Bronchitis is short of air. Dyspnea in obstructive and acute bronchitis: treatment with medications and folk remedies. Why it becomes difficult to breathe and how it is treated

Headings

Shortness of breath during bronchitis is one of the symptoms of the inflammatory process occurring in the lungs and bronchi, which begin to experience a lack of oxygen. Shortness of breath occurs with minor exertion, during an exacerbation of bronchitis, in its acute, obstructive form. In chronic bronchitis, shortness of breath is constant, manifests itself progressively, and can progress.

This phenomenon often occurs with bronchitis in children. The kids begin to be capricious and refuse to eat. The child has a constant cough, a stuffy nose, the voice becomes hoarse, and the child has difficulty breathing.

Treatment of shortness of breath is aimed at eliminating cough, facilitating breathing by prescribing inhalations, medicinal herbs, steam baths. With obstructive bronchitis, the tissue of the bronchi is subject to modifications, which affects the immune system. His support is on at this stage inflammation is simply irreplaceable.

Why does bronchitis develop?

Bronchitis is an infectious disease caused by pneumococci, streptococci, and staphylococci. Develops due to the formation of viral, atypical or bacterial microflora in the lungs. Atypical pathogens of bronchitis are considered to be chlamydia, life cycle which passes inside cells densely populated by bacteria. Sometimes, but less commonly, bronchitis occurs as a result of the development of a fungal infection in the body.

Often different types of pathogens are present together, since viruses that enter create favorable environment for the growth of bacteria. The immune system is not susceptible to various infectious diseases, reduces its activity, and inflammation begins to progress. People over 50 years of age, smokers, alcohol abusers, and those working in hazardous industries are most susceptible to developing these infections: weakened immunity simply stops fighting them.

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How can you recognize bronchitis?

The main symptoms are cough, dry, wet sputum, shortness of breath when lifting heavy objects. Often the discharge is green, which indicates the bacterial origin of bronchitis. An atypical viral infection is characterized by a dry, irritating cough.

At acute bronchitis The cough manifests itself in attacks, the head often hurts, rises high temperature, chills, increased sweating. The patient quickly gets tired and performance decreases. Breathing becomes harsh, diffuse, with wheezing when listening; in moderate and severe cases of the disease, shortness of breath and pain in the sternum when coughing occur. Acute bronchitis lasts up to 14 days, then, if untreated, becomes chronic; symptoms can continue for quite a long time.

In the chronic form, sputum discharge is scanty, but shortness of breath after minor physical exertion is constant. Either there is a remission, then in the off-season, with hypothermia, the symptoms appear again. During periods of exacerbation, shortness of breath, cough, the amount of sputum discharge increases, and the temperature rises.

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How does bronchitis appear in children and during pregnancy?

The symptoms are similar: cough, shortness of breath, intoxication of the body. If a child has shortness of breath, then you should immediately see a doctor, there is a suspicion of bronchial asthma. If obstructive bronchitis occurs several times a year, you should see an allergist to carry out the necessary diagnostics for allergies.

It is good to treat bronchitis in children with inhalations, drugs for expectoration and dilatation of the bronchi. Inhalations are carried out with the addition of antibacterial drugs dioxidin, furatsilin 0.5%, furatsilin 0.02%. These products are recommended for children; they do not have side effects, quickly relieve spasms, facilitate breathing, eliminate attacks of shortness of breath.

The symptoms are the same, but the treatment is different; many drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy. Pregnant women should not take tetracycline, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, aminophylline. Vilprafen can be taken as directed by a doctor and in moderate doses; it is safer and quite antibacterial. It is better for pregnant women to take inhalations for bronchitis; they will not harm the fetus.

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How to treat bronchitis

First, a sputum test is taken to determine the color of the smear. Cellular elements are counted using cytology. If the disease has become protracted or chronic, an additional sputum culture is taken for analysis to determine sensitivity to certain antibiotics.

External respiration is examined using spirography for obstructive bronchitis. For shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, bronchodilators (Berodual, Ventolin, Salbutaml) are prescribed. For chronic bronchitis, bronchoscopy may be performed, concomitant diseases in the lungs.

If bronchitis recurs, an X-ray examination, fluorography, radiography, or CT is prescribed.

Treatment for bronchitis is prescribed only by a doctor. Since bronchitis often disguises other, more serious diseases. Anti-infective drugs, penicillin-based drugs, macrolides, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and vitamins to enhance immunity are prescribed. If bronchitis is not severe, then medications are used in the form of tablets; treatment at home is possible.

