Carol Vorderman, 59, underwent a secret health battle while in the Australian jungle after she was diagnosed with severe bronchitis. Bronchitis is an infection of the main airways of the lungs which causes them to become irritated and inflamed.
The former Countdown star was prescribed high-strength antibiotics and given an inhaler to help her cope with the symptoms.
Carol, who appeared on the ITV show in 2016, revealed at the time: “There’s a coughing virus going around, you will have heard it. Mine got worse and worse and worse then on Saturday I had sharp chest pains so I asked to see Bob [the show’s medic].”
She continued to The Sun: “It was like breathing through bubbles. Once I got the chest pains, I thought I need something. He immediately put me on really strong antibiotics, electrolytes and glucose tablets.
“It took me two days to get over it. And by day three I felt much better. I was ill, properly ill.”
The maths wizard put some of the blame of her health scare on spending too much time around the campfire.
She revealed: “I was really unwell. It was a really bad proper chest infection. I’m still on the antibiotics now.
“You’ve got to remember you’re breathing in smoke the whole time.
“I was trying to do my jobs but they all kept saying just go to bed. I needed to just rest, rather than being in a rainforest.”
Bronchitis can vary in severity, either being described as acute or chronic.
The NHS explains: “Acute bronchitis is temporary inflammation of the airways that causes a cough and mucus. It lasts up to three weeks.
“It can affect people of all ages, but mostly happens in children under the age of five.
“It’s more common in winter and often comes on after a common cold, sore throat or the flu.”
Chronic bronchitis is a daily productive cough that lasts for three months of the year and for at least two years in a row.
The health body adds: “It’s one of a number of lung conditions, including emphysema, that are collectively known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
“It mostly affects adults over the age of 40.
“It’s important that you stop smoking if you have bronchitis.
“Cigarette smoke and the chemicals in cigarettes make bronchitis worse and increase your risk of developing chronic bronchitis and COPD.”
Symptoms of bronchitis
The main synth of acute bronchitis is a hacking cough, which may bring up clear, yellow-grey or greenish mucus (phlegm).
Other symptoms may include:
- A sore throat
- A headache
- A runny or blocked nose
- Aches and pains
- Tiredness
Most cases of acute bronchitis can be treated at home with rest.
But if your symptoms are severe or unusual, see a GP.
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