These include living with a person who smokes a lot or inhaling secondhand smoke and conditions that damages the immune system . Another risk factor is Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD ) in which the acids in the stomach move up into a person 's esophagus and causes persistent cough (Mayo Clinic , 2007 . Symptoms The three common symptoms of both acute and chronic bronchitis are expectorating cough , wheezing , and shortness of breath or dyspnea . In chronic bronchitis , there are times when the mucus...