Can Pneumonia Cause Other Complications
Most cases of pneumonia respond well to the treatment. But pneumonia can have severe and even deadly complications. The risk of developing such complications is high in the elderly, young children, people with a weak immune system and people who have cirrhosis or diabetes. The complications involve respiratory failure, lung abscesses that might require surgery and sepsis .1
1. Johns Hopkins Medicine . Pneumonia . Available from:
2. Better Health Channel . Pneumonia . Available from:
3. MedlinePlus . Pneumonia 2021 Jun 20 . Available from:
4. Sultana S, Khan A, Safhi MM, Alhazmi HA. Cough Suppressant Herbal Drugs: A Review. Int J Pharm Sci Invent . 2016 Aug 5:15-28. Available from:
5. American Lung Association . Five Facts You Should Know About Pneumonia 2020 Oct 23 . Available from:
How Do The Lungs Work
Your lungs main job is to get oxygen into your blood and remove carbon dioxide. This happens during breathing. You breathe 12 to 20 times per minute when you are not sick. When you breathe in, air travels down the back of your throat and passes through your voice box and into your windpipe . Your trachea splits into two air passages . One bronchial tube leads to the left lung, the other to the right lung. For the lungs to perform their best, the airways need to be open as you breathe in and out. Swelling and mucus can make it harder to move air through the airways, making it harder to breathe. This leads to shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and feeling more tired than normal.
How To Recover From Pneumonia
This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support , Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support , Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee in 2006.There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 52 testimonials and 92% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 445,548 times.
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Risk Factors For Pneumonia
Certain groups of people are more susceptible to developing pneumonia and are at higher risk of suffering from its complications. They include
- Newborn infants and children whose age is 2 years or less.
- Individuals above 65 years of age.
- Those under medications or already suffering from any disease are at a higher risk due to their weakened immunity.
- Smokers and people who misuse drugs also have a higher probability of developing pneumonia.
If your symptoms are severe or you have been suffering from pneumonia for a long period without treatment, get medical help immediately. The emphasis on treating pneumonia at the earliest should not be taken lightly. This is because, if left untreated, it can become life-threatening. Hence, use these home remedies to treat pneumonia as soon as you observe the onset of its symptoms and do let us know if you found them useful.
How Is Bacterial Pneumonia Treated
Bacterial pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics, which usually help people feel better within a few days to a week.
People who are very old, very young, have shortness of breath, or have a high fever may need to be admitted to the hospital for intravenous antibiotics. If you need to go to the hospital, your doctor may do cultures from sputum or blood tests to identify and target the exact bacteria.
People with more severe cases of bacterial pneumonia may be treated with oxygen, intravenous fluids, and breathing treatments to ease symptoms.
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Tips For Preventing And Treating Pneumonia:
- Get plenty of rest to boost the immunity.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Eat plenty of vitamin A and C.
- Wash your hands frequently before eating.
- Cover your mouth while sneezing or coughing.
- Do not smoke or drink alcohol.
- Take hot showers to reduce cold, cough and congestion..
- Fry pumpkin leaf in olive oil. Let it cool and crush to make a paste. Apply it to the chest and massage for few minutes until you get relief from the pain.
- Extract juice from ginger and add a teaspoon of honey and lemon juice. Drink night time.
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 300 ml of warm and drink twice a day.
- Eat plenty of protein and fresh fruits and vegetables to boost immune system.
- Cut down sugar caffeinated, carbonated and alcoholic drinks.
- Get vaccines and flu shots to prevent illness.
We hope that this article on how to beat pneumonia naturally helped you. Have you tried any of these home remedies for relieving symptoms of pneumonia? Which ones worked best for you? Share your experience with us!
Watch Out When Cooking
It is important to be conscious when cooking as not being conscious may lead to the burning of food, which causes smoke. Smoke can also be obtained from frying and not paying attention to it. Inhalation of this smoke is bad for the lungs, and continuous inhalation may lead to pneumonia. We should, therefore, be careful while cooking.
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Holy Basil And Black Pepper
Holy basil or tulsi is an Ayurvedic herb with antimicrobial activity. Black pepper is used to enhance the medicinal benefits found in turmeric. Both these ingredients are beneficial for your lungs and useful in the natural treatment of pneumonia.
Natural Home Remedies For Pneumonia Symptoms In Adults
Pneumonia is commonly known as a respiratory condition which characterized by the inflammation in your lungs which are affected due to a bacterial, parasitical, viral, or fungal infections. In other cases, this condition is also caused by the inhalation of some certain toxic chemicals and the consumption of the unhealthy and contaminated foods. Some common symptoms of pneumonia are a cough, shaking chills, fever, and shortness of breath. In addition, a headache, fatigue, sweating, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, chest pain, and muscle pain when coughing or breathing deeply are also other symptoms of this condition. Older adults who are suffering from pneumonia may also experience delirium or confusion.