In severe cases of the disease, injections cannot be avoided; methods can be combined as directed by a doctor. If bronchitis is caused by viruses, antiviral drugs (kyprofen, geneferon, viferon) are prescribed. The course of admission is 10 days.

Expectorants are also needed (ACC, bromhexine, mucaltin, ambroxol, lazolvan, fluimucil, fludite). Erespal is recommended for all patients, in particular children under 1 year of age. It relieves inflammation well and quickly, increases sputum production.

For shortness of breath, bronchodilators (theotard, teopec, aminophylline) are indispensable. Sold in tablets and inhalations, aerosols: Berotec, salbutamol, Berodual.

How to deal with houses? If you have bronchitis, you need to drink more fluids, alkaline fruit drinks, hot milk, Borjomi. Proteins and vitamins should be included in the diet. Nebulizers can help make breathing easier. Inhalations are carried out for 5-10 days with the addition of Ringer's solution, mineral water. After such procedures, sputum leaves faster, inflammation and shortness of breath are relieved.

It is important to adjust your lifestyle during this period so that the infectious disease does not spread further into the respiratory tract. If necessary, harmful production must be changed to a cleaner place.

Smokers should also think about their health.

With bronchitis, shortness of breath - clear clinical sign of disease. The symptom of lack of oxygen occurs in adults and children. There are cases when difficulty breathing during bronchitis occurred even in infants. In many cases, while bronchitis is being treated, shortness of breath can be relieved with inhalations. But there are emergency cases when medical assistance is needed immediately.

Reasons

– one of characteristic features bronchitis. It develops as an inflammatory process and is accompanied by shortness of breath. The appearance of shortness of breath in the initial stages of the disease is not always noticeable. As breathing problems intensify, they become a signal to contact your doctor. If treatment is not started in time, the disease can lead to complete cessation of breathing.

The locations of shortness of breath are the bronchi, alveoli and alveolar ducts. The main etiological cause is diseases of these organs of an inflammatory and non-inflammatory nature. During shortness of breath, the bronchi narrow, as a result of which oxygen does not flow in the required quantity.

Other causes of the disease:

• antispasmodic condition of bronchial smooth muscles;
• swelling of the mucous and submucosal layers of the bronchial tree;
• sputum, which accumulates in the bronchi and clogs the alveolar ducts, preventing the flow of oxygen into the lungs.

Shortness of breath in an advanced state can develop into asthma or chronic bronchitis.

Symptoms of shortness of breath in various forms of bronchitis

Bronchitis, Depending on the clinical signs, it happens:

• chronic;
• spicy;
• diffuse;
• allergic;
• asthmatic.

Acute bronchitis rarely accompanied by shortness of breath; attacks of suffocation occur as a result of poisoning. Poisons enter the bronchi, causing a lack of oxygen. Shortness of breath contributes to the appearance of pain in the chest cavity.

At chronic bronchitis lack of air occurs frequently. It does not appear immediately at the onset of the disease, but after some time. Untimely treatment leads to exacerbation of the disease and suffocation.

The most dangerous type of shortness of breath occurs during diffuse bronchitis. The presence of mucus in the bronchi causes a more severe form of breathing difficulty. Shortness of breath worsens in the morning and goes away after coughing. Shortness of breath may develop as the inflammatory process spreads to certain parts of the lungs and alveoli.

: attacks of shortness of breath increase from a slight lack of oxygen to complete suffocation.

During asthmatic bronchitis spasm of the bronchi occurs, difficulty in exhaling air occurs. This may later develop into suffocation.

The sudden appearance of shortness of breath may indicate an inflammatory process or complication. Sudden difficulty breathing indicates the development of a complication after suffering bronchitis. Chest pain, prolongation of attacks of shortness of breath - with such signs you need to urgently call a doctor and undergo treatment in a hospital. The occurrence of oxygen starvation can lead to complete cessation of breathing and death.

Shortness of breath with bronchitis in a child: first aid

The occurrence of bronchitis in a child is dangerous. The shortness of breath that accompanies it can lead to suffocation. The lumen of the bronchi narrows, it is difficult for oxygen to enter the lungs, and the child suffocates.

Another danger factor is the rapid development of the disease. The lack of oxygen increases much faster in childhood than in an adult. Quick help for a child due to shortness of breath becomes the primary task of parents.

The most dangerous looking shortness of breath for a child is difficulty breathing when diffuse bronchitis. The younger the child, the more dangerous the attacks are for him, and there is a risk of complications.

Shortness of breath during bronchitis in infants is no less dangerous. Usually occurs when diffuse form. This disease ranks second in prevalence among all diseases of the respiratory system.

