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Your doctor may say that you have chronic bronchitis if:¹

• You have a cough that brings up mucus
• The cough lasts for three months or more
• You get this kind of cough (one that that brings up mucus and lasts at least three months) at least twice in two years.

Here's what happens if you have chronic bronchitis:²

• The airways in your lungs are swollen and they get irritated easily (they're inflamed)
• Because they're irritated, your airways make extra mucus
• It's harder for you to breathe because the extra mucus clogs up your airways
• All that sticky mucus in your breathing tubes keeps the tiny hairs in your airways (the cilia) from doing their job. They can't sweep dirt and germs out of your lungs because the mucus keeps them from moving very well
• Bacteria or viruses from the air you breathe can get trapped in the mucus. That can lead to infections, which can make the bronchitis worse. To find out more, see What are the symptoms of COPD?

The word chronic in chronic bronchitis means that you have had the condition for a long time. This is different from acute bronchitis, which lasts just a few days or weeks.

Acute bronchitis is usually caused by an infection. When the infection clears up, the swelling in your lungs goes down and your breathing improves.

If you have chronic bronchitis, your lungs are always swollen, and there is always too much mucus in your airways.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.