Bronchitis

The commonest acute lung infection is acute bronchitis. It can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Bronchitis is an inflammation of the linings of the main air passages to the lungs.

The symptoms and signs include:

coughing that produces sputum,
there may be a high temperature, but usually it is mild,
breathlessness and wheezing, and
there may be soreness in the throat and chest.
Acute bronchitis starts as a respiratory infection and usually clears up in a few days. Chronic bronchitis is a serious long term condition and is primarily caused by smoking.

However chronic bronchitis does have a number of causes including:

Smoking [yes, it's worth repeating!](which robs the body of essential vitamins and minerals) as well as damaging the airways and lungs and introducing toxins and carcinogenic substances into the body.
Pollution.
Deficiencies of vitamin C and zinc.
What you can do to help

The most important thing that you can do is to give up smoking and avoid co-smoking and smoke filled environments. Contact one of the many organisations that are able to assist you with this process. (also see ...)
If stress and anxiety are related to your smoking then look at dealing with these (also see ...).
If you continue to smoke ensure that you get extra vitamin B complex and C.
Take 1g of vitamin C twice per day for a four to eight week period to encourage healing, boost the immune system and to act as a natural antihistamine. (Also see ... to boost your immune system.)
Take 30 mg of zinc daily.
Make sure that you take a good multivitamin and mineral supplement.