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BRONCHITIS: HOW TO GET RID OF IT
24 March 2009
by
admin
Filed under
General health
Acute bronchitis is not ordinarily a reason for major concern. It may be discomforting but most of the time it will go away by itself in a week or two. Chronic sufferers can have the problem for months. Although there is not a lot you can do about acute bronchitis except let it have its way, there are some things you can do to make the experience less unpleasant.
1) Don’t smoke— if you are a chronic smoker, you should stop. If you do, your chances of getting rid of your bronchitis increase dramatically. What’s more, doctors say that 90 to 95 percent of chronic bronchitis cases are directly related to smoking.
2) Avoid fatigue— sleep in a warm bedroom which is free of drafts.
3) Drink plenty of fluids— warm liquids and/or water help make the mucus easier to cough up. Avoid diuretics such as caffeine and alcohol, which will make you urinate more, making you lose more fluids than you gain.
4) Steam treatment— fill the bathroom sink or a pan with steaming water. Then drape a towel over your head and the sink/pan creating a tent. Inhale the steam directly from the hot water for 5 to 10 minutes.
5) See a doctor— it’s time to see a doctor if your cough has become worse after about seven days, if you have a fever or are coughing up blood, or you are short of breath and have a very profuse cough.
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