Infants generally suffer from bronchitis from the first year of life, and their shortness of breath manifests itself clearly. Deviation from treatment can lead to the development of asthma due to lack of oxygen.

The causes of shortness of breath are completely different. This includes influenza, sore throat, and bacterial infections. Diffuse bronchitis can be caused by small objects entering the child's respiratory tract.

The occurrence of shortness of breath in a child requires immediate assistance:

• the very first action should be to call an ambulance;
• the child must be laid down or seated;
• unbutton clothes and free the baby’s neck from the collar;
• open windows and doors to let fresh air in;
• use an inhaler.

Important! In some cases of shortness of breath, emergency assistance is required:

• The appearance of sudden shortness of breath and its increase with increasing force.
• Increased frequency of attacks of oxygen deficiency.
• The appearance of suffocation.

Treatment: medications, physiotherapy and traditional medicine

Shortness of breath with bronchitis is one of the symptoms. Therefore, curing breathing difficulties comes down to getting rid of the underlying disease. For bronchitis, medications, aerosols, inhalers and traditional methods treatment.

Diffuse bronchitis (obstructive)

This type of disease is treated not only with drugs, but also with changes in diet. Among large number medications, drugs used eliminating bronchospasm: Salbutomol and others.

Agents that relax bronchial smooth muscles: Papaverine, No-shpa.

Expectorants: Lazolvan, Eucabal, Acetylcestin.

Antibiotics: Macropen, Cefazolin.

Massage and. Inhalation therapy is used in severe cases, using drugs that eliminate the causes of bronchitis and shortness of breath. Massage is used to remove phlegm, ease breathing, and relieve spasms from the bronchi. When massaging, grab the chest, back and withers.

From the video you will learn what symptoms children should have a massage for, how to properly perform a therapeutic massage for bronchitis in a child, as well as what needs to be done to ease breathing and phlegm discharge, and how to massage a baby at home using cups.

There are known cases of the use of drugs thinning phlegm. Such medications perform a drainage function and can be of direct or indirect action. The most commonly used herbal products are: licorice root, marshmallow root, thyme, thermopsis.

Small children do not know how to remove mucus themselves, so vasoconstrictor medications or special jars - aspirators - are created for them. There are times when the baby has a fever. In this case, you need to drink plenty of fruit and vegetable juices.

Chronic bronchitis

The treatment is similar to diffuse. Broad-spectrum drugs are used. It is not always possible to completely get rid of such a disease, but you can stabilize the condition and stop the progression. For the treatment of chronic bronchitis the following is used:

• Antibacterial agents: Aumentin, Amoxiclav, Macropen.
• Expectorants: ACC, Lazolvan, Flavomed, Bromhexine.
• Bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory and antihistamines: Euphelin, Ipratropium bromide, Salbutomol, Fluticasone, Sembicort.
• Inhalations: Dioxidin, Lazolvan, Berotek.
• Physiotherapy.

Physiotherapy used to treat bronchial diseases, including bronchitis. Aimed at improving blood circulation in the bronchi and removing phlegm. The variety of physiotherapeutic agents is large. Thermal procedures and electric current treatment are mainly used.

Thermal treatments include treatment with mud, paraffin, ozokerite. Electrical impulses used to expand the lumens of the bronchi and relax smooth muscles. The method is based on the action of electrical signals.

Various drugs are used to treat bronchitis. The drugs can have a quick and long-lasting effect. For example, ACC Long, Ambrobene and Halixol.

ACC Long– a common remedy for bronchitis, used by adults and children who suffer from shortness of breath. The drug thins sputum, removes it and helps expand the lumen of the alveoli.

Ambrobene- a drug used to treat bronchitis and shortness of breath, just like ACC, helps remove phlegm and prevents shortness of breath.

Halixol– used to treat bronchitis, shortness of breath, and remove sputum. The drug begins to act immediately, the effectiveness decreases after a day.

Fast-acting drugs are Ambroxol, Lazolvan and Halixol. The effect occurs immediately after taking the medication, and the effect lasts for a day.

Bronchitis is treated not only with medications, but also folk remedies , herbal infusions, herbal teas or tablets. They resort to making remedies for bronchitis at home: plantain syrup, infusion of garlic in milk, etc.

Shortness of breath after bronchitis

After treatment for bronchitis, attacks of shortness of breath may persist for some time. The reasons for this may be recovery processes in the lungs and bronchi, which proceed slowly, as well as chest pain during breathing.

Treatment must be careful, it is carried out under the supervision of doctors, since shortness of breath can mean not only recovery and restoration of bronchial function, but also complications after the disease. Drainage massage, physiotherapy procedures, and air ionization are used as therapy.

