Asthma and Bronchitis: Understanding the Connection

Asthma sufferers are especially prone to bronchitis, an inflammation of the lung's bronchial passages that can lead to other infections, including pneumonia.

Asthma

• Asthma is a chronic condition in which the bronchi, or large air passageways, in the lungs are easily irritated and inflamed. Most asthmatics have some chronic swelling of the bronchi, making it difficult to breathe properly.

Bronchitis

• Bronchitis is usually an acute condition in which the bronchi become infected and clogged, often because mucus cannot be easily expelled via coughing. Since mucus eliminates bacteria and viruses from the lungs, a person with bronchitis is particularly susceptible to other infections.

How Are They Related?

• Because an asthmatic's bronchi are prone to swelling, any irritant from cold viruses to smoke can create bronchitis-prone conditions in the lungs. While most people can cough out irritants, an asthmatic has less air flow and smaller passageways for those irritants to be expelled, so infections tend to remain and spread.

Bronchitis Complications

• Once an asthmatic has bronchitis, it is very difficult to eliminate, and may become a chronic condition. A person with bronchitis is more prone to flu, colds, pneumonia, and other lung infections, and will generally have a more serious infection from any of these diseases.

Prevention

• Asthma sufferers can prevent bronchitis by using their inhalers and medications properly to keep air passages clear. In addition, they should get flu and pneumonia shots as early as possible every year.