Pneumonia - The simple facts and the cures

What is Pneumonia: Pneumonia is an infection that causes the air sacs in the lungs to fill with fluid, making it hard for you to breathe, and causes you to cough up phlegm. Pneumonia is an ancient Greek word, which means 'lungs'. Pneumonia can occur in patients of all age groups, but young children, and older people are especially at risk.

What causes Pneumonia: Pneumonia is caused by many things. However, bacteria are the most common causes of pneumonia. The most common bacteria that causes pneumonia is 'Streptococcus pneumoniae', Streptococcus pyogenes or Group A Streptococcus can also cause pneumonia. Workers that are exposed to cattle are at a risk for pneumonia caused by anthrax.

Symptoms Of Pneumonia: There are quite a few symptoms that may show up with Pneumonia, the most common ones are: Cough with a yellow or greenish mucus or Phlegm, Fever often with chills and the shakes, Soreness or pain in the chest, worsened by breathing deeply or coughing, Shallow breathing, Shortness of breath, Bloody mucus or phlegm, Headache, Sweating and sometimes clammy skin, Fatigue and weakness, Decreased appetite. If left untreated Pneumonia can advance to 'blood poisoning', and severe respiratory distress. Treatment For Pneumonia: If you have a bacterial pneumonia, you will need to take an antibiotic. The antibiotic will depend on your age, and your medical conditions. You should also drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated, since this helps your body fight the pneumonia. Anti-fever medicines such as Tylenol or Advil may also help you feel better. Cough as much as you comfortably can, to help clear the mucus and phlegm from your lungs. You must avoid cigarette or other tobacco smoke while you recover from pneumonia, since smoking hurts your body's ability to fight infection and makes your healing take a lot longer. If you've been diagnosed with viral pneumonia, you need to rest and drink plenty of fluids. If you work much or over-exert yourself when you have viral pneumonia, you can possibly get sicker. You can use over the counter medicines to reduce fever, body aches, and cough. You can take over the counter medicines such as Tylenol to help you feel better, but you still must rest and drink lots of fluids in order for your body to heal and get better.

Pneumonia Prevention: There are a few things you can do to help reduce your risk for getting Pneumonia, such as: Washing your hands frequently, Don t smoke, and avoid second-hand smoke, Stay away from those who have a cold or the flu, Drink plenty of fluids, Keep Active, and if your in the Hospital try deep breathing exercises and cough up any mucus or Phlegm to help keep the lungs exercised and clear.

There is a website that provides cures, facts and other great information on Pneumonia and numerous medical conditions, the website is called: All About Health, and can be found at this url:

http://www.rb59.com/medical-health-info

By Robert W. BenjaminCopyright © 2007 You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.Fishing Stringer http://www.fishingstringer.com

Treatments for pneumonia

by Groshan Fabiola

The treatment for the different pneumonia types depends on the pathognomonic agent that is causing it; bacterial pneumonia can be deled with by antibiotics but these are however no good when the condition is caused by a virus or fungi. Infective pneumonia must be immediately treated to prevent the infection from spreading to other subjects as well.

The treatment must necessarily follow some important steps: the medication must be taken according to the doctor's prescription and only stopped at its recommendation if not useful, pain and fever symptoms must be cared for by taking acetaminophen or other similar medication, a humidifier or vaporizer with cold air can be helpful to make the air more easy to breathe, stay in bed as long as the fever is still high and drink 6-8 glasses of water per day.

Aspiration pneumonia occurs when different fluids, food or dust particles get into the air tubes and obstructs the passing of the air. Assisted breathing will be required with an open-ended tube placed inside the trachea which will provide the lungs with oxygen and allow the air currents to move freely into and out f the lungs.

The evolution of pneumonia often depends on the causing factor, the health estate of the patient and the patient's age; in case of additional conditions or very young or very advanced age, pneumonias can be fatal. A vaccine is available to protect against the bacterial pneumonia but it offers no protection against viral types of pneumonia. Most of the people only require vaccination once in their lives, but Immunodeficient persons can consult their doctor to see if a second vaccine is necessary.