Timely detection and treatment of shortness of breath that occurs during bronchitis will keep you and your loved ones healthy! Be healthy!

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Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is one of the symptoms of respiratory tract diseases. The most common causes of shortness of breath are bronchitis and asthma. With prolonged spasm of the bronchi, a lack of oxygen occurs, accompanied by heavy breathing.

Various forms of bronchitis and shortness of breath

Shortness of breath is characterized by rapid breathing. It can be sudden or grow gradually. There is a reflex change in the depth of inhalation and exhalation with a whistle. In acute bronchitis, whistling sounds can be heard without a stethoscope. They are also accompanied by wheezing.

During shortness of breath with obstructive bronchitis, a rapid spasm occurs. In the structure of the lungs and bronchi, the lumen begins to narrow, which complicates the air supply. Intermittent breathing is noted in all forms of bronchitis, even if it is in remission.

Types of shortness of breath:

• expiratory (difficult inhalation, prolongation of exhalation);
• inspiratory (long inhalation, difficult exhalation);
• mixed (characterized by difficulty breathing when exhaling and inhaling).

Dyspnea increases if viscous sputum accumulates in the bronchi. It may be accompanied by pain behind the sternum in the form of cutting or burning sensations. Difficulty breathing varies depending on the type of bronchitis.

Acute bronchitis

IN initial stage dyspnea is absent. If it appears after some time, this indicates the progression of the disease or the development of complications. Often, pneumonia or pleurisy develops against the background of bronchitis. Breathing problems also occur after a sharp exacerbation.

Chronic bronchitis

Dyspnea with this form is a common symptom. Its manifestation is observed constantly or periodically, when a sharp spasm of the bronchi occurs. When the depth of breathing changes, pain of varying intensity is felt. Periodic exacerbations increase dyspnea, causing serious attacks of suffocation.

Bronchitis obstructive

It is accompanied by blockage of the lumens with a heavy viscous secretion. With this disease, shortness of breath is more complex and causes serious discomfort. With obstruction, difficulty breathing is caused by swelling of the bronchial walls and spasm of muscle fibers. The exhalation lengthens and a whistling noise is heard. You can distinguish wheezing sounds from a distance. Increased spasm and difficulty breathing are observed in the morning. After coughing and the release of a small part of the secretory contents, dyspnea decreases. Dyspnea with obstruction tends to progress. In this case, other parts of the bronchi and lungs are involved in the process.

Allergic bronchitis

Shortness of breath occurs immediately when the allergen enters the body. Depending on the characteristics, attacks have varying severity. Treatment for choking will not be effective unless the cause of the allergic reaction is determined. Typically, shortness of breath immediately stops in the absence of contact with the allergen, but if it affects the body again, serious asthma attacks can develop. Children often experience shortness of breath when playing with animals when there is a reaction to the fur.

Bronchitis with an asthmatic component

Shortness of breath in this form of the disease is a common symptom. It develops against the background of bronchospasm with a decrease in the respiratory lumen. Gradually, difficult exhalation develops into suffocation. Often, bronchitis with an asthmatic component develops into asthma, so urgent treatment is necessary.

Important

Attacks of dyspnea in childhood are more severe than in adults. It is necessary to immediately prevent dyspnea to avoid many complications.

Why is shortness of breath dangerous?

Dangerous manifestations of shortness of breath:

• a sudden attack with rapid growth, difficulty inhaling and exhaling at the same time;
• appearance severe pain in the chest;
• increased frequency and prolongation of attacks, pain during expiration;
• severe suffocation.

Sudden and severe shortness of breath indicates the spread of the pathological process involving healthy tissue. Against this background, pneumonia quickly develops. Treatment of severe types of dyspnea is carried out only on an inpatient basis under the supervision of medical personnel.
In addition to complications, dyspnea causes frequent oxygen deprivation. This can affect your overall well-being and affect the functioning of all vital organs. The appearance of shortness of breath in a child requires an immediate visit to a doctor.

Help

Treatment of shortness of breath during bronchitis is aimed at eliminating spasm and relaxing muscle fibers so that the lumen expands. There are several types of drugs with different effects.

• 1 group

These are selective adrenergic agonists with varying durations of action. A short-acting medicine is used to relieve a sudden attack, such as occurs with asthma.

Salbutamol, Fenoterol, Terbutaline, Salmeterol.

• 2nd group

These drugs are necessary to relax the muscle tissue of the bronchi. Cholinergic receptor blockers help prevent spasms for a long time.

Atrovent.

• 3 group

These are combination drugs used to relieve an attack and treat the disease at the same time.

Berodual, Ditek.

