Apply A Lukewarm Compress Or Take A Lukewarm Bath
Submerging your body in a lukewarm bath might help you bring down your body temperature.
You can also use a lukewarm compress to help cool your body from the outside inward if a bath is not convenient. Although it may be tempting to use a cold compress, the sudden temperature shift can cause chills. A lukewarm compress provides a more gradual, comfortable temperature change.
Chills may come on before or during a fever. They typically subside after your fever breaks. This may last up to a week, depending on when you begin treatment for pneumonia.
Based On How It Was Acquired
- Aspiration Pneumonia: If you happen to develop pneumonia by inhaling bacteria from foods, drinks or saliva, it is called aspiration pneumonia. This type usually occurs when the infected individual has difficulty in swallowing.
- Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: Individuals using a ventilator can also develop pneumonia.
Now that you are familiar with the types of pneumonia, understanding its causes is a lot easier.
Pneumonia Symptoms Risk Factors & Natural Treatments
Pneumonia is the single largest infectious cause of death in children globally, killing more than 2,500 children a day worldwide. Its also to blame for up to 7 percent of all deaths in adults. According to the American Lung Association, believe it or not there are more than 30 different causes of pneumonia. Luckily not every case is very serious or life-threatening, especially those considered to be walking pneumonia, a milder type that rarely requires serious intervention or hospitalization to deal with pneumonia symptoms.
The most common cause of pneumonia infections is complications due to other respiratory illnesses, especially the flu. Other reasons you or your child might come down with pneumonia? These include contact with certain fungi or viruses, catching pneumonia from someones who infected, or even exposure to indoor air pollution and toxic chemicals.
The severity of pneumonia symptoms that someone experiences depends on factors like the specific type of pneumonia the person has , medical history, age and strength of the immune system. If you have viral pneumonia, unfortunately you also are at risk for getting bacterial pneumonia too making pneumonia symptoms even worse and complications more likely.
Recommended Reading: How Do Doctors Test For Pneumonia
Use Oils With Antibacterial & Antiviral Properties
- germ fighting oil blends are great
- with a carrier on the feet
- diffused into the air, either with a diffuser, vaporizer, or even simply a few drops in some water in a pot, simmering on the stove. Make sure to keep an eye on the pot so it doesnt go dry.
Ways To Heal Pneumonia Naturally
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, usually due to an infection, caused by a virus or bacteria. It kills millions every year and is a very common cause of death in the elderly. However, a greater percentage of young healthy adults have contracted pneumonia in the last five years and the problem appears to be getting worse. Deadly strains of pneumonia appear to be is moving quickly around the globe and infectious disease experts are baffled by their progression in developed nations. Heres what you need to know on how to effectively treat pneumonia naturally without the need of any medication.
1)Remove Excessive Amounts of Animal Protein During a bout with pneumonia, it is important to get as much protein from vegetable sources as possible. Excessive amounts of animal protein can be hard on your digestive system, especially if you are sick. When you are ill, it is important to keep yourself regular and allow whole foods to work quickly so your body can absorb their nutrients and fight the infection. A healthy amount of protein can be found in vegetables such as beets, artichokes, spinach, cauliflower, peas and eggplant.
5) Cranberry/Apple JuiceDrink a 12 to 14 oz. glass of cranberry/apple juice with breakfast. This will add antioxidants to your system. Do not eat any solid foods for breakfast.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Pneumonia In Elderly
Types Of Walking Pneumonia
Walking pneumonia is one of more than 30 different types of pneumonia. It can be divided into a few different subtypes, including:
Mycoplasma pneumonia
This type of pneumonia tends to be mild, and most people recover without treatment. Its caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are about of M. pneumoniae infections each year in the United States.
Chlamydial pneumonia
This type of walking pneumonia is caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria. While it can cause a serious infection, most people experience only mild illness or no symptoms whatsoever. Its common among school-age children and young adults.
Legionella pneumonia
Legionnaires disease is one of the most serious types of walking pneumonia, as it can lead to both respiratory failure and death. Its caused by Legionella, a type of bacteria found in freshwater that can contaminate water systems in buildings. People can get this disease if they inhale airborne droplets of water that contain the bacteria.
Walking pneumonia symptoms are typically mild and look like the common cold. People may start noticing signs of walking pneumonia between 1 and 4 weeks of being exposed to the pathogen that caused the disease.
Symptoms of walking pneumonia can include:
- vomiting
- loss of appetite
Home Remedies For Pneumonia
Pneumonia is categorized by inflammation of the lungs. This inflammation is usually due to an infection, virus, or perhaps bacteria. Pneumonia can cause long-term lung damage and even turn deadly if not dealt with in time. Treatment by a physician is aimed at lessening the severity of symptoms, however, there are quite a few home remedies for pneumonia that people have had some good success with.
