Bronchitis Symptoms - #17042

I’ve been dealing with a persistent cough for a couple of weeks now, and it just won’t seem to go away. At first, I thought it was just a regular cold or maybe a mild flu, but the coughing has become worse, and I’ve been feeling short of breath at times. It all started after I came down with a cold, and I assumed it would pass in a few days, but it didn’t. Along with the cough, I’ve also been feeling some tightness in my chest, like it’s hard to fully take a deep breath. Some days, I feel a bit wheezy, and I even noticed I’m coughing up mucus, which is thick and sometimes greenish. I visited my doctor a week ago, and they mentioned that these could be symptoms of bronchitis, especially since I’ve had a persistent cough and mucus production. I did some research online, and it seems like acute bronchitis is the more common type, but I’m unsure if I’m dealing with that or something more serious. I’m really concerned about the prolonged coughing, and I’m not sure if I should be worried about developing a chronic condition. I haven’t had asthma before, but some of these symptoms sound familiar, so I’m wondering if I’m developing something like that. I’ve heard that bronchitis can be caused by viruses or bacteria, but I don’t know if there’s a specific way to tell which one it is. I’ve been drinking plenty of fluids, taking over-the-counter cough medicine, and resting as much as possible, but I’m still coughing a lot. My question is, what are the main symptoms that differentiate between viral and bacterial bronchitis? And is there any Ayurvedic remedy that can help reduce the inflammation in my chest and clear up the mucus more effectively? Also, does anyone have any advice on how to manage the symptoms of bronchitis naturally, especially when it feels like it’s lingering for too long? I’m not keen on taking antibiotics unless absolutely necessary, so I’m hoping to find some relief through natural methods.