• 4 group

Methylxanthines or rapid bronchodilators are used to relieve severe asthma attacks. Treatment with these drugs is carried out under the supervision of a doctor for bronchitis of various stages and COPD.

Euphylline, Teopek, Theophylline.

If, against the background of prolonged bronchitis, the walls and mucous membranes of the bronchi undergo changes, anti-inflammatory therapy is started.

• 5 group

Treatment is supplemented with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which suppress the spread of the pathological focus. The most convenient method for such therapy has become the use of inhalation via a nebulizer.

Cromoglites, Nedocromil.

• 6 group

Hormonal drugs are now often used as a basic treatment even for the early stages of asthma. Glucocorticosteroids are preferably administered by aerosol through a nebulizer in solution. The components do not affect the entire body, being activated only in the bronchial mucosa.

Beclazone, Budesonide, Pulmicort.

• 7 group

These are oral hormonal drugs prescribed when inhaled steroids are ineffective. They are also administered intravenously in a hospital setting when the patient is in serious condition.

Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone, Dexamethasone.

• 8 group

Mucolytic and expectorant drugs are necessary for bronchitis to affect viscous sputum. Treatment allows you to liquefy it and make it easier to remove. With a decrease in viscous secretion, patency in the lumens increases, and shortness of breath disappears.

ACC, Mucodin, Bromhexine, Ambroxol, Althea Root, Mucaltin.

• 9 group

These special antiallergic drugs help reduce exposure to the allergen and prevent an attack of shortness of breath against the background of a spasm.

Diazolin, Diphenhydramine, Suprastin, Cetirizine.

• 10 group

To eliminate viral bronchitis, antiviral drugs and immunomodulators are used.

Immunal, Grangripp, Arbidol.

Inhalation treatment is one of the important components of therapy for bronchial shortness of breath. Aerosol administration of drugs quickly acts on the mucous membrane and lumen of the bronchi, reducing attacks of suffocation. Not all medications are suitable for inhalation use. When using a nebulizer, you must first consult your doctor.

Traditional methods

Alternative medicine includes various recipes to help reduce the occurrence of dyspnea. They cannot be used as an independent treatment, but they can significantly improve the patient’s condition and activate the body’s defense system.

Traditional methods include brewing breast fees and individual herbs. They are sold in pharmacies with precisely specified instructions for use. Before use, it is important to familiarize yourself with contraindications and side effects.

Who said that curing bronchitis is difficult?

• Do you regularly suffer from coughing with phlegm?
• And also this shortness of breath, malaise and fatigue...
• Therefore, you are waiting with fear for the approach of the autumn-winter period with its epidemics...
• With its cold, drafts and dampness...
• Because inhalations, mustard plasters and medications are not very effective in your case...
• And now you are ready to take advantage of any opportunity...

There is an effective remedy for bronchitis. Follow the link and find out how pulmonologist Ekaterina Tolbuzina recommends treating bronchitis...

In the lungs, cough and shortness of breath are the main signs of airway inflammation. Symptoms are characteristic of bronchial asthma, as well as any types of bronchitis. The main danger is shortness of breath (or dyspnea), because at any moment it can intensify and turn into a severe form - suffocation, which is especially dangerous for young children. An attack can be fatal, so it is important to know what to do if a child is suffocating and how to alleviate his condition. Find out more about bronchitis

What you need to know about shortness of breath and suffocation

Doctors define choking as an extreme manifestation of shortness of breath, a condition that is life-threatening. During an attack, air does not enter the lungs, the person begins to choke, which is why suffocation is often called asphyxia. Such an acute lack of oxygen is always accompanied by a panicky expectation of death.

The occurrence of asthma attacks occurs for several reasons:

• Foreign body inhalation
• Oncological diseases
• Bronchial asthma
• Bronchitis
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Pneumonia
• Pneumothorax.

In addition, shortness of breath often develops as a complication after an illness, becoming chronic. Difficulty breathing and suffocation often accompany bronchial asthma and severe bronchitis. In the intervals between attacks, it may not manifest itself until an attack of asphyxia is provoked by some irritating factor: physical activity, contact with an allergen, cold air, etc.

How does suffocation develop?

If the diagnosis is made incorrectly or untimely, treatment does not give the necessary effect, then shortness of breath intensifies, often turning into attacks of suffocation. Doctors distinguish several stages of its development:

• Blood pressure rises, the number of heartbeats increases, vision becomes dark, and mental agitation develops.
• The respiratory rhythm is disrupted, strong exhalation becomes impossible, breathing and heartbeat slow down, blood pressure drops, and cyanosis of the lips, nose, and fingertips appears.
• At this stage of the development of suffocation, the patient may fall into a coma: the pressure drops to critical values, breathing begins to be interrupted for several seconds or minutes, the reflexes of the eyes and spinal cord weaken, and the person loses consciousness.

