2. Bronchitis
Usually caused by the same viruses responsible for colds and flu. While the immune system battles against these viruses, swelling occurs and the body produces excess mucus as a defense mechanism. This leads to swelling in the throat, increasing the likelihood of choking.
And if coughing cause reflux to be aspirated into the lungs, it might inflame they’re bronchial and eventually develop into bronchitis. Depending on the extent of the damage done to the bronchial tubes, exposure to common irritants like dust and smoke could be enough to further exacerbate the bronchial condition and GERD.
Should any stomach acid find its way into the bronchial tree, a case of acute bronchitis would be the most likely outcome. Acute bronchitis has a relatively short lifespan of only a few weeks. Whereas, chronic bronchitis can be long-lasting and prone to recurrence due to irritants like smoking. Your doctor would then prescribe having an X-ray done to rule out the possibility of you having contracted pneumonia.
