Disease or Syndrome
chronic bronchitis
chron·ic bron·chi·tis [ kron-ik brong-kahy-tis ]
Subclass of:
Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease;
Bronchitis
Definitions related to bronchitis, chronic:
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(chronic bronchitis) A type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease characterized by chronic inflammation in the bronchial tree that results in edema, mucus production, obstruction, and reduced airflow to and from the lung alveoli. The most common cause is tobacco smoking. Signs and symptoms include coughing with excessive mucus production, and shortness of breath.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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(chronic bronchitis) Chronic inflammation of the bronchi.Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
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(chronic bronchitis) Condition characterized by persistent coughing, increased secretion from the bronchial mucosa, obstruction of the respiratory passages, scanty or profuse expectoration, and necrosis and fibrosis of the respiratory tract.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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(chronic bronchitis) Chronic bronchitis is a type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD is a group of lung diseases that make it hard to breathe and get worse over time. The other main type of COPD is emphysema. Most people with COPD have both emphysema and chronic bronchitis, but how severe each type is can be different from person to person. Chronic bronchitis is inflammation (swelling) and irritation of the bronchial tubes. These tubes are the airways that carry air to and from the air sacs in your lungs. The irritation of the tubes causes mucus to build up. This mucus and the swelling of the tubes make it harder for your lungs to move oxygen in and carbon dioxide out of your body. The cause of chronic bronchitis is usually long-term exposure to irritants that damage your lungs and airways. In the United States, cigarette smoke is the main cause. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke can also cause chronic bronchitis, especially if you inhale them. Exposure to other inhaled irritants can contribute to chronic bronchitis. These include secondhand smoke, air pollution, and chemical fumes or dusts from the environment or workplace. Rarely, a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can play a role in causing chronic bronchitis.MedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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A subcategory of CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE. The disease is characterized by hypersecretion of mucus accompanied by a chronic (more than 3 months in 2 consecutive years) productive cough. Infectious agents are a major cause of chronic bronchitis.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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