Pneumonia

Pneumonia Causes

Pneumonia is caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites or other organisms. In most cases, the bacteria and viruses that are causing pneumonia cannot be identified. Pneumonia may be transmitted after you have breathed infected air particles into your lungs or during sleep, after you have breathed certain bacteria from your nose and throat into your lungs.

Additional risk factors include:

1. Respiratory tract infections (influenza or parainfluenza)
2. Smoking
3. Alcoholism or drug abuse
4. Immunosuppressive disorders such HIV/AIDS
5. Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sickle cell disease, kidney disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema
6. Removal of your spleen
7. Exposure to environmental toxicity (pollutants or chemicals)
8. People who have had surgery or suffered traumatic injury
9. Therapies such as chemotherapy or long-tem use of immunosuppressant drugs
10. Hospitalized patients or older people in nursing homes

Tips for Pneumonia

1. Get vaccinated once a year with pneumococcal vaccine
2. Eat a healthy diet that contains plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
3. Drink eight glasses of water per day to thin mucus and help to cough it up
4. Get lots of bed rest until your temperature returns to normal
5. Wash hands thoroughly before eating and preparing food, after blowing your nose, handling pets, going to the bathroom and being outside
6. Exercise regularly by going for brisk walks to increase your lung capacity
7. Stop smoking because tobacco damages the lungs
8. Keep windows open when using cleaning detergents and wear a mask over your mouth and nose to avoid inhaling the fumes
9. Practice deep breathing exercises to promote lung functioning
10. Use a humidifier to increase air moisture and help with easier breathing

Pneumonia Home Remedies

1. Garlic is said to be very good for pneumonia. 5 drops of garlic juice in 2 spoons of hot water should be taken during pneumonia.
2. Applying external heat to chest, by hot water bag or heated salt tied in a cloth,makes the breathing easier during pneumonia.
3. Taking a [ounce] pf Asafoetida (Hing) in warm water gives relief furing Pneumonia.
4. Boil few basil leaves with Black pepper (Kali Mirch) in water and filter. Drinking this decoction helps in pneumonia.
5. Drinking Honey mixed with warm warm water during pneumonia gives strength and helps for easy digestion.
6. In case of excessive wheezing sound during pneumonia, Boil five whole Black peppers with five Californian raisin (Monakka) in water for some time and filter. A spoon of this decoction taken thrice a day helps to reduce Phlegm (Balgam).

Pneumonia FAQ's

1. What is Pneumonia?
2. What Causes Pneumonia?
3. Tips to prevent pneumonia

Pneumonia Articles