Exacerbations of chronic bronchitis can be triggered by infections such as a cold or the flu. Lung irritants such as air pollution, dust, fumes, or smoke can also trigger an exacerbation. Exacerbations of chronic bronchitis can be life-threatening.

Do you die from bronchitis?

Risk factors. Chronic bronchitis can lead to serious complications, including death from heart or lung damage. Over time, a person’s body may not be able to get enough oxygen from the blood, damaging organs and potentially causing other illnesses.

Can bronchitis turn to pneumonia?

“And you can have both bronchitis and pneumonia at the same time,” Dr. Holguin says. That said, in some cases bronchitis does turn into (thereby causing) pneumonia. This occurs when either the infection spreads from the bronchial tubes to the lungs or a secondary infection occurs.