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Bronchitis (Chest Cold & Chronic Bronchitis)

A cough, often with mucus, when the airways in the lungs become inflamed — usually a short-lived “chest cold” from a virus, but sometimes a long-term condition linked to smoking and COPD.

Get medical help right away — and call 911 if breathing is severely difficult — if you or the person you’re with has:

If you are still short of breath, call 911 and get immediate medical attention (American Lung Association). People with COPD should seek emergency care for a severe flare-up (NHLBI).

See a healthcare professional if a fever lasts longer than 5 days or reaches 104°F or higher, if symptoms last more than 3 weeks, or if you keep getting bronchitis (CDC); if a low-grade fever lasts 3 days or more; or if you have a long-term illness such as heart or lung disease (MedlinePlus). A cough that won’t go away may be a sign of a more serious disease (American Lung Association). For a baby under 3 months with a fever of 100.4°F or higher, call a provider right away (CDC).

What is bronchitis?

Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air into the lungs. It causes coughing, often with mucus (NHLBI). There are two kinds:

  • Acute bronchitis, often called a chest cold, is short-term and very common. Most people recover within a few days or weeks (NHLBI).
  • Chronic bronchitis is a cough with mucus that lasts at least three months and comes back for at least two years in a row. The lining of the airways stays inflamed, making more swelling and mucus, which makes breathing harder (NHLBI).

Acute bronchitis (chest cold)

A chest cold happens when the airways of the lungs swell and make mucus, which causes coughing. It is usually caused by a virus (CDC) — such as those that cause colds, flu, RSV or COVID-19 — and may be contagious (NHLBI). It often follows a cold or flu-like illness, starting in the nose, sinuses and throat and then spreading to the airways (MedlinePlus). Bacteria cause it only occasionally (CDC).

Symptoms include a cough with or without mucus, tiredness, congestion, a sore throat and mild body aches (CDC), and there may be chest discomfort, a low-grade fever, shortness of breath with activity, or wheezing in people with asthma (MedlinePlus).

How long it lasts: CDC says symptoms of a chest cold last less than 3 weeks (CDC). Most symptoms other than the cough usually clear in 7–10 days, but the cough often lasts 2–3 weeks, and a dry, nagging cough can linger 1–4 weeks after other symptoms are gone (MedlinePlus).

Chronic bronchitis and COPD

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a long-lasting lung condition in which damage to the airways or other parts of the lungs blocks airflow and makes breathing difficult. It usually develops slowly and gets worse over time. Its two main forms are emphysema and chronic bronchitis — ongoing irritation and inflammation of the airway lining that produces a lot of thick mucus — and most people with COPD have some of both (NHLBI). We plan separate Emphysema and Pneumonia guides.

In the U.S., cigarette smoking is the main cause, and most people with COPD smoke or used to (NHLBI). Other risks for chronic bronchitis include secondhand smoke, older age, fumes or certain dusts, a family history of COPD, and conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis or GERD (NHLBI). Symptoms include coughing spells that bring up mucus, wheezing, chest pain and shortness of breath (American Lung Association). There is no cure for chronic bronchitis or COPD, but it can be managed (American Lung Association, CDC). If you have wheezing and cough that keep coming back, see also our Asthma guide.

How common is it?

Cough is the most common symptom that brings adults to their primary care provider, and acute bronchitis is the most common diagnosis in these patients (CDC). Nearly 16 million U.S. adults have COPD, and many more don’t know they have it (CDC). In 2025, 4.4% of U.S. adults had ever been diagnosed with COPD, emphysema or chronic bronchitis (CDC, FastStats).

How it’s diagnosed

There is no specific test for acute bronchitis; providers diagnose it by asking questions and examining you, and may test for viral infections (American Lung Association). They listen to your lungs and may order a chest x-ray if pneumonia is suspected, or check the oxygen in your blood with a finger sensor (pulse oximetry) (MedlinePlus). The main aim is to rule out pneumonia (CDC); a cough can also be a sign of COVID-19, GERD or asthma (NHLBI). COPD is diagnosed with spirometry, a breathing test that measures how much air you can breathe in and force out (CDC).

