear contains the auditory ossicles. They transmit sound vibrations to the hearing aid - the cochlea. It is located in the inner ear. The ear cavity communicates with the nasopharynx through the Eustachian tube. The pressure in the external auditory canal should be the same as in the eustachian tube. Then the eardrum is in a balanced state and the person hears well. But if even one pipe is blocked, the person will immediately experience a sharp decrease in hearing.
The same thing happens with a runny nose. This is what is called rhinitis. If a child or adult feels that their ears are blocked, then they need to look for pathology in the nasopharynx. The presence of nasal discharge makes it easier to determine the cause. If there is congestion in the ears, but there is no nasal discharge, then you need to look for a more serious pathology: adenoids, tonsillitis, nasopharyngeal tumors. How to treat?
When your ears become blocked after a runny nose, the problem can arise at a variety of levels:
Sulfur plugs
The first thing to think about is the presence of wax plugs in the external auditory canals or meatus. Often a person gets out of the shower and feels that his ears are blocked. Sulfur masses swell and clog the ear canal. In this case, it is recommended to simply clean them carefully.
Incorrect blowing
You should not blow your nose through both nostrils at once. This causes a sharp increase in pressure on the eardrum on one side, which can even cause it to rupture and cause hearing loss for the duration of treatment.
Inflammation of the middle ear
Liquid accumulates in the cavity and no matter how much the external auditory canal is cleaned, all this will be useless. This disease is called otitis media. In this case, you should seek qualified medical help from an otolaryngologist.
Eustachian tube blockage
The Eustachian tube connects the nasal cavity and throat. Everyone knows how dangerous it is to fly with a stuffy nose. This leads to blockage of this pipe until the eardrum ruptures.
Here are the most common causes of ear congestion. But it happens that a person has not swum in the sea, has not flown on an airplane, has not had a runny nose, and periodically has blocked ears. This can cause an allergic runny nose. With allergies, the mucous membrane swells and this leads to blockage of the Eustachian tube. In such cases, specialists often prescribe sucking lollipops or chewing gum for prevention. The presence of frequent swallowing movements helps to open the Eustachian tube and equalize pressure in the auditory organ. Children love this kind of prevention.
Correct mode
At the initial stage of bronchitis, patients are advised to stay in bed for two days. If you feel better, you can get up for a while, but you should not leave the room for a few more days. With proper treatment, after a week the cough will completely disappear, but the person will still feel weak and overwhelmed. At this time, you can only take short walks in the fresh air.
Treatment of bronchial cough will be more effective, and recovery will be accelerated by following a gentle diet. At the initial stage of the disease, there is often no appetite; a person cannot swallow even a crumb. The situation is complicated by periodic increases in temperature. But the body requires biologically active and nutrients to mobilize to fight viruses and microbes. Therefore, you should eat small meals 5-6 times a day. The patient's diet should include:
- cereal porridge;
- dairy products;
- lean meats and fish;
- white bread croutons.
Why do ears get stuffy with rhinitis?
The nasopharynx is closely interconnected with the auditory system, therefore, when a runny nose appears, congestion in the ears can appear both in the first days of a cold and a few days later as a complication. If your ears are blocked, this is explained by what happens with rhinitis
inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which spreads to the auditory canals and the Eustachian tube connecting the ear and nose. The appearance of swelling and inflammation in these canals leads to their narrowing, which causes a feeling of fullness in the ears and decreased hearing. Sometimes the ears become clogged with frequent sneezing, which is also present with a runny nose. This condition is caused by excessive or improper blowing of the nose, which causes increased pressure on the eustachian tube. If stuffy ears with a runny nose are not treated in time, the inflammatory process can spread to the Eustachian tube, which will lead to impaired ventilation in the ear cavity, where serous effusion will accumulate.
Antibiotics and bronchitis
The most common mistake in treating bronchial cough is taking antibacterial drugs. Pulmonologists prescribe such medications only in severe cases of the disease, when a bacterial infection has occurred. The human body is so weakened that pathogenic microorganisms easily overcome biological barriers. As a rule, treatment with antibiotics is carried out in a hospital setting.
It is impossible to treat a cough with acute or chronic bronchitis with antibiotics. This is a viral disease that requires appropriate therapy. Taking antibiotics will not only delay recovery, but also cause serious harm:
- will increase allergization;
- provokes intestinal dysbiosis;
- will reduce the body's resistance to pathogenic pathogens.
