What Can I Take For Pneumonia

Can Pneumonia Be Prevented

What can I do to prevent getting pneumonia?

Vaccinations can help prevent some types of pneumonia. Its a good idea to speak to your doctor about whether vaccination is recommended for you or for your children.

One vaccination that reduces the risk of pneumonia is the pneumococcal vaccine. Pneumococcal vaccines are free in Australia under the National Immunisation Program for some people .

Drink Hot Peppermint Tea

Peppermint can also help alleviate irritation and expel mucus. Research suggests that it can be an effective decongestant, anti-inflammatory, and painkiller.

If you dont already have peppermint tea, you can pick up loose or bagged teas at your local grocery or online. And if you have fresh peppermint, you can easily make your own tea.

You may wish to deeply inhale the aroma of the peppermint tea while the tea is steeping. This might help clear your nasal pathways.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Viral Pneumonia

Signs and symptoms may develop slowly over several days. Your signs and symptoms may be different if you are older than 65 years. You may be confused or have aches and pains instead of the following more typical symptoms:

Cough, which may or may not bring up mucus
Fever above 100.4°F or chills
Shortness of breath, rapid breathing, or wheezing
Muscle pain and tiredness
Chest pain when you cough or breathe deeply
Nausea and vomiting
Headache

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Best Home Remedies For Pneumonia:

Are you wondering how to break up pneumonia? Rather than fighting this sickness for weeks, its better for your overall health to fight it quickly.

These effective home remedies for pneumonia use simple, inexpensive ingredients you probably already have in your home, and they do not cause the unwanted side effects that come with commercial remedies.

Lets learn how to treat your pneumonia with simple solutions that you can brew up at home in minutes. One of these 21 remedies is sure to solve your problem.

Key Points About Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
There are more than 30 different causes of pneumonia, and theyre grouped by the cause. The main types of pneumonia are bacterial, viral, and mycoplasma pneumonia.
A cough that produces green, yellow, or bloody mucus is the most common symptom of pneumonia. Other symptoms include fever, shaking chills, shortness of breath, low energy, and extreme tiredness.
Pneumonia can often be diagnosed with a thorough history and physical exam. Tests used to look at the lungs, blood tests, and tests done on the sputum you cough up may also be used.
Treatment depends on the type of pneumonia you have. Antibiotics are used for bacterial pneumonia. It may also speed recovery from mycoplasma pneumonia and some special cases. Most viral pneumonias dont have a specific treatment and just get better on their own. Other treatment may include a healthy diet, more fluids, rest, oxygen therapy, and medicine for pain, cough, and fever control.
Most people with pneumonia respond well to treatment, but pneumonia can cause serious lung and infection problems. It can even be deadly.

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How Do You Get Pneumonia

You may get pneumonia:

After you breathe infected air particles into your lungs.
After you breathe certain bacteria from your nose and throat into your lungs.
During or after a viral upper respiratory infection, such as a cold or influenza .
As a complication of a viral illness, such as measles or chickenpox.
If you breathe large amounts of food, gastric juices from the stomach, or vomit into the lungs . This can happen when you have had a medical condition that affects your ability to swallow, such as a seizure or a stroke.

A healthy persons nose and throat often contain bacteria or viruses that cause pneumonia. Pneumonia can develop when these organisms spread to your lungs while your lungs are more likely to be infected. Examples of times when this can happen are during or soon after a cold or if you have a long-term illness, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .

You can get pneumonia in your daily life, such as at school or work or when you are in a hospital or nursing home . Treatment may differ in healthcare-associated pneumonia, because bacteria causing the infection in hospitals may be different from those causing it in the community. This topic focuses on community-associated pneumonia.

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Medical History And Physical Exam

Your doctor will ask about your signs and symptoms and when they began. Your doctor will also ask whether you have any risk factors for pneumonia. Your doctor also may ask about:

Exposure to sick people at home, school, or work or in a hospital
Flu or pneumonia vaccinations
Exposure to birds and other animals
Smoking

During your physical exam, your doctor will check your temperature and listen to your lungs with a stethoscope.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Bacterial Versus Viral Pneumonia In Adults

How do I get pneumonia?

Symptoms of pneumonia can range from mild sometimes called walking pneumonia to severe. How serious your case of pneumonia depends on the particular germ causing pneumonia, your overall health, and your age.

Bacterial pneumonia: Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia can develop gradually or suddenly. Symptoms include:

High fever
Tiredness

Additional symptoms appearing about a day later include:

Higher fever
Shortness of breath

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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.

Early Stage Of Pneumonia

The symptoms of the first stage of pneumonia, or what you might expect in the first 24 hours, are very important to understand. When pneumonia is detected at this stage, and promptly treated, the severity of the disease and potential complications may be reduced.

Most commonly, lobar pneumonia begins suddenly with fairly dramatic symptoms.

With pneumonia , the tiniest airways of the lungs are affected. Since this is where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place , pneumonia may cause symptoms related to lower oxygen levels in the body. In addition, lobar pneumonia often extends to the membranes surrounding the lungs , which can lead to particular symptoms.

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How Can I Tell If I Have Pneumonia Versus The Common Cold Or The Flu

Do I have a cold or could it be the flu or even pneumonia? Its tough to tell the difference but critical to know when to seek medical care

Watch for these ongoing symptoms that occur in pneumonia:

Serious congestion or chest pain.
Difficulty breathing.
A fever of 102 or higher.
Coughing that produces pus.