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) Chest cold: rest, fluids, honey (age 1 and up), a clean humidifier and symptom relief — antibiotics usually don’t help. Chronic bronchitis: quitting smoking, inhaled medicines, pulmonary rehab, oxygen if needed and vaccines. Pulmonary rehab under Medicare Part B: 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly deductible ($283 in 2026), plus a per-session copayment in hospital outpatient settings. Doctor visit and over-the-counter remedies: cost estimate being researched. Most chest colds get better on their own, though the cough can last a few weeks. Chronic bronchitis can’t be cured, but treatment and pulmonary rehab can ease breathlessness and improve daily life.
Chiropractic Being researched — coming soon.
Acupuncture Needle treatments, typically weekly over several weeks, alongside standard COPD care. About $125–$230 for a first visit and $90–$185 for follow-ups; community clinics about $50–$90. Limited evidence: some trials in COPD found less breathlessness and better walking distance, but study quality is mixed. Not studied for chest colds.
Herbal medicine Honey for cough (never under age 1); Pelargonium (umckaloabo) root extract and echinacea are the herbs most often tried. Cost estimate being researched. Honey probably eases children’s cough a little. Pelargonium may modestly help acute bronchitis, but the evidence is low quality and liver problems have been reported. Check with your pharmacist first.
Massage therapy Relaxation massage as comfort care; airway-clearance (chest physiotherapy) techniques are a separate therapy taught by respiratory or physical therapists. About $50–$90 at gyms, clinics or spas, or $60–$120 with a private therapist, for 45–60 minutes. Massage itself isn’t backed by substantial evidence for COPD. Airway clearance is safe for COPD and gives small benefits.
MBHA Wellness Coach Quitting smoking and vaping, avoiding smoke and polluted air, handwashing, staying up to date on vaccines, staying active and practicing breathing exercises. Cost estimate being researched. Quitline coaching at 1-800-QUIT-NOW is free. Quitting smoking is the most important step for smokers with COPD. Daily habits lower the risk of infections and flare-ups and make treatment work better.

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Conventional medicine (AMA)

Care depends on which kind of bronchitis you have. A chest cold usually gets better on its own (CDC); chronic bronchitis needs long-term care aimed at easier breathing and fewer symptoms (NHLBI).

1. Feeling better with a chest cold

2. Over-the-counter medicines — with care

Over-the-counter medicines may ease symptoms for a while, but they won’t cure the illness; read labels, follow directions and tell your provider about everything you take (CDC). Options include cough medicines containing dextromethorphan or guaifenesin (NHLBI), and ibuprofen or acetaminophen for fever and aches — but no aspirin for anyone under 18 (MedlinePlus). Check with your provider first if you take prescription medicines or have other health conditions (NHLBI). A Cochrane review found no good evidence for or against over-the-counter cough medicines for acute cough (Cochrane review, 2014).

Young children and cough and cold medicines. Never give a child under 2 a cough and cold product that contains a decongestant or antihistamine — they can cause serious, possibly life-threatening side effects. Products are labeled “do not use in children under 4,” and children should never be given medicines made for adults (FDA). CDC advises against over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children under 6, and says to check with a healthcare professional for children 6 and older (CDC). Ask about the right dose of any medicine for your child’s age and size (CDC).

3. Why antibiotics usually don’t help

Antibiotics won’t help you feel better from a chest cold, and even when bacteria are the cause, they are not recommended (CDC). Antibiotics work only on certain bacterial infections, not viruses, and they can cause side effects from rashes, dizziness and diarrhea to C. diff infection and severe allergic reactions (CDC). CDC’s guidance for doctors says uncomplicated acute bronchitis should not routinely be treated with antibiotics, however long the cough lasts (CDC). A Cochrane review of 17 trials found limited benefit — on average about half a day less of coughing — balanced against more side effects (Cochrane review, 2017). Whooping cough and pneumonia can look similar and are usually treated with antibiotics, which is one reason to see a provider when warning signs appear (CDC).

4. Treating chronic bronchitis and COPD

  • Quitting smoking is the most important step for people with COPD who smoke (CDC). See MBHA Wellness Coach below.
  • Inhaled medicines go straight to the lungs; ask your provider to show you the right technique (NHLBI). They include:
    • short-acting bronchodilators, which relax the muscles around the airways and are used when symptoms occur, for mild COPD;
    • long-acting bronchodilators, taken daily for moderate or severe COPD, and a newer (2024) medicine that combines a bronchodilator with a non-steroid anti-inflammatory;
    • inhaled steroids combined with bronchodilators for severe COPD or frequent flare-ups; and, if those don’t help, an add-on medicine also used for asthma that was approved for COPD in 2024 (NHLBI).
  • Antibiotics may be used for flare-ups caused by infection; agree a flare-up plan with your provider (NHLBI).
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation — see the section below.
  • Oxygen therapy when blood oxygen is low (CDC). Oxygen is a fire risk, so never smoke or use flammable materials while using it (NHLBI).