Also Check: How To Know If You Are Getting Pneumonia
Tips To Fight The Infection
While medication is usually the go-to treatment that the doctor will give you to treat pneumonia, theyll also probably make some recommendations on what you can do from home. The following are all common home treatments that you can use to support your body while it fights the infection. Remember, however, that these steps arent replacements for taking your medication or following any other advice from your doctor. Listen to your doctors orders and use these home-care tips for the most effective treatment.
Parents Guide On How To Cure Pneumonia Naturally At Home
September 25, 2019 by FOKP
Pneumonia is a lung infection which can be caused by bacteria or a virus. Younger kids are more at risk as their immune systems have not fully developed. In most cases, pneumonia will usually happen after a kid has had a cold.
Even though your child may be uncomfortable, treatment is usually straightforward and can be done at home. In this post, we will take a look at how to cure pneumonia naturally at home.
Symptoms
The symptoms are quite similar to the common cold and the flu, but they vary from child to child. Things to look out for include:
- High fever
- Cough
- Irritability
If you notice any of these symptoms, it is essential to get a check-up as soon as possible. Bacterial pneumonia will usually be treated with a course of antibiotics, but they wont work for viral pneumonia.
Immunizations act as the frontline defense against certain kinds of infections, but most young children will still be at risk. If your child gets pneumonia, then these natural home treatments can help them get over the infection.
Hygiene As Prevention
One of the best ways to protect your kids against pneumonia is by promoting good hygiene habits at home. As germs usually cause the infection, kids should be encouraged to wash their hands regularly, avoid sharing cutlery and glasses, and use tissues to blow their noses. It is also a great idea to sanitize toys, door handles, and other surfaces on a regular basis.
Lots of Rest
Use Humidifiers
Drink Lots of Fluids
Next Steps
You May Like: What Are Side Effects From Pneumonia Shot
Focus On Your Breathing
Being more mindful of your breathing can help. Not sure how to do this? Try this exercise, which can be done by lying down or sitting up:
When breathing “properly,” the hand over your stomach should be moving more than the hand over your chest.
Using your abdomen when you are breathing means the diaphragm is doing its job and taking the workload off your lungs
Breathing in and counting for a few seconds, then out for few seconds while focusing on using your abdomen can help reduce some of your breathing difficulties. This breathing technique can also reduce the anxiety that sometimes comes with difficulty breathing.
Try Herbal Remedies From The Ginger Family
When it comes to food-based natural home remedies for a chest infection, ginger is a great nutrient to consider. The roots of a ginger plant are widely used for food and natural medicinal purposes around the world.
Ginger has a strong odor that is useful for clearing the nasal airways. A study shows that ginger has bioactive components and antioxidants that reduce oxidative damage due to stress.
It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help relax the airways in the lungs and fight against fever that occurs during a chest infection. Therefore, adding ginger to your diet, taking it in the form of juice, or drinking it in your tea can naturally help treat your body from a chest infection.
You May Like: Spot On Lung Pneumonia Or Cancer
Try This Garlic And Onion Drink
Finely chop 4 to 6 garlic cloves and half an onion and blend it 8 to 10 ounces of water and 2 teaspoons of honey. Drink this in the morning, about half an hour before you eat your first meal, as well as throughout the day if you feel congested, to help open your bronchial passage and ease your coughing.
Alimax, a neutraceutical that uses the active ingredient in garlic, alicin, is also a good natural remedy along these lines unlike prescription antibiotics, which kill both good and bad bacteria, alicin targets bad bacteria while preserving good bacteria.
Why Does It Take So Long To Recover From Pneumonia
You can’t see the damage pneumonia causes, but you certainly feel it.
The air sacs in your lungs become inflamed during pneumonia, leading to soreness and pain. If the infection and inflammation progress, your lungs may fill with fluid and dead lung tissue, leading to the green, yellow or even bloody mucus you cough up. This fluid may also affect how well oxygen is able to transfer into your bloodstream, leading to difficulty breathing.
“Once the infection is cleared with treatment, your body still has to deal with removing all of the fluid, damage and debris left behind in your lungs. This can take a few weeks, resulting in a lingering cough and reduced lung capacity,” explains Dr. Lee. “During this time, you may find physical exertion more tiring than usual.”
A more severe case of pneumonia can cause even more damage to your lungs, which can be significant and even permanent in some cases.
“After severe pneumonia, lung capacity is reduced and muscles may be weak from being so ill. Significant weight loss can further contribute to weakness and other health conditions may be aggravated due to the stress placed on the body during illness. These are all things your body will need time to recover from,” says Dr. Lee.
In fact, it may take another several months for you to fully heal and regain strength.
Read Also: Can Pneumonia Vaccine Cause Elevated Liver Enzymes
What Are The Symptoms And Risk Factor Of Pneumonia
Some major symptoms of pneumonia include fever, coughing up mucus, diarrhea, vomiting, chest pain, difficulty in breathing, rapid breathing or shortness of breath, tiredness, rapid heartbeats, nausea, loss of appetite and chills. One can cure pneumonia at home in 2 to 3 weeks. However, patients who suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and heart disease should consult their doctors at the first sign of pneumonia.
