Chronic bronchitis is the production of excess mucus in our lungs and causes problems in absorbing oxygen. The excess mucus impairs breathing and is usually associated with constant coughing, which is a natural mechanism that removes foreign particles and irritants from our lungs.1

Healthy lungs have a natural cleaning process that removes the dust and smoke and other foreign particles that are part of the air, allowing us to breathe normally.

Tobacco smoke contains many harmful chemicals, and the smoke itself limits our lungs’ natural filtering/cleaning system. Cigarette smoke also contains substances that directly damage the lung tissue.2 Smoking irritates the bronchial tubes in the lungs which in turn results in the production of more mucus. Smokers’ cough, as it is commonly known, is a sign that the lungs are trying to clean themselves.
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