In the framework of this writing, AllRemedies.com will introduce to you the best natural home remedies for pneumonia symptoms in adults without any side effect. These home remedies are collected completely & carefully from reliable sources. However, it is not intended to give medical advice and it is solely for the informational purpose. Continue reading this article to understand more!
Note: You must consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis and the treatment of this condition. You should just use these home remedies for pneumonia as an adjunct treatment.
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When Can I Return To Work School And Regular Activities If I Have Pneumonia
You typically can resume your normal activities if your symptoms are gone, mild or improving and you do not have new or worsening:
- Shortness of breath or tiredness
- Chest pain
- Mucus, fever or cough
If you are generally healthy, most people feel well enough to return to previous activities in about a week. However, it may take about a month to feel totally back to normal.
Drink A Cup Of Turmeric Tea
A 2020 review suggests that a compound called curcumin in turmeric has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial qualities that can help your body defend itself against pneumonia.
Another review from 2018 supported curcumins activity against pain, meaning that it might provide some relief for pneumonias sometimes intense chest pain .
You can buy turmeric tea at your local grocery or online. You can also make your own tea using turmeric powder.
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How Is Pneumonia Spread From Person To Person
Pneumonia is spread when droplets of fluid containing the pneumonia bacteria or virus are launched in the air when someone coughs or sneezes and then inhaled by others. You can also get pneumonia from touching an object previously touched by the person with pneumonia or touching a tissue used by the infected person and then touching your mouth or nose.
Tips For Regaining Your Strength After Severe Pneumonia
- Get plenty of rest
- Slowly start moving around once you’re ready but don’t overdo it
- Complete any treatments prescribed by your doctor
- Eat a nutritious diet
- Quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke
- Limit exposure to throat irritants, including pollution and alcohol
- Perform deep breathing exercises
- Consult with your doctor before returning to exercise
Aim to slowly work back into your usual routine and be sure to take note of any signs that the infection may be coming back.
“Pneumonia can be incredibly taxing and there’s no one-size-fits-all to recovery. Some people feel better in about six weeks, but it can take several months for others to feel better after severe pneumonia,” adds Dr. Lee. “Most importantly, be patient with your body.”
If your recovery is prolonged, a specialized program focused on pulmonary rehabilitation may help get you back on track.
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Is There A Vaccine For Pneumonia
There isnt a vaccine for all types of pneumonia, but 2 vaccines are available. These help prevent pneumonia caused by pneumococcal bacteria. The first is recommended for all children younger than 5 years of age. The second is recommended for anyone age 2 or older who is at increased risk for pneumonia. Getting the pneumonia vaccine is especially important if you:
- Are 65 years of age or older.
- Smoke.
- Have certain chronic conditions, such as asthma, lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, sickle cell disease, or cirrhosis.
- Have a weakened immune system because of HIV/AIDS, kidney failure, a damaged or removed spleen, a recent organ transplant, or receiving chemotherapy.
- Have cochlear implants .
The pneumococcal vaccines cant prevent all cases of pneumonia. But they can make it less likely that people who are at risk will experience the severe, and possibly life-threatening, complications of pneumonia.
What Can I Do To Feel Better If I Have Pneumonia
- Finish all medications and therapies prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking antibiotics when you start feeling better. Continue taking them until no pills remain. If you dont take all your antibiotics, your pneumonia may come back.
- If over-the-counter medicines to reduce fever have been recommended , take as directed on the label. Never give aspirin to children.
- Drink plenty of fluids to help loosen phlegm.
- Quit smoking if you smoke. Dont be around others who smoke or vape. Surround yourself with as much clean, chemical-free air as possible.
- Use a humidifier, take a steamy shower or bath to make it easier for you to breathe.
- Get lots of rest. Dont rush your recovery. It can take weeks to get your full strength back.
If at any time you start to feel worse, call your doctor right away.
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What Are The Home Remedies For Pneumonia
Some remedies can be used to ease the symptoms of pneumonia. Ginger, thyme, cayenne and honey can be used to relieve cough and congestion. You can also use jaggery to help with the cough.4 You also need to take plenty of fluids to aid in your recovery.2 It is advised to follow up with the doctor for treatment of pneumonia.
