cardiovascular 🅱️ronchitis (not sure if it’s an actual disease) but more commonly known as chronic bronchitis, is the inflammation to the lining of the bronchi, which is a tube that provides air passage to the lungs. There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and chronic. Not to be confused with emphysema, which is caused by damaged alveoli aka the air sacs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged in and out of the lungs and bloodstream. Symptoms of bronchitis include discoloured mucus, fatigue, shortness of breath, fevers, chills, and chest discomfort. Chronic bronchitis is more severe as coughs may last for 3 months instead of 2 weeks. The main contributors to bronchitis are smoking, gastric reflux (reoccurring heartburns can irritate the throat which increases vulnerability to bronchitis), and high exposure to irritants such as chemical fumes. There is no main cure for bronchitis, but there are many ways to help improve it. These methods include pulmonary rehabilitation, getting plenty of rest, drinking more fluids (avoid caffeine and alcohol), quit smoking, and taking medicine regularly and responsibly (antibiotics will not work as it only kills bacteria, and bronchitis is a viral infection). It also helps if coughs are not held in as mucus carries smoke particles and other unwanted germs out of the system. Staying away from smoke, treating allergies quickly, vaccinations, and staying healthy are great ways to avoid developing bronchitis (prevention is better than a cure). If bronchitis is not treated, the infection may start spreading and one may be diagnosed with pneumonia.