Pneumonia can affect anyone at any time but is more common in children and the elderly. The latter are prone to suffering from healthcare-associated pneumonia, which spreads as a result of being in a hospital or another health care facility for a long period. Community-acquired pneumonia is common in children, as they go to school or other social places. It is always advisable to seek medical advice, though it can also be treated at home. Listed below are a few home remedies to prevent pneumonia.
Risk factors include:
-
Viruses like hepatitis, measles or HIV
- Smoking cigarettes and having related complications, like emphysema of damaged lung.
- Difficulty in swallowing due to chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease or stroke.
- Living or spending lots of time in unhygienic and tight quarters.Air pollution
-
Recovering from surgery or trauma
Natural Ways To Prevent Pneumonia
Even though many people think of pneumonia as a wintertime illness, it can strike during any season of the year. It can be caused by one of many different types of bacteria, viruses, fungi-or even an injury, such as exposure to chemical fumes . People who are at greatest risk for pneumonia are older adults and newborns, smokers, heavy drinkers, people with pre-existing lung disease or compromised immune systems, or anyone who is bedridden or has limited mobility . Fortunately, you can take steps to protect yourself. My secrets to avoiding pneumonia
- Consider getting a pneumonia vaccination. Discuss the vaccine with your doctor if you are age 65 or older-or at any age if you have congestive heart failure, a compromised immune system, liver or lung disease or diabetes, or if you are a smoker or heavy drinker. The vaccine can help prevent a common type of pneumonia caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium.
- Take vitamin A daily. Vitamin A deficiency can cause drying of the respiratory-tract lining and a reduction in cilia, the hairlike tissues that move mucus and debris out of the lungs. Both changes make the lungs vulnerable to infection and inflammation. A total daily dose of 10,000 international units of vitamin A can help keep your lungs healthy.
I recommend a daily total of 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C.
Caution: Omit licorice if you have high blood pressure or heart diseasethe herb may affect blood pressure or cause heart problems.
Read Also: How To Be Tested For Pneumonia
Can Pneumonia Go Away On Its Own
Mild cases of pneumonia can go away on their own if you manage your symptoms and get adequate rest. Home treatment for pneumonia includes getting plenty of rest, drinking adequate fluids, steamy baths or showers, fever reducers, and avoiding smoking. In severe cases of pneumonia, hospitalization may be needed.
Boosting Natural Defenses To Fight Antibiotic
Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat in bacterial pneumonia. While immune-stimulating treatments can help the body kill the bacteria, they can also cause inflammation that damages and weakens lung tissue. Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital now describe an approach that offers the best of both worlds: enhanced bacterial killing with reduced lung damage.
Their findings were published April 4th in Science Translational Medicine.
When the immune system sees a bacterial infection, it triggers an influx of cells known as neutrophils at the infection site. Neutrophils can kill the bacteria, but they also cause harm by releasing inflammatory compounds that damage the lung’s air sacs.
“The question is, when we have pneumonia, do we want to enhance neutrophil function or suppress it? It’s very tricky,” says Hongbo Luo, PhD, a researcher in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and senior investigator on the study.
Fewer but stronger neutrophils
Luo’s lab has long been studying an enzyme called IP6K, and recently showed that it inhibits signaling by another molecule in neutrophils called PIP3. When IP6K is inhibited in a mouse model, PIP3 becomes elevated and neutrophils become more active, killing more bacteria and living longer – “like ‘super’ neutrophils,” says Luo.
When the researchers used an IP6K inhibitor drug called TNP instead of genetic manipulation, results were the same.
The role of platelets
Don’t Miss: Is There A New Pneumonia Vaccine
Constipation Is A Common Symptom For Young Children With Pneumonia
That February, after we kicked pneumonia in November without resorting to antibiotics, John got another cold from big sister.
We kept a really close eye on his coughing and pulled out all the stops as far as natural means of fighting infection that we had at our disposal.
Each time hed wake up coughing at night, I cringed, waiting for the mucus to come flying out. It never did, so I thought we were in the clear. He was starting to get better, we thought, when he awoke one night all out of sorts.
My husband couldnt calm him down back to sleep and brought him to me for the magic nursies.
When he wouldnt nurse, we looked at each other in shock. If you have a baby whos addicted to nursing like all four of mine have been, youll know what we were thinking.
We knew something weird was going on.
Over the next 30 minutes, we tried everything we could think of to calm him down, all the while worrying and watching him cry, lay down, get up, not allow people to hold him, fight nursing, and writhe in pain.
He would lay his head down on the floor like he was so tired he couldnt stand up anymore, but his lower half was still ooching and scooching his body across the floor like a vacuum cleaner.
Every time we picked him up, his whole body struggled to get down.
It looked like he was in severe abdominal distress, and as the minutes ticked by, the worry mounted like a knotted hose.
We started wondering if he had eaten something that was lodged in his intestines.