Risk Factors of Chronic Bronchitis

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The most common risk factor of chronic bronchitis is tobacco smoke. People who are cigarette smokers themselves, or are exposed to second hand cigarette smoke for long periods of time (such as living or working in a smoke-filled environment), put themselves at higher risk of developing chronic bronchitis than those who are not. In fact, over 90% of people who have chronic bronchitis are either smokers or ex-smokers.
Another common risk factor of chronic bronchitis is frequent bacterial infections of the upper respiratory system – that is, a series of acute bronchitis attacks, which can damage the lungs to cause chronic bronchitis.

Air pollutants such as chemical fumes or dust can also cause chronic bronchitis if a person is exposed to them over long periods of time. These pollutants will irritate and damage your lungs to put you at higher risk for chronic bronchitis, and include ammonia, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, bromine, sulfur dioxide, strong acids, coal dust, grain dust, metal dust, smoke from fires, etc.

In some cases, chronic bronchitis can be genetic, putting you at higher risk of getting the condition if someone else in your family has / had it. An example of this is AAT deficiency, which is a genetic condition where the body is in lack of the AAT protein, which protects the lungs from damage. A person who is AAT deficient will have lungs that are more prone to damage, which increases the risk of getting chronic bronchitis.

Also, statistics indicate that you may be at more risk of developing chronic bronchitis if you have GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease, have an immune disorder, or is at an age where you’re vulnerable to diseases (i.e. you’re very young or very old).

Chronic bronchitis requires regular, long-term monitoring and treatment. If untreated, chronic bronchitis can lead to pneumonia, emphysema, and even heart failure, any of which can be fatal. In fact, of all people diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, the mortality rate over the 10 years following the diagnosis is 50 percent, with the major cause of death being respiratory failure resulting from an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Having chronic bronchitis also puts you at greater risk of lung cancer.

People suffering from chronic bronchitis are at greater risk of lung infection, and are more vulnerable to getting the common cold or flu which, though normally harmless, could become life-threatening to a chronic bronchitis sufferer. For this reason, annual flu shots are highly recommended.