Often, irrational use of antibiotics leads to the development of broncho-obstructive syndrome. If the patient follows all medical recommendations, the immune system will quickly destroy viruses without the use of drugs that have antiviral activity.
Pulmonologists prescribe antibiotics when a patient’s health suddenly deteriorates after a long remission. A person begins to secrete purulent mucus along with sputum, sometimes blood streaks are found in it. This indicates an attached bacterial infection. After differential diagnosis, in addition to the main treatment, antibiotic therapy is carried out.
Antiviral drugs
The overwhelming number of antiviral drugs that are used to treat ARVI, chronic and acute bronchitis and colds were developed no more than 10-20 years ago. This is not enough time to accumulate evidence of the effectiveness of such funds. Many of them relate to dietary supplements or homeopathy. Here is a list of the most commonly recommended antiviral drugs and immunostimulants by doctors:
- Kagocel;
- Arbidol;
- Cytovir;
- Anaferon;
- Lavomax.
Many experts warn about the possible delayed consequences of using medications that enhance the immune system. At best, there will be no therapeutic effect; at worst, there is a risk of developing autoimmune diseases.
Expectorant drugs
Drugs that have a mucolytic effect thin mucus, facilitate breathing, and promote productive coughing. With bronchitis, there is thick, viscous mucus in the respiratory tract, so when prescribing expectorant tablets and syrups, doctors rely on their ability to:
- influence the viscosity of sputum;
- activate mucus removal;
- eliminate dry cough.
Medicines that quickly ensure the transition of a dry cough to a wet one at any stage of bronchitis will help speed up recovery. The most commonly used mucolytics are:
- Ambroxol (Lazolvan, Ambrobene, Bronchorus);
- Bromhexine;
- Gerbion.
If the cough is prolonged, complicated by obstruction, and difficult to treat, then syrups containing salbutamol are used:
- Ascoril;
- Cashnol.
Such drugs have a combined effect: they expand the lumen of the bronchi, remove phlegm, eliminate wet cough, including residual cough. In case of poor mucus production, the process is accelerated with the help of the following medications:
- Libexin;
- Glaucine;
- Levopront.
While taking these medications, you should drink plenty of fluids to form mucus and remove it from the bronchi. You can combine medications with decoctions and infusions of herbs with a similar therapeutic effect: coltsfoot, licorice, marshmallow, thyme, anise.
Traditional medicine recipes
At home, you can treat bronchitis with products that can be found in every home. Most often, black radish, rose hips, onions, garlic, and honey are mentioned in traditional medicine recipes. Pulmonologists have nothing against the use of these methods for treating chronic bronchitis, provided that pharmacological drugs are taken simultaneously. Here are some effective recipes from traditional healers:
- Make a hole in a well-washed radish and fill it with honey. Soon a juice with a specific taste and smell is formed, which combines the healing properties of honey and root vegetables. It should be taken a tablespoon 3-4 times a day after meals;
- Grind 4-5 peeled garlic cloves into a thick paste and mix with 0.1 kg of high-quality butter. If you add a little finely chopped parsley or dill, the healing effect of the aromatic product will be enhanced by the essential oils from the spice leaves. Spread the resulting mixture on bread and eat 3-4 times a day;
- pour 3 tbsp into a thermos. spoons of wild rosemary, violet, chopped licorice root and thyme. Pour a liter of boiling water and leave covered for 5 hours. Strain, take 5-6 times a day, 50 ml before meals;
- pour 5 tbsp into an enamel container. spoons of coltsfoot, sage, thyme and marigold. Pour a liter of boiling water and leave covered for 4 hours. Strain, take half a glass of infusion 3 times a day after meals.
Recovery will come much faster if you alternate the use of decoctions and infusions with eating sandwiches with garlic-dill oil. All these remedies help not only to quickly remove phlegm and eliminate coughs - they strengthen the immune system and increase the body’s resistance to viruses and microbes.
Prognosis for recovery
Ear congestion is a fairly common problem that affects people of all ages. The prognosis for recovery always depends on the root cause of the disorder. In case of otitis, treatment may take 10-14 days. If congestion is caused by changes in atmospheric pressure or water getting inside the ear, it is enough to use alternative medicine recipes. In this case, the discomfort disappears within a few hours.
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Inhalations
Regular inhalations will help cure a bronchial cough, but only if the patient does not have a fever. The procedures are carried out using special devices - inhalers and nebulizers. The devices are equipped with containers into which a small amount of Ambrobene or Lazolvan solutions is poured. During operation, inhalers emit steam saturated with the active ingredients of medications. When inhaling, they are evenly distributed on the surface of the upper and even lower respiratory tract.
