Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is defined as a chronic productive cough lasting at least three months in two consecutive years, and at the same time, other possible causes of cough - pulmonary ( bronchiectasis ) and non-pulmonary ( heart failure ) are excluded. The disease is further characterized by an obstructive ventilation disorder.

Chronic bronchitis can be considered a component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (the other component being emphysema ).