Chronic bronchitis is characterized by the enlargement or inflammation of the airways or bronchi in the upper respiratory system. Chronic bronchitis is often accompanied by the abnormally high production of mucus. Chronic bronchitis can occur with several different symptoms, and is typically challenging to diagnose for the reason that the physical signs are so similar to other diseases that involve the respiratory system, particularly the lungs. To date, at least one in twenty Americans currently is afflicted with chronic bronchitis. Though the number of documented cases have been slowly decreasing from the 70s to the present, the majority of individuals suffering from chronic bronchitis is still a cause for concern as chronic bronchitis is usually life threatening. The following are some of the most common physical symptoms of chronic bronchitis:

Coughing – Cough that results from chronic bronchitis is usually originallydetected in the early hours of morning, immediately after waking up. The patient can possibly cough|get a coughing attack) for several hours just after waking up. While the disease develops, the cough will become more prolonged, and sometimes will never disappear.

Shortness of Breath – This occurs in the majority of people experiencing chronic bronchitis. This symptom can possibly be set off by exhaustion or even just mild activity. While the illness further develops the shortness of breath may even be set off by simply strolling a little distance, or walking up a few steps in the stairway.

Infections in the Respiratory System – Chronic bronchitis is most commonly the primary cause of respiratory infections. Since an excess of mucus is created by the body in people with respiratory infections, this this results in the upper respiratory system becoming abnormally damp and warm. This can become a hotbed of sorts for infectious agents, and makes infections exceedingly difficult to cure as soon as they are caught.

Fatigue – Fatigue or exhaustion is commonly encountered by people suffering from chronic bronchitis. They become exhausted easily just after waking, or at different random times during the day. This is because the amount of oxygen in the patients’ serum is significantly reduced compared to those who are not affected by this potentially fatal disease.

Enlargement of the Ankles and Legs – Since chronic bronchitis can commonly cause more complications, due to deficient levels of oxygen in the blood, it may cause the skin to turn blue or cause the extremities to become swollen in the advanced stages of this disease. The swelling of the legs is additionally a sign of congestive heart failure, therefore individuals experiencing this symptom is advised to see a physician at the soonest possible time.