If a patient has asthma attacks regularly, then over time his chest takes on a barrel-shaped shape. The specific form occurs due to the fact that constant heavy breathing helps to increase the volume of the lungs, which, in turn, expand the chest. Over time, such patients develop pulmonary emphysema, a disease in which the alveoli lose their ability to contract completely, making oxygen supply insufficient.

Why is it difficult to breathe with bronchitis?

With inflammation of the respiratory tract, a violation occurs in the ratio of inhalations and exhalations, their depth and duration. Doctors distinguish several types of shortness of breath:

• Expiratory: the patient finds it difficult to exhale; as a rule, it is prolonged
• Inspiratory: breathing disorders
• Mixed: inhalation and exhalation are impaired.

With bronchitis and pneumonia, a narrowing of the airways occurs. Depending on the type of disease, the mechanisms of shortness of breath vary:

• Acute bronchitis: an abundant accumulation of sputum forms on the walls of the respiratory tract, bronchospasm and bronchial obstruction develop, pain appears during inhalation, causing breathing to become shallow.
• Chronic bronchitis: the occurrence of shortness of breath is of a mixed nature. In addition to narrowing of the airways, pulmonary hypertension and heart failure develop.

Types of shortness of breath in different forms of bronchitis

With proper treatment of inflammation of the respiratory tract, difficulty breathing does not always develop into shortness of breath and its extreme manifestation is suffocation. However, its development cannot be completely ruled out. Each type of bronchitis has its own characteristics of difficulty breathing:

• In acute bronchitis, dyspnea, as a rule, does not develop. But if it appeared, it arose as a complication after an illness (pneumonia, pleurisy, etc.) or the disease became chronic.
• With chronic bronchitis, shortness of breath develops in most patients. It can be constant, appear from time to time, or cause unexpressed pain when breathing deeply. In the chronic form of the disease, it worsens after each attack of suffocation.
• Allergic bronchitis: dyspnea develops after exposure to an allergen. Moreover, the manifestations can be of varying intensity - from mild to an attack of suffocation. To stop an attack, it is necessary to identify the causative agent of the allergic reaction and eliminate it.
• With asthmatic bronchitis, shortness of breath develops quite often. Due to the decrease in the lumen in the bronchi, breathing becomes difficult, bronchospasm occurs, turning into suffocation. The condition is especially dangerous for children, as it is fraught with the development of bronchial asthma. This diagnosis requires serious treatment.
• Obstructive bronchitis is always accompanied by shortness of breath. This is facilitated by narrowing of the airways, blockage of them with viscous secretions, development of stenosis and disturbances in the bronchial tree, and swelling of the bronchi. Exhalation is difficult, accompanied by strong wheezing. Shortness of breath may worsen as the disease worsens and more and more areas of the lungs are affected. In children, dyspnea and suffocation develop rapidly.

Features of the development of shortness of breath in children

The respiratory tract in children, like the entire body, is just developing. The gaps in them are much narrower than in adults, and during illness they narrow even more. Even a small amount of mucus deposited on the walls of the bronchi will disrupt air flow, cause shortness of breath, and then suffocation.

Most often, dyspnea occurs with the obstructive form of the disease, bronchospasm and bronchial obstruction. The younger the child is, the more severe the disease manifests itself, the more difficult it is for him to breathe.

Choking attacks in a child usually develop as a result of viral diseases - as a rule, they appear 1-2 months after their completion. With obstructive bronchitis, shortness of breath becomes the main symptom and gradually intensifies. In this case, cough and catarrhal symptoms may be weakly expressed or completely absent. With exacerbations of the disease, dyspnea worsens significantly.

Obstructive bronchitis of viral etiology is protracted. It is characterized by a slight increase in temperature and repeated attacks of suffocation.

More information about bronchitis in children can be found

How to help your child

For diseases accompanied by breathing problems, parents should closely monitor the baby’s condition. If a child is breathing heavily, you need to be prepared for an attack of suffocation in order to help him in time. The following are considered warning signs:

• Sudden onset of dyspnea and chest pain
• Increased number of attacks, their prolongation
• Attack of suffocation.

Each of these signs should alert parents, because it is possible that the baby is developing a serious complication. And an attack of suffocation is dangerous not only due to oxygen starvation, but first of all – a threat to life. In such cases, you should immediately consult a doctor. Hospital treatment may be required.

While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, it is necessary to help the baby, in order, if not to stop the attack, then at least to alleviate his condition.

