Bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial tubes that carry air from your throat to your lungs. When infected, bronchial tubes become inflamed, making it difficult to breath, and produce mucus which causes coughing. Other symptoms may include a slight fever, sore throat, muscle pain when breathing, and wheezing. It is even possible, during acute bronchitis, to cough so hard that the explosive vacuum you create in your lungs can crack or otherwise hurt your ribs, which makes further coughing even more painful.

Bronchitis can be either chronic or acute. Acute bronchitis is often the result of a cold or flu, in which case it is said the cold 'turned into bronchitis'. Acute bronchitis is most often caused by a virus, rather than bacteria, so taking antibiotics will probably not help, although doctors often prescribe them because their patients insist.

Acute bronchitis will usually go away on its own. The best treatment is bed rest and fluids. Because bronchitis causes the buildup of mucus, an expectorant cough syrup can help thin down the mucus and make it easier to cough up. Drinking fluids will also help with this, as well as replace the fluids you lose to the infection. See your doctor if you are still having symptoms after two weeks - you may have another respiratory problem.

The best way to avoid acute bronchitis is the same way you would try to avoid a cold. Wash your hands often, disinfect as necessary during cold season, and avoid crowded or confined spaces if there's 'something going around'.

Chronic bronchitis is a condition most often seen in smokers. This is a more permanent inflammation of the bronchial tubes caused by the irritation of cigarette smoke. Chronic bronchitis is like an on-going, less severe case of acute bronchitis. The bronchial tubes are always slightly inflamed, mucus is always being produced, and the result is the 'smoker's hack'. The best cure for chronic bronchitis is to stop smoking, but if that is unworkable for you, cutting down can reduce the stress on your bronchial tubes and allow them to recover somewhat.