Most of the time acute bronchitis clears up in a few days. Your cough may slowly get better in 1 to 2 weeks. It may take you longer to recover if you are a smoker, if you live in an area where air pollution is a problem, if you have heart or lung disease, or if you have any other continuing (chronic) health problems.

You can help yourself by:

• following the full treatment your doctor recommends
• using a vaporizer, humidifier, or steam from hot water to add moisture to the air
• drinking plenty of liquids
• taking cough medicine if recommended by your healthcare provider
• resting in bed
• taking aspirin or acetaminophen to reduce fever and relieve headache and muscle pain (no one 18 years of age and under should take aspirin because of the risk of Reye's syndrome
• eating healthy meals.

Call your doctor if you have trouble breathing, if you have a fever over 101°F, if you cough up blood, if you don’t begin to feel better in 3 days, or if you have any other symptoms that may concern you.

To reduce your risk of getting a respiratory infection, don’t smoke, wash your hands often, get regular exercise, and eat healthy foods.