Things That You Can Do To Help Your Child At Home Are
- Control the fever with the proper medicine and right strength for the age of your child. Fevers lower than 101° F do not need to be treated unless the child is uncomfortable .
- Give your child plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
- See that your child gets lots of rest.
- Do not give over-the-counter cough medicines or other OTC medicines without asking the health provider first. The child needs to cough and bring up the phlegm. Coughing is the bodys way of clearing the infection from the lungs.
- Avoid exposing your child to tobacco smoke or other irritants in the air.
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Home Remedies For Easing Pneumonia Symptoms
If you are sneezing, wheezing, coughing and running a high fever, then it is quite likely that you have come down with pneumonia.
Pneumonia is a respiratory condition that is characterized by the inflammation in lungs due to bacterial, viral or fungal infection. This infection is contagious and can be critical to the point of being life threatening at times.
Considering that pneumonia is the inflammatory disorder of the lungs which is caused due to the infection of the airways, you cannot use home remedies to treat it. Home remedies, though, when coupled with the doctor-approved treatment plan, can be quite effective in managing the symptoms of pneumonia.
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Home Remedies For Pneumonia
1. Holy Basil Leaves
Simple chew on a couple of holy basil leaves and swallow them. It will help a lot to relieve the cough and the flu
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2. Garlic
Garlic is a good source of antibiotic and helps to fight against bacteria. It also strengthens your immune system. If you cannot do raw garlic, try having them roasted. Alternatively, you may also smear some garlic paste onto your chest.
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3. Ginger
Ginger is a well known remedy to treat most of the respiratory diseases. Taking home made ginger tea will improve cough and lung irritation. Its pretty effective in treating flu too.
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4. Fenugreek tea
Prepare some fenugreek tea . Then add a few drops of lemon juice and drink. This will clear up all the fluid in your lungs, and relieve your cough too.
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5. Carrot and spinach juice
Mix 200ml of spinach juice with 300ml of carrot juice, and drink a glass of this at least twice every day. It will get rid of your pneumonia completely.
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Now that we have told you some of the amazing home remedies for pneumonia, go ahead and try them out today. Should the symptoms persist, be sure to immediately seek for a medical consultation. If there are any other tips or remedies that you know, do share them with us here in HNBT.
In this article
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How To Get Rid Of Pneumonia Naturally
Each time you breathe, the air enters through the trachea and then towards a series of channels called the bronchi to finally reach small air pockets called alveoli.
The lungs contain approximately 600 million alveoli covering an area of approximately 75m2, the equivalent of a tennis court.
These small pockets which are only one cell facilitate an essential exchange: they allow the oxygen contained in the air we breathe to be transported through the bloodstream to remove carbon dioxide.
Pneumonia blocks this exchange.
Pneumonia is an infection of the alveoli that fills them with fluid.
Different pathogens can cause pneumonia:
The most common are viruses and bacteria.
These microscopic invaders infiltrate the body through droplets carried in the air we breathe or when we touch our eyes, our skin, our nose, our mouth after being in contact with a contaminated surface.
They must then face the first line of defense of the respiratory system: the mucociliary system.
The mucociliary apparatus of the airways consist of mucus responsible for trapping invaders and tiny hairs called the bronchial cilia that carry the mucus to the mouth to be expelled by coughing.
But some of these malicious invaders manage to break through the barrier of the mucociliary system into the lungs.
They then meet the alveoli.
When pathogens enter the lungs, macrophages activate to repel the attack.
The immune system adds extra white blood cells to the alveoli to aid in the battle.
Top 9 Ways To Reduce The Risk Of Pneumonia If You Or A Loved One Is Hospitalized
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. A variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause pneumonia. Certain people are more likely to get sick with pneumonia including adults 65 years of age or older children younger than 5 years of age people who have medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or asthma and people who smoke cigarettes.
Being in the hospital can place a patient at a higher risk of developing pneumonia because of procedures that disrupt normal breathing, like needing a breathing tube , inactivity, or taking certain medications.
What steps can I take with my healthcare team to prevent pneumonia when Im in the hospital?
1. Clean your hands and make sure that your healthcare providers do the same. Keeping your hands clean is the number one way to prevent the spread of infection. Clean your hands after using the bathroom after sneezing, blowing your nose, or coughing before eating when visiting someone who is sick or whenever your hands are dirty. This applies to visitors too.
3. Wear the right things Healthcare providers should wear gowns, gloves, masks, or face shields when performing certain tasks like suctioning the patients secretions and inserting a breathing tube, and change them after they are soiled with respiratory secretions. Protective coverings keep germs from moving from healthcare providers to patients.
Additional resources:
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