Word parts
What it means
The airways stay irritated and swollen and make too much mucus, usually after years of smoking or breathing in other irritants. It is defined as a cough that brings up mucus on most days for at least 3 months a year, two years in a row. It is one of the two main forms of COPDsee-oh-pee-dee (said as letters)Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to move air out of the lungs.chronic long-lastingobstructive blockingpulmon/o lung-ary relating toFull entry , along with emphysemaem-fuh-SEE-muhA long-term lung disease in which the walls of the tiny air sacs are damaged and lose their stretch.Full entry , and the two often occur together.
For the nurse
Teach stopping smoking above all, effective coughing, fluids to thin mucus, inhaler use and yearly flu and pneumonia vaccines. Report changes in the color or amount of sputum, fever or more breathlessness than usual.
At a glance
| Spanish | bronquitis crónica |
|---|
Related terms
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to move air out of the lungs.
-itis
A word ending that means inflammation.
emphysema
A long-term lung disease in which the walls of the tiny air sacs are damaged and lose their stretch.
bronch/o
A word root that means the bronchi, the large airways of the lungs.
rhonchi
Low-pitched, rumbling or snoring lung sounds heard with a stethoscope.