Frequent exposure to second-hand smoke is also one of the causes of chronic bronchitis in adults.
For this reason, people who are living with a smoker or those who are in regular contact with someone who’s smoking are also at risk.
Living in an Area with High Levels of Pollution
People who reside in areas with high levels of pollution are also at a higher risk of developing chronic bronchitis. But what types of pollution are we referring to?
Reports suggest that pollution can come from vehicle fumes, factory smoke, industrial chemicals, and even waste materials.
Working in Places with Chemical Inhalants
A few run-ins with lung irritants from time to time may not be a cause of concern, but if your work involves chemical inhalants, the risk of developing chronic bronchitis increases.
The following jobs may put a person at a higher risk for chronic bronchitis:
- Working solid fuel such as coal and wood. Usually, people use solid fuel to produce heat or cook.
- Salon stylist, because of their regular exposure to hairsprays.
- House painter; depending on the type of paint, paint fumes can also be lung irritants.

The Non-modifiable Risk Factors
Let’s now discuss the non-modifiable factors.
For one, age is a common risk factor. According to reports, the symptoms of chronic bronchitis usually manifest when the patients are at least 40 years old.
Genes sometimes come into play, too.
Prevention
Besides knowing about the chronic bronchitis causes, you may also be interested to learn about prevention.
Generally, the best way to prevent chronic bronchitis is to take care of the modifiable risk factors. That means:
- Quitting or avoiding smoking
- Making strict rules like “no smoking at home”
- Staying away from lung irritants, or at least, reducing exposure to them.
Key Takeaways
Chronic bronchitis is not curable. The best that the patient can do is to manage its symptoms. For this reason, understanding and possibly eliminating the modifiable chronic bronchitis causes is the best course of action to prevent this condition from developing.
Learn more about Bronchitis here.
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