5. Vaccines

What it costs

  • Pulmonary rehab: Medicare Part B covers a comprehensive program for people with moderate to very severe COPD. In a doctor’s office you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount; in a hospital outpatient setting you also pay the hospital a copayment for each session; the Part B deductible applies (Medicare.gov). That deductible is $283 in 2026 (Medicare.gov).
  • Doctor or urgent-care visit for a chest cold: MBHA cost estimate being researched.
  • Over-the-counter cough and cold remedies: MBHA cost estimate being researched.

How well it works — what to expect

Without an underlying lung problem, most people recover from acute bronchitis, though the cough can take weeks to fade (MedlinePlus). Chronic bronchitis symptoms may improve or worsen but never fully go away (American Lung Association); the goal of treatment is better breathing and symptom control (NHLBI).

Find a medical doctor in our directory

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Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been studied for COPD, including chronic bronchitis, but not for chest colds. The evidence is limited and comes mostly from small or moderate-quality trials.

What the research says

  • A 2012 Japanese trial of 68 people with COPD who were taking standard medicines found that 12 weekly sessions of real acupuncture eased breathlessness after a walking test and improved walking distance compared with placebo needling (trial, Archives of Internal Medicine).
  • A 2025 review of 25 trials found acupuncture-based treatments improved walking distance, breathlessness scores and lung-function measures in stable COPD, but not quality-of-life questionnaires. Most studies were of moderate quality, and the authors call for better research (meta-analysis, Complementary Therapies in Medicine).

In short: acupuncture may offer some added relief from breathlessness in COPD when used alongside — not instead of — standard medicines and pulmonary rehab. There is no good evidence that it shortens a chest cold.

Safety

Relatively few complications have been reported, but nonsterile needles and improper technique have caused serious problems, including infections and punctured organs; U.S. needles must be sterile and single-use (NCCIH). Choose a licensed practitioner and tell them about your lung condition.

What it costs

Private sessions run about $125–$230 for a first visit and $90–$185 for follow-ups; community clinics about $50–$90 a visit (The Pricer). The 2012 trial above used 12 weekly sessions, so a course can add up.

Find an acupuncturist in our directory

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Herbal medicine

Honey and a few herbs are popular for coughs. The evidence is modest at best, and “natural” doesn’t mean safe with your other medicines (NCCIH). No herb treats chronic bronchitis or replaces prescribed COPD medicine.

Honey

A Cochrane review of six trials in 899 children aged 1 and older found honey probably relieves cough better than no treatment or placebo, and may work about as well as the cough-medicine ingredient dextromethorphan. Any advantage over placebo was seen in the first three days, not after, and most children were treated for only one night; the authors found no strong evidence for or against honey (Cochrane review, 2018). CDC suggests pasteurized honey for cough in adults and children aged 1 and up (CDC). Never give honey to babies under 1 because of the risk of infant botulism (American Academy of Pediatrics).

Pelargonium (umckaloabo)

Extracts of the South African plant Pelargonium sidoides are sold for colds and bronchitis. A Cochrane review found it may ease acute bronchitis symptoms in adults and children — the liquid form, but not tablets — yet rated the evidence low quality and suspected publication bias. Side effects were more common than with placebo, though none were serious (Cochrane review, 2013). Europe’s medicines agency accepts it only as a traditional remedy for common-cold symptoms from age 6, says to see a doctor if symptoms last more than a week or get worse, and notes that liver problems have been reported, with frequency unknown (European Medicines Agency). Other reported side effects include stomach upset, allergic reactions and restlessness (Memorial Sloan Kettering).

Echinacea

Echinacea may slightly lower the chance of catching a cold, but it’s unclear whether it shortens one (NCCIH); a Cochrane review found no clear benefit for treating colds (Cochrane review, 2014). Allergic reactions can occur and may be severe, especially in children, and it may interact with some medicines (NCCIH).

Before you try any herb or supplement, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take other medicines, have liver disease, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are buying for a child (NCCIH, NCCIH). We don’t list doses here.

