Ask a doctor on the topic of Radiology

Bronchitis Translation: Bronchitis

July 27, 2015 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ralf Berg

Dear experts,
Since my childhood, I have been suffering from bronchitis. I used to have to inhale a lot and take sprays, but during my youth and young adult years it was relatively quiet. I always had a spray like Arane on hand for emergencies, but I rarely needed it. However, in the last 1-2 months, I have noticed that I need to use my spray very frequently because I have difficulty breathing and I am often short of breath during the day, which is very uncomfortable. I am an athlete, and even in my recent training sessions, I had to take my spray after a short initial exertion because I was having difficulty breathing. Should I be worried about this now? I read somewhere about bronchitis/COPD, and now I am afraid that my lungs will collapse or that I will die from it. Unfortunately, I still smoke because I have never had any problems before.
Best regards

Dr. med. Ralf Berg

Dear inquirer,

You should definitely have your lungs and their function examined. Bronchitis and COPD are fundamentally two very different things. Both are worsened by smoking, as you already know, so it is important for you to try to contain this habit and eventually quit altogether. It seems that a worsening has occurred, so I advise you to get yourself examined. A lung function test and a clinical examination are necessary in order to receive a clear diagnosis.

Best regards,
Dr. R. Berg