Discharge Instructions for Chronic Bronchitis

You have been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis. With this condition, you cough up mucus and feel short of breath for 3 months or more each year for at least 2 years in a row.

Home care

Here is how you can take care of yourself at home: 

• If you smoke, quit. This is the best thing you can do for your bronchitis and overall health.

  • Try a stop-smoking program. There are even telephone and internet programs.

  • Ask your healthcare provider about medicines or other methods to help you quit.

  • Ask family members to quit smoking as well.

  • Don’t allow smoking in your home, in your car, or around you.

• Protect yourself from infection.

  • Wash your hands often. Do your best to keep your hands away from your face. Most germs are spread from your hands to your mouth or nose.

  • Ask your healthcare provider about a yearly flu vaccine and pneumonia vaccines.

  • Avoid crowds. It's especially important to do this in the winter when more people have colds and flu.

  • Take care of your overall health. That means:

    • Getting about 8 hours of sleep every night

    • Exercising for at least 30 minutes on most days

    • Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, lean meats and fish, and low-fat dairy products. Avoiding fat- and sugar-filled foods is also important.

    • Limiting the amount of alcoholic beverages you drink.

• Take your medicines exactly as directed. Don’t skip doses.

• Talk to your healthcare provider about ways to keep your mucus thin. Drinking a lot of water helps.

• Ask your healthcare provider to show you pursed-lip breathing to help decrease shortness of breath.

• Find out about pulmonary rehabilitation programs in your area. Ask your provider or local hospital.

Follow-up care

Make all of your follow-up appointments as directed by our staff.