• If an attack is triggered by an allergen, remove it from the room
• Open window
• Sit the child down or at least give him a vertical position, placing a pillow under his back
• Free your chest from clothing
• Humidify the room - hang wet towels, put a boiling kettle on, turn on the humidifier
• If the child has been recommended an inhaler, let them use it.
• Carefully monitor the frequency and depth of the patient’s inhalations and exhalations.

When providing assistance, it is very important to act calmly, without panic, so as not to increase the child’s excitement, otherwise suffocation may worsen. To make breathing easier, you can do inhalations with Salbutamol, Berodual, fast-acting inhalers - Ventolin, Berotek - will help. To prevent suffocation, long-acting drugs are used: Saltos, Volmax, Clenbuterol, Salmeter.

If the attack has not ended by the time the doctors arrive, they must be informed:

• When did it start, how did it proceed and how long did it last?
• What were the features (did the color of the skin and mucous membranes change, was there loss of consciousness, chest pain)
• What measures were taken
• If an inhaler was used, what medicine was given, its dose
• Name the drugs used in treatment before the asthma attack.

Based on the answers, doctors will take measures to stop the attack, and after it is over, they may suggest hospitalization.

Unfortunately, shortness of breath and suffocation do not always end with the disease. Dyspnea may bother the child even after recovery. This phenomenon occurs when the normal functioning of the respiratory system is restored. To speed up recovery, you need to do physical procedures or, with the consent of the doctor, use traditional methods. In any case, for any manifestations of heavy breathing, and especially suffocation, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Bronchitis is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract, which consists of inflammation of the bronchial tree at different levels, which with further development of the pathological process can lead to a lack of air for adequate gas exchange. The essence of the article is to convey to the reader why it is difficult to breathe during bronchitis, what to do in such a situation, what are the mechanisms of development of this condition, as evidenced by wheezing in the patient.

Pathogenetically, it looks like this: pronounced swelling of the bronchial mucosa occurs (as one of the main manifestations of the inflammatory process in the body), secretion large quantity exudate (sputum), which the cells of the mucociliary epithelium are simply not even able to remove beyond the lumen of the bronchi. Because of this, “bronchial flooding” syndrome occurs, associated with increased secretion of mucus, which, figuratively speaking, “floods” the entire bronchial tree. This is one of the components of breathing problems. Among other things, there is a certain obstructive component in the disorder of respiratory function - its essence lies in the narrowing of the bronchi due to swelling of the mucous membrane.

Prognostically, this mechanism of breathing difficulty is much more unfavorable, since due to an increase in the thickness of the mucous membrane, complete obstruction of the bronchial lumen is possible. It is customary to classify bronchitis with an asthmatic (atopic) component into a separate group. Some generally call this phenomenon a special type of bronchial asthma. It should be noted that obstructive bronchitis in Europe and the USA is not generally identified as a separate nosology, but is considered simply a prolonged attack of asthma and nothing more. Be that as it may, obstructive bronchitis differs from bronchial asthma in essence only by an increase in temperature (although it may not exist) and the presence of inflammatory changes to a more pronounced degree. Wheezing is also audible.

These are actually all the mechanisms of breathing disorders that cause lack of air.

Unfortunately, broncho-obstructive syndrome is a life-threatening condition caused by lack of air.

It is often even worse than laryngospasm for several reasons:

Laryngospasm is quickly relieved by the administration of hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs; it is not always possible to alleviate the lack of air in a similar way when there is spasm of the bronchi themselves.

In the most extreme case, with severe laryngospasm, a tracheotomy can be performed, even outside of a hospital setting.

In case of broncho-obstructive syndrome (an attack of suffocation), there may be a lack of response to treatment with etiotropic drugs (beta-2 agonists), that is, the formation of the so-called “silent lung” syndrome.

It is possible to understand that a patient has developed broncho-obstructive syndrome by several signs:

1. Difficulty breathing in the absence of any physical activity, characteristic wheezing.
2. Increased respiratory movements (more than 18 per minute).
3. Signs of respiratory failure (lack of air), determined mainly instrumentally. First of all, saturation is an indicator of the concentration of oxygen in the blood. This figure must be at least 95% - if it decreases, oxygen therapy is mandatory. If it is less than 95%, oxygen can be supplied through a mask; if it falls below 90%, it is necessary to transfer the patient to a ventilator.
4. Blueness of the skin, peripheral or central cyanosis. A clear sign of hypoxia, a consequence of lack of air.
5. Neurological symptoms, seizures. It is rare and usually occurs in children.

