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Second to pneumonia, bronchitis is probably the most well-known and notorious respiratory disease. This condition occurs when the lining of your bronchial tubes, which are responsible for carrying air to and from your lungs, become irritated and inflamed. Acute bronchitis, a specific form of this disease, is usually triggered by a cold or virus. The “acute” moniker can be a bit misleading, as this form of bronchitis may linger for several weeks before exiting your body. As you can imagine, patients with acute bronchitis often find the disease to be a very persistent and troublesome irritant.
If you find yourself suffering from acute bronchitis, you might want to give the following remedies a try. Please note to ask your doctor about bronchitis treatments before using any natural remedies.
Stop Smoking, at Least Temporarily – Need another good reason to put down the smokes? How about this – smoking is the leading cause of bronchitis in the US. Recent research suggests that smoking not only puts you at risk of acute bronchitis, but can also cause chronic bronchitis, a condition that has no definitive cure. Needless to say, if you smoke and develop acute bronchitis, it would be wise to stop smoking for a least a little while.
Bring on the Vitamin C – We at Natural Knowledge 24/7 have extolled the values of vitamin C in the past, as this nutrient plays a key role in keeping your immune system in good shape. Now here comes another possible benefit of vitamin C; an article in the September 2009 issue of the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease reported that vitamin C can help prevent bronchitis.
Invest in a Humidifier – Humidifiers are machines that release warm, moist air into the interior of your household. This has the effect of loosening congested mucus in your nasal passages, and helps relieve nagging coughs.
Drink Up – As with many illnesses, your body’s immune system can benefit tremendously from additional liquids when fighting off acute bronchitis. Your best bet is to sip on warm drinks, such as tea and soup. Of course, water is always a good choice.
Rest Up – This is yet another familiar and effective piece of advice; getting lots of rest allows your immune system to speed up your recovery.
Snack on some Almonds – Almonds always make for a tasty snack, and are especially useful when you are sick with bronchitis. Almonds are rich in chemicals that can help you beat back bronchitis, such as potassium, magnesium and calcium.
Make Good Use of Lemons – Lemon tea can help remove toxins from your body. Simply grind 1 teaspoon of lemon rind and mix it into one cup of boiling water. Allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes, let it cool, and drink up. You can also gargle with a mixture of 1 cup of lemon juice and 1 cup water; this will help you bring up phlegm.
