Chronic bronchitis is a condition where your airways are constantly inflamed, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
For some, feeling like they can’t breathe comfortably is an unpleasant but temporary condition that lasts only as long as the cold or flu that triggered it. For others, however, shortness of breath becomes an ongoing problem, making them feel like they’re suffocating daily.
In most cases, chronic bronchitis can be traced back to exposure to allergens and irritants in the air that causes symptoms such as coughing and chest pain.
The good news is there are steps you can take to improve your air quality and get your breathing back to normal.
How Poor Air Quality Affects Chronic Bronchitis
A few pollutants that commonly trigger chronic bronchitis are Particulate matter, Nitrogen oxides, Sulfur dioxide and Volatile organic compounds. It’s also possible for you to have chronic bronchitis if you inhale mold spores or other allergens present in your environment. These irritants not only make symptoms worse but can even cause asthma flare-ups.
According to experts, poor air quality caused by pollutants makes bronchitis symptoms worse. As you already know, chronic bronchitis is a lung condition characterized by chronic coughing and mucus. Air pollution can exacerbate these symptoms by irritating your lungs and making it harder to perform your duties.
If you suffer from chronic bronchitis, try to limit your exposure to environmental pollutants as much as possible. Open windows when possible and consider using an air purifier in your home or office if necessary.
You may also want to consider getting an annual flu shot; doctors recommend that all patients with asthma or COPD get one every year because they reduce inflammation in our bodies and make us less susceptible to illness. This is particularly important if you live in an area with poor air quality or are around people who smoke frequently.
How To Improve Air Quality
The first and easiest way to improve air quality is to open your windows daily. The small amount of energy used to push a few extra blades of grass or raise your blinds for an hour can make all the difference.
When you leave your windows closed during warm weather, you’re trapping polluted air indoors, so unplugging air conditioners and turning on fans can have similar benefits. On top of that, opening your windows allows dust and pollutants to escape easily while preventing dust from blowing in from outside.
In many cases, simply cracking open a window will give you all of these benefits, but it’s also important to keep an eye out for pollen and other allergens that may be present. If you’re allergic to pollen, it can build up in your home and cause problems even with an open window.
If you know pollen is a problem, wearing a face mask when you’re out and adding simple measures like a HEPA filter to your AC unit can greatly reduce pollen in your home while keeping air conditioning costs low. And if you have pets at home, ensuring their litter box is clean will prevent pet dander from building up indoors.