In addition, respiratory failure (an attack of suffocation) during bronchitis does not develop immediately - so having an appropriate medical history will also help to correctly diagnose the cause of a sharp deterioration in the condition.

Be that as it may, at the slightest suspicion of broncho-obstructive syndrome or simply the appearance of a feeling of heaviness with bronchitis, hospitalization in a hospital is necessary. It must be remembered that the reason that the patient suddenly suddenly has difficulty breathing may be that pneumothorax, abscess or pleurisy has developed. These conditions require care in the intensive care unit.

Urgent Care

However, prehospital care is no less important than inpatient treatment, and often the first resuscitation measures determine the future fate of the patient. If there is a feeling of heaviness in breathing or an attack of suffocation, the patient immediately needs the introduction of steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - dexamethasone at a dosage of 4 mg intramuscularly for an adult and 2 mg intramuscularly for a child. This must be done immediately. The introduction of this drug will relieve signs of inflammation of the bronchial mucosa, which will improve the patency of the airways, and as a result, eliminate the lack of air. In addition, beta2 agonists (ventolin or salbutamol) are required. Will allow you to remove the muscle component of the spasm. Important point– In children, ventolin should not be given through evohaler, as it can cause cardiac arrest. You can use this drug only through a baby higher, due to the fact that this way a “softer” delivery of this drug is obtained. Already in the ambulance, the patient must be given oxygen through a mask - naturally, before stopping the obstruction itself to the maximum.

Treatment in a hospital setting

When a patient is hospitalized in a hospital, it is necessary to re-evaluate the state of all his vital functions by measuring respiration rate, heart rate, temperature and saturation. Assess the consequences and degree of air shortage. Infusion therapy is indicated - intravenous drip administration of methylxanthines (aminophylline), since you should not get too carried away with beta2-agonists - a “silent” lung may develop due to the fact that the receptors lose sensitivity to salbutamol. In this case, the effect of the therapeutic measures will be significantly reduced. Oxygen therapy is mandatory to alleviate the lack of air as much as possible.

After providing emergency measures, it is necessary to carry out some instrumental and laboratory research methods to assess the degree of air shortage. This must be done. First of all, this is a plain chest x-ray (allows you to exclude developed complications, such as pneumonia, pneumothorax, pleurisy) and spirometry (allows you to distinguish bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - that is, chronic obstructive bronchitis, the disease of miners and smokers). The data from these research methods will largely determine the further tactics of patient management and will make it possible to determine what etiological treatment will need to be prescribed.

An important component in the treatment of broncho-obstructive syndrome (relieving an attack of suffocation) is inhalation. As a rule, four types of inhalations are prescribed plus the administration of Ventolin (twice). The treatment regimen in this case looks approximately like this:

1. Salt-alkaline inhalations (using Borjomi mineral water). Conducted for five minutes three times a day. They allow you to dilute sputum and facilitate its removal, since the severity of breathing during bronchitis can be caused by the so-called “flooding syndrome”, which occurs due to overproduction of pathological secretions.
2. Inhalations with hydrocortisone. In this case, they are of primary importance, due to the fact that they help relieve inflammation from the walls of the bronchi. Prescribed 2 times a day for five minutes.
3. Inhalations with Berodual. Also have great value to relieve spasm, combines ipratropium bromide and a respiratory glucocorticoid. It is better to breathe them through a nebulizer rather than through an evohaler; the effectiveness is higher. Also carried out 2 times a day, lasting 5 minutes.
4. Inhalations with dioxidine. A good antiseptic for inflammation of the respiratory tract. It is recommended to use them once a day, this is enough for the clinical effect to be visible and there is no shortage of air.

All these approaches are nothing more than pathogenetic and symptomatic treatment (that is, a type of therapy that does not eliminate the cause of the disease, but only eliminates the consequences), however, in this case, eliminating the consequences is much more important, since it is they (mainly lack of air and tissue hypoxia) pose an immediate danger to the life and health of the patient. Naturally, when in the hospital it is possible to stabilize the patient’s condition, eliminate suffocation, and carry out all the necessary additional research methods, then a treatment will be determined that will eliminate the cause of the disease and avoid relapses of attacks of respiratory failure.

Conclusions

What patients understand by the term “heavy breathing” can be understood in completely different ways. As a rule, this is an attack of suffocation or shortness of breath of a mixed type, which does not depend on the intensity of physical activity, since it is not caused by heart failure, but by airway obstruction. It develops, as a rule, with obstructive bronchitis or bronchial asthma. An attack of respiratory failure (as a consequence - lack of
air) in both cases is treated in approximately the same way, but the main therapy has a number of significant differences that must be taken into account to achieve positive results.

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