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Massage therapy

Massage is not a treatment for a chest cold or for chronic bronchitis itself, but some people with COPD find it relaxing. It is worth knowing the difference between massage and the airway-clearance techniques taught in respiratory care.

Massage for COPD

A 2019 scoping review found only seven studies of manual massage in COPD. Some reported better lung function, breathlessness or walking distance, but the authors concluded that massage is not supported by substantial evidence and is best seen as an add-on to treatments such as exercise (scoping review, Medicina).

Airway clearance (chest physiotherapy) is different

Airway-clearance techniques help move mucus out of the lungs. A Cochrane review found them safe for people with COPD, with small benefits, such as a shorter hospital stay during a flare-up (Cochrane review, 2012). Methods for clearing mucus are taught as part of pulmonary rehabilitation (NHLBI), so ask your lung care team rather than a massage therapist.

Safety

The risk of harm from massage appears low, though rare serious problems such as blood clots, nerve injury or broken bones have been reported, mostly with vigorous massage or in people at higher risk, such as older adults. Don’t use massage to put off seeing a provider about a medical problem (NCCIH).

What it costs

About $50–$90 for 45–60 minutes at gyms, clinics or spas, or $60–$120 with a private therapist (CostHelper).

Find a massage therapist in our directory

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MBHA Wellness Coach

An MBHA Wellness Coach can help you turn medical advice into daily habits that protect your lungs and cut down on chest infections and flare-ups.

Quitting smoking and vaping

Quitting is the most important step for smokers with COPD (CDC). Counseling and medicine together give the best chance of quitting for good; options include nicotine patches, gum and lozenges, and prescription pills such as varenicline and bupropion (CDC). Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free coaching by phone; quit coaches can also help you get quit-smoking medicines (CDC). No e-cigarette has been approved by the FDA as a quit-smoking aid (CDC).

Clean air

Stopping the spread of germs

Staying active

Physical activity can strengthen the muscles that help you breathe; ask your provider which activities are safe for you (NHLBI). In a 2024 trial of people with mild COPD, 16 weeks of exercise led to modest improvements in walking distance and quality of life that lasted to 48 weeks (trial, Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention).

Breathing exercises for COPD

Pursed-lip breathing slows your breathing and keeps the airways open longer, easing shortness of breath (American Lung Association):

  1. Sit in a chair and relax your neck and shoulders.
  2. Breathe in slowly through your nose with your mouth closed.
  3. Purse your lips as if to whistle and breathe out slowly through them, trying to breathe out for longer than you breathed in.
  4. Repeat until your breathing feels normal (American Lung Association).

Belly (diaphragmatic) breathing also helps people with COPD use less energy to breathe. Practice both when you are breathing comfortably, not during a breathless spell; they take time to master (American Lung Association). Pulmonary rehab teaches these techniques too (NHLBI).

Another approach

Pulmonary rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a supervised medical program that helps people with lung diseases such as COPD live and breathe better (NHLBI).

What it includes

  • Exercise training to strengthen your arms, legs and breathing muscles.
  • Breathing techniques such as pursed-lip breathing, and ways to clear mucus.
  • Education about your lung disease, medicines, spotting flare-ups early, quitting smoking and saving energy during daily tasks.
  • Counseling for stress, anxiety or depression, and nutrition advice (NHLBI).

Programs usually run for several weeks or months, with 2 or 3 sessions a week (NHLBI), and some can be delivered by phone, web or app (NHLBI).

How well it works

A Cochrane review of 65 trials with 3,822 people with COPD found that pulmonary rehab relieves breathlessness and fatigue, improves emotional well-being and gives people a greater sense of control over their condition — improvements the authors call moderately large and clinically meaningful (Cochrane review, 2015).

Paying for it

Medicare Part B covers pulmonary rehab for moderate to very severe COPD; see What it costs under Conventional medicine (Medicare.gov). Ask your doctor for a referral and what your plan will cover.

Still being researched: Chiropractic. We add each approach once its costs and results are sourced. Are you a practitioner with experience treating Bronchitis (Chest Cold & Chronic Bronchitis)? Tell us.

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Sources

This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Costs are typical U.S. ranges and estimates; yours will depend on your provider, location and insurance. Talk with your doctor before starting, stopping or combining any treatment. In an emergency, call 911. See our disclaimer.

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