What Is The Difference Between Chronic Bronchitis And Emphysema?
Difference Between Chronic Bronchitis And Emphysema is that Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes an obstruction of airflow to the lungs. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the two diseases that contribute to COPD. Here we will explain what is the difference between chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
WHAT IS CHRONIC BRONCHITIS?
Chronic bronchitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bronchi. It is characterized by prolonged cough and mucus formation in the respiratory tract.
Bronchitis is considered chronic if symptoms occur on most days of the month, three months a year for two consecutive years and in the absence of secondary causes of cough.
Patients with chronic bronchitis have varying degrees of difficulty breathing. Symptoms can be aggravated or relieved at different seasons of the year.
The main cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking; However, air pollution and industrial fumes are also triggers of this condition.
People with a higher risk of developing chronic bronchitis are:
- Smokers
- Pasive smokers
- People with a weakened immune system
- People exposed to irritants at work
- People who live in heavily polluted air
Some of the signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis are:
- Inflammation and swelling of the bronchi
- Cough
- Production of clear, white, yellow or greenish sputum
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Chest pain and discomfort
The diagnosis is based on a medical examination. If wheezing or abnormal sounds are heard during auscultation, chest x-rays, spirometry, sputum analysis and blood tests are performed.
The differential diagnosis includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchial asthma, left ventricular heart disease.
The treatment of chronic bronchitis includes bronchodilators, cough medications, asthma medications, anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids. Antibiotics are effective in bacterial infections of the bronchi.
The prognosis is determined by the degree of bronchial obstruction and its dynamics.
WHAT IS EMPHYSEMA?
Emphysema is a chronic progressive lung disease in which the tissues that carry out the function of the lungs are destroyed. Due to the destruction of the surrounding lung tissue, the alveoli enlarge and are unable to perform a normal gas exchange.
The main symptoms of emphysema are:
- Severe dyspnea, especially when exercising
- An effort to exhale
- A distinctively enlarged chest.
Typically, dyspnea gradually worsens over many years. It is also possible to have a cough.
The main cause of emphysema is smoking. Secondary risk factors include air pollution, hereditary predisposition, belonging to the male sex, allergies, asthma and age.
Sometimes emphysema occurs as a result of the normal aging process, which leads to gradual degenerative changes of lung tissue. The respiratory muscles, like everyone else, begin to weaken with age.
In rare cases, emphysema occurs as a result of a congenital deficiency of alpha-1-antitrypsin.
The diagnosis of emphysema is made by examining lung function, most often by spirometry, measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide levels and chest radiography.
Emphysema is an irreversible and progressive disease. If the diagnosis is confirmed, urgent action is necessary: immediate cessation of smoking and exposure to irritating substances.
Lung tissue damage is persistent and irreversible, but inflammation (and disease progression, respectively) can be delayed with corticosteroids (inhaled or oral). Breathing can be relieved with the help of bronchodilators, cholinolytics, proper body positioning and, finally, oxygen.
Surgery, in which lung volume is reduced by removing the most damaged tissue, allows functional tissue to function better. However, surgery has shown benefits for a relatively limited group of patients.
The only definitive solution for emphysema is lung transplantation.
Differences between chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Comparison table.
| Characteristic | Chronic Bronchitis | Emphysema |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Chronic bronchitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bronchi, characterized by prolonged cough and mucus formation in the respiratory tract. | Emphysema is a chronic progressive lung disease in which the tissues that carry out the function of the lungs are destroyed. |
| Main causes | The main cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking. Risk factors include having a weak immune system, irritants and polluted air. | The main cause of emphysema is smoking. Risk factors include air pollution, hereditary factors, male gender, allergies, asthma, age and congenital alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. |
| symptom | Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include inflammation and swelling of the bronchial tubes, cough, production of clear, white, yellow or greenish sputum, shortness of breath, rales, fatigue and chest pain. | The main symptoms of emphysema are severe dyspnea, effort to exhale and a clearly enlarged chest. |
| Diagnosis | The diagnosis of chronic bronchitis is based on a medical examination. If wheezing or abnormal sounds are heard during auscultation, chest x-rays, spirometry, sputum analysis and blood tests are performed. | The diagnosis of emphysema is made by examining lung function, most often by spirometry, measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide levels and chest radiography. |
| Treatment | The treatment of chronic bronchitis includes bronchodilators, cough medications, asthma medications, anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids. Antibiotics are effective in bacterial infections. | Inflammation can be delayed with corticosteroids. Breathing can be relieved with the help of bronchodilators, cholinolytics, proper body positioning and, ultimately, oxygen. Surgery allows functional lung tissue to function better. The only definitive solution for emphysema is lung transplantation. |
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