Bronchial Disorders
Educational information. Individual clinical review of this presentation by Dr. Ehsan is not yet documented. It does not replace personal medical evaluation.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Read the original source
MedlinePlus data edition September 26, 2026. Imported September 27, 2026. These dates do not indicate a new clinical review of the article.
When you breathe in, the air travels down through your trachea (windpipe). It then goes through two tubes to your lungs. These tubes are your bronchi. Bronchial disorders can make it hard for you to breathe.
The most common problem with the bronchi is bronchitis, an inflammation of the tubes. It can be acute or chronic. Other problems include:
- Bronchiectasis - a condition in which damage to the airways causes them to widen and become flabby and scarred
- Exercise-induced bronchospasm - a breathing problem that happens when your airways shrink while you are exercising
- Bronchiolitis - an inflammation of the small airways that branch off from the bronchi
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia - a chronic lung condition in infants, most often premature infants
Symptoms, tests and care options
Further reading selected by MedlinePlus. Links open the original organizations’ websites.
- Bronchoscopy and Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) · National Library of Medicine
- Lung Function Tests · National Library of Medicine
- Tests for Lung Disease · National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Questions for your care team
General prompts to help prepare for your appointment.
- How does this information apply to my situation?
- Which symptoms or results need evaluation?
- Which tests are useful, and what can they tell us?
- What care options, benefits, and risks should we discuss?
- When should I seek urgent help, and whom should I call?
- When is follow-up, and how will we know whether the plan is working?
For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 in the U.S. or your local emergency number.
Browse all patient guides