Pneumonia symptoms last longer than cold and flu. If your symptoms arent severe, its okay to try such home remedies as getting more rest, drinking more fluids and taking some over-the-counter medicines and see what happens. But if you dont see improvement in your symptoms after three to five days, or if you are experiencing more serious symptoms such as dizziness or severe difficulty breathing, see your healthcare provider. Dont let it go. Pneumonia-like symptoms in very young children or in adults older than 65 are a cause for concern. Also, pneumonia can cause permanent lung damage if left untreated for too long. And always seek immediate care if you experience chest pain or have breathing difficulties.

Is Walking Pneumonia Contagious If So How Is It Spread And Who Is Most At Risk

Yes, walking pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae is contagious . When an infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny droplets containing the bacteria become airborne and can be inhaled by others who are nearby.

The infection can be easily spread in crowded or shared living spaces such as homes, schools, dormitories and nursing homes. It tends to affect younger adults and school-aged children more than older adults.

The risk of getting more severe pneumonia is even higher among those who have existing respiratory conditions such as:

The symptoms of walking pneumonia may come on slowly, beginning one to four weeks after exposure. During the later stages of the illness, symptoms may worsen, the fever may become higher, and coughing may bring up discolored phlegm .

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How Can You Prevent Pneumonia

Experts recommend immunization for children and adults. Children get the pneumococcal vaccine as part of their routine shots. If you are 65 or older or you have a long-term health problem, its a good idea to get a pneumococcal vaccine. It may not keep you from getting pneumonia. But if you do get pneumonia, you probably wont be as sick. You can also get an influenza vaccine to prevent the flu, because sometimes people get pneumonia after having the flu.

You can also lower your chances of getting pneumonia by staying away from people who have the flu, respiratory symptoms, or chickenpox. You may get pneumonia after you have one of these illnesses. Wash your hands often. This helps prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria that may cause pneumonia.

Shingrix With Prevnar Or Pneumovax

It is safe to get the Shingrix and Prevnar13 or Pneumovax23 vaccines at the same time. The drug manufacturer of Pneumovax23 recommends that when also getting the Zostavax vaccine, that the doses be separated by 4 weeks. In regards to getting over bronchitis, you must be recovered from the bronchitis with no active fever. It is best if you check with your doctor to see if he or she feels it is ok to get the vaccines at this time.

Common side effects will depend upon which vaccines you receive. Here are the most common side effects experienced with each vaccine:

Shingrix

Pain, redness and swelling at injection site
Myalgia or muscle pain

Pain, redness, swelling and itching at injection site
Headache

Pain, swelling and redness at injection site
Fatigue

Pain, redness and soreness at injection site
Headache

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How Is Walking Pneumonia Diagnosed

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, how long youve had them and if any other family members or people you regularly interact with are also ill with similar symptoms. He or she will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope to check for abnormal breath sounds. Your doctor may order chest X-rays to see if there is an infection in your lungs. Your blood or mucus might be tested to determine if your pneumonia is caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, another bacteria, virus or fungus.

How To Prevent Pneumonia

What else can I do to feel better if I have 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. This article has been viewed 60,077 times.

Pneumonia is a respiratory condition that can be caused by either a bacterial or viral infection in the alveoli within the lungs.XTrustworthy SourceNational Health Service Public healthcare system of the UKGo to source Common symptoms include fever, coughing, hacking up yellow secretions, trouble breathing, and chest pain. On average, pneumonia can be treated at home and usually clears up within three weeks with antibiotics, but more severe cases may need hospitalization. However, there are several measures you can take to prevent getting pneumonia.

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When Should I Take Antibiotic Which Antibiotic Should I Take

Found in:

What You Need To Know:

Pneumonia is an infection in your lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. You can become infected if you come in contact with someone who is sick. You can get pneumonia if you recently had surgery or needed a ventilator to help you breathe. Pneumonia can also be caused by accidentally inhaling saliva or small pieces of food. Pneumonia may cause mild symptoms, or it can be severe and life-threatening.

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Nutrition For Lung Health

If you have a chronic lung condition, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, you may be at greater risk of developing pneumonia. According to a March 2015 review published in the journal Nutrients, what you eat may play a significant role in the development, progression and management of your lung condition.

According to the authors of the review, eating a Mediterranean-style diet may be the most protective against conditions that affect the lungs. This diet emphasizes fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, dairy foods and healthy sources of protein such as fish and poultry.

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.

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Take Steps To Protect Yourself And Others

The following steps can help you prevent spreading the infection to others around you.

Cover your nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing.
Get rid of used tissues right away.
Limit contact with family and friends.
Wash your hands often, especially after coughing and sneezing.

Some people get pneumonia again and again. Tell your doctor if this happens. Return to Prevention to find more strategies to help prevent pneumonia.

How Is Pneumonia Treated During Pregnancy

Common treatments for viral pneumonia are also deemed safe to use during pregnancy. Anti-viral medications can treat pneumonia in the early stages. Respiratory therapy may also be used.

If you have bacterial pneumonia, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics cannot treat viral infections.

Your doctor may also recommend over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce fever and pain. This can include acetaminophen .

Getting sleep and drinking fluids are also essential in your recovery. Dont take any new medications or supplements without asking your doctor first.

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