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- What is bronchitis?
- Symptoms of bronchitis
- Causes of bronchitis
- Prevention of bronchitis
- Risk factors for bronchitis
- Complications of bronchitis
- When to see a doctor about bronchitis
- Diagnosis of bronchitis
- Conventional treatment of bronchitis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of bronchitis
- Living with bronchitis
- Caring for someone with bronchitis
Caring for someone with bronchitis
Partner
If your partner has acute or chronic bronchitis, there are some strategies you can use to help them recover more quickly:
- Allow your partner to rest - your partner's condition (either acute or chronic bronchitis) will get better much more quickly if they can rest properly, so it may be up to you to take care of the household duties such as cooking, while your partner recovers
- Don't smoke - your partner will be adversely affected by your cigarette smoke, so make sure you do not smoke anywhere near them as it may cause them to cough more, make their breathing difficult and possible cause them some distress
- Medication - you should try to make sure your partner is taking their medication as prescribed, especially if they have a fever or are feeling too sick to manage it themselves
- Moist air - encourage your partner to moisten the airways in their lungs by having a humidifier in the home, or get them to have a shower (with the fan off to generate more steam) or even fill a sink with hot water and get your partner to stand over it with a towel over their head and breathe in the steam. All of these strategies will help break up the some of the congestion in their lungs, which will help them breathe more easily
- Provide fluids to your partner - your partner needs lots of fluids, so you could get them a glass of water or juice every few hours, to make sure they are drinking enough fluids to rehydrate their lungs and mucous membranes. This is especially important if your partner is laying down resting - it is much easier if you can provide their fluids to them so they can rest more
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Friends
If your friend has acute or chronic bronchitis, there are some strategies you can use to help them:
- Don't smoke - your friend will be adversely affected by your cigarette smoke, so if you are going to see them, make sure you do not smoke anywhere near them as it may cause them to cough more, make their breathing difficult and possible cause them some distress
Parents
If your child has acute or chronic bronchitis, there are some strategies you can use to help them recover more quickly:
- Allow your child to rest - your child's condition (either acute or chronic bronchitis) will get better much more quickly if they can rest properly, so you should ensure they stay in bed and rest so they can recover
- Don't smoke - you must not smoke anywhere near your child, so that they can inhale your smoke, whether your child has acute or chronic bronchitis, as your cigarette smoke will make it more difficult for your child to breath, cause them to cough and wheeze and this may cause your child to be distressed
- Inform the school - you need to inform your child's school of their absence as recommended by your doctor and speak to their teachers about any school work they may be missing
- Medication - you should try to make sure your child is taking their medication as prescribed, especially if they have a fever, are too young, or feeling too sick to manage it themselves. You should avoid giving over-the-counter cough suppressants to children as studies show they do not provide any relief from cough symptoms
- Moist air - encourage your child to moisten the airways in their lungs by having a humidifier in the home, or get them to have a shower (with the fan off to generate more steam) or even fill a sink with hot water and get your partner to stand over it with a towel over their head and breathe in the steam - ensure the water is not too hot and watch over your child to make sure they do not get too close to the hot water and burn themselves. All of these strategies will help break up the some of the congestion in their lungs, which will help them breathe more easily
- Provide fluids to your child - your child needs lots of fluids, so you could get them a glass of water or juice every 1-2 hours, to make sure they are drinking enough fluids to rehydrate their lungs and mucous membranes. This is especially important if your child is laying down resting - it is much easier if you can provide their fluids to them so they can rest more
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< living with bronchitis Last reviewed: 10 November 2007 || Last updated: 3 January 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