If it is not possible to purchase a nebulizer, you can use a regular enamel saucepan or kettle and, covered with a towel, inhale the steam through your nose and mouth. With this method of inhalation, in addition to drugs, essential oils and decoctions of medicinal herbs are used:
- eucalyptus;
- sage;
- violets;
- thyme;
- anise
These plants contain phytoncides that reduce the severity of cough and make breathing easier. After the procedure, you should lie down and wrap yourself in a warm blanket. Before inhalation with herbal preparations, you need to make sure that it does not contain herbs that can cause an allergic reaction.
When Doctor Mom ointment is applied to the chest, the cough during bronchitis gradually subsides
Warming up the ear canal
Warming the ears helps improve blood microcirculation, metabolism and activation of the immune system. In addition, doctors recommend this procedure for frequent congestion caused by catarrhal or exudative otitis media in the recovery stage.
However, it is strictly contraindicated in the case of a purulent form of the inflammatory process or if a tumor is suspected in the affected area.
Most often, an alcohol compress is used for warming up.
To prepare it, a small amount of alcohol or vodka should be heated. You need to moisten a small piece of thick cloth in the liquid, squeeze it well and apply it to the affected ear. The duration of the procedure is 10-15 minutes with daily repetitions for a week. After it, it is not recommended to go out into the cold or swim in open water due to the high risk of hypothermia.
For warming with dry heat, a blue lamp is usually used. It is directed towards the affected ear at a distance of 25-40 cm from it. The duration of the procedure is no more than 25 minutes. The standard course of treatment involves daily heating for 7 days.
Compresses
When mucus accumulates in the bronchioles and bronchi, a person has difficulty breathing. When trying to take a breath, a strong cough opens and a feeling of suffocation appears. If bronchitis is not complicated by hyperthermia (increased temperature), then therapeutic compresses will help to quickly thin and remove mucus. They sometimes contain substances that can provoke an allergic reaction. Therefore, before applying the compress to the skin, you should conduct a test. Rub a small, pea-sized amount of the mixture into the crook of your elbow. If there is no redness of the skin after 15-30 minutes, you can safely begin the procedure.
Here are some of the most popular recipes for mixtures for compresses for bronchitis:
- Boil 5 small unpeeled potatoes, mash a little and sprinkle 95% ethyl alcohol on top with a tablespoon. Apply the warm mixture to your chest, cover first with plastic wrap and then with a terry towel. Keep for 5-6 hours;
- mix 2 tbsp. spoons of honey with 50 g of butter and 2 tbsp. spoons of vodka without additives. Apply to the chest, cover with cellophane and linen napkin. Keep on your chest all night;
- Boil a couple of white cabbage leaves until soft. Apply a little liquid honey to the patient’s chest and place the leaves on top. Cover with film and a cloth napkin. Keep for 6-7 hours.
After using the compress, any nourishing cream should be applied to the skin. You can buy ointments at the pharmacy for rubbing the chest, back and soles of the feet. Products such as Doctor Mom, Efkamon, Suprima Plus contain camphor, menthol, and essential oils.
Proper treatment of cough during bronchitis will help to avoid serious complications - bronchial asthma and pneumonia. If medical recommendations are fully followed, then complete recovery occurs in 1-2 weeks. When bronchitis is diagnosed in a person more than twice a year, immunostimulants and vitamins are prescribed to prevent the disease.
What to do if your ear is blocked after swimming
In cases of overload of the hearing organ, as well as if you experience acute headaches after each bath, it is recommended to immediately consult a specialist. Most often, the patient is diagnosed with hardened earwax. In this case, the doctor will begin emergency treatment by rinsing, then the ENT will prescribe treatment, which must be strictly adhered to.
It is important to know in advance what to do if your ear is blocked after swimming, because you can avoid many problems if you give yourself first aid in time. To do this, you need to stand on one leg, tilt your head perpendicular to the floor and jump 20 times in each direction.
Another way to eliminate water from your ears is by breathing. Take a deep breath and hold the air in your lungs. Then, close your mouth and nose with your fingers and try to exhale. But this technique should not be used with the mouth open, otherwise it may lead to problems in the eustachian tube.
It is important to remember that after each bath, it is necessary to wipe the inside of the ear. Moisten a cotton swab with olive oil or cream, then insert it into the ear canal.
If all the described methods are ineffective, and the ear is still blocked, then you need to lie on a warm towel with the side of the damaged ear.
