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Cigarette smoking found to be associated with the increased production of mucus in bronchitis patients - as per the findings of a recent study by the scientists from New Mexico.

Chronic bronchitis is characterized by persistent daily cough with excessive mucus production for about three consecutive months. This respiratory disorder is usually related to the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cigarette smoking is the prominent cause of causing the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affecting nearly 200 million patients all over the world and about 15 million people across the United States of America alone.

Bronchitis refers to a respiratory illness characterized by the inflammation of the mucus membranes lining the bronchial tubes. It causes obstruction of the airflow between the trachea and lungs. Mucus that is naturally produced in the body is the protective secretion of the mucus membranes that is responsible for removing accumulated dirt and toxic wastes from the body. Mucus present in the gut lubricates the passage of food and protects the tissues covering internal organs and other internal surfaces of the body cells. Mucus in the nose, throat and lungs makes it difficult for bacteria to penetrate the body. However, excessive production of mucus is chronic and harmful to the body.

Findings of the study published in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine suggested that cigarette smoke oppresses the functioning of a protein that kills the mucus-producing cells in the airways of patients diagnosed with bronchitis. That chronic mucus secretion is a distinctive attribute of chronic bronchitis was long known to science; however, the mechanisms underlying this medical problem were predominately unknown till date. Various prior studies surrounding this area of science were successful in proving that cigarette smoking increases production of mucus cells in the large and small bronchial airways. Through the present study researchers have proved that cigarette smoking supports and sustains the airway cells that secrete mucus, which in turn blocks the protein ‘Bik’ that causes the death of mucus producing cells.

As a part of the research, the scientists analyzed samples collected from the airway tissues of humans and mice in order to test their supposition. Human samples constituted some samples collected from chronic bronchitis patients and the remaining from healthy subjects. Results indicated that cigarette smoke suppresses the levels of the protein ‘Bik’ in humans as well as in mice models. Additionally, production of mucus cells was found to be increased by three times after exposure to cigarette smoke.Researchers consider this study to act as the basis that may instigate further investigation of the subject and lead to the development of newer therapies that may aid in restoring the levels of Bik protein and decrease the numbers of mucus-producing cells. This treatment procedure may cease the excess secretion of mucus and in turn free the blockages in the airways of  chronic bronchitis patients.
 
Reference:
A recent study published at the American Thoracic Society's online journal American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Disclaimer: This article is written by a non-medical professional.