The risk groups requiring a secondary vaccination include persons over the age of 65 and all persons known to suffer from a chronic condition that might expose them at great risk in case of pneumonia. Children under the age of two, pregnant women and nursing ladies should not be vaccinated. The anti flu vaccine can also protect against one type of viral pneumonia but it must be done each year due to the constant mutation of its structure. The pneumococcal vaccine must be given n the same year period with the Influenza-vaccine most recommended in the early to mid fall.

Pneumonia can also be avoided by taking personal hygiene measures like washing your hands before every meal or avoid organism responsible for causing any respiratory condition such as flu or cold. The normal used soaps are effective enough against any type of germs. Your daily meal must contain antioxidants found in fresh fruits and vegetables. Physical exercises and breathing exercises can increase your lung capacity. Avoiding smoking is extremely helpful in preventing the occurrence of ea pneumonia.


About the Author
Great resources can be found regarding pneumonia causes, pneumonia symptoms and many more by visiting http://www.pneumonia-center.com/

New information on pneumonia treatment and prevention

by Groshan Fabiola

Surgery If pneumonia gets complicated with empyema, abscess, then one might need surgical procedures such as: thoracotomy, thoracentesis. Chest tubes are needed to drain the infected fluid, they remain in place for 1-3 days and may perforate the diaphragm and accidentally injure the lung.

Pneumonia prevention

Avoid and treat colds and influenza as soon as possible and as efficiently as possible. Maintain a good hygiene of your hands, have a rich diet in dark-colored fruits and vegetables and fresh food, have an active socially life, take different zinc preparations because studies have shown that zinc has substantial benefits against colds, flus, allergies, pneumonia. Zinc has good effects on the inflammatory response and immune system, its action is unknownb but its effects are clear.

Side efeects included are: dry mouth, constipation, bad taste, in case of superdosage vomiting, dehydration, and restlessness address as quickly as possible a physician. Zinc may also produce allergies and interact with other medication, it reduces the absorption of certain antibiotics. Zinc absorption is reduced by high amounts of calcium or phosphorus. And if taken for a long time zinc causes copper deficiencies.

Vitamin C Studies have shown that flu, cold are reduced by large doses of vitamin C. Vitamin C appears to have preventive effects and helps the infection to be cured more rapidly. But taking high doses of vitamin C determins headaches and intestinal and urinary problems and even kidney stones. Increases iron absorption so people with blood disorders shouldn't take large doses of vitamin C.

Echinacea is a herbal remedy that prevents the onset and symptoms of a flu. But it hasn't been determined exactly which type of Echinacea is usefull and if the whole plant or only the roots and herb are effective. What you should watch aut when taking Echinacea is that there may appear allergic reactions such as: erythema nodosum with muscle and joint aches, and sore throat and fever. You shouldn't take natural remedy without the doctor's approuval. Vaccines for Haemophilus Influenzae All children should be vaccinated against Haemophilus influenzae, especially those under five years.

Pneumococcal Vaccines People of all ages should be given pneumococcal vaccines to prevent flus and pneumonia. It has been demonstrated that this vaccine protects children in day care from serious respiratory infections. Those with high risk at the administration of the vaccine are: children with sickle-cell disease, adults or children who have immune deficiencies, patients with kidney disease or kidney transplants, patients with splin problems, alcoholics. Sometimes the vaccine protection lasts for over six years.

Antiviral Agents are used to treat and prevent influenza A, B. Amantadine (Symmetrel) and rimantadine (Flumadine) are M2 inhibitors. They have the following benefits: offer protection against influenza A and prevent severe illness, lessen the severity of the flu but they may cause nausea, vomiting, and indigestion.

Neuraminidase Inhibitors such as: Zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) are designed to block a key viral enzyme, neuraminidase, which is involved with viral replication. So, they are effective for treating and preventing A and B strains of influenza, they may even help reduce transmission of the virus, they may reduce complications of influenza.

About the Author
You can find great content regarding pneumonia causes, pneumonia symptoms and many moreby visiting http://www.pneumonia-center.com/