Pneumonia

Pneumonia

Signs and Symptoms

 

Common:

1. Shortness of breath.

2. Shaking, chills, and fever as high as 105 degrees.

3. Mucus that is greenish, greenish yellow, rust-colored, or streaked with blood.

4. Chest pain.

Sometimes:

1. Sweating, rapid pulse, and rapid breathing

2. Bluish lips and nails.

3. Diarrhea, headache, or pain in the muscles.

4. Delirium.

5. Vomiting.

What to Do Now

 

1. Tiredness and congestion that can linger without sending you to bed - to more serious cases that require immediate hospitalization. Call a doctor for an immediate appointment if you think you have any from of the illness. In addition:

2. Drink lots of fluids.

3. Avoid cough suppressants if you have a wet cough: Coughing up mucus will help you recover.

4. Put hot compresses on your chest to make yourself more comfortable.

5. Avoid smoking and smoky places.

6. To prevent a relapse, which can be more serious than the first bout, be sure to take all the medicine you doctor prescribes especially antibiotics.

7. Try using a cool-mist humidifier in your bedroom. Clean it daily, and fill it only with distilled water.

When to Call a Doctor

 

1. Pneumonia often comes on the course of another respiratory illness, such as a cold. Call for an immediate appointment if you have been sick and these symptoms appear

2. Change in color of mucus, or appearance of mucus streaked with blood.

3. Persistent fever over 100 degrees, accompanied by chills or sweats.

4. Shortness of breath or pain when breathing.

5. If the recently ill person is in a high-risk category (very young, over 65, or someone with a chronic condition), be on guard for the first signs of pneumonia and arrange for prompt medical attention.

How to Prevent It

 

1. If you are in a high-risk group, talk to your doctor about getting a vaccination for bacterial pneumonia as well as a yearly flu shot. Also: Eat healthfully. Emphasize fruits, vegetables, and grains in your diet. Plant-based foods are high in vitamins and fiber; they provide a lot of nutrients without much fat, and the fiver helps speed toxins out of the body. Plants also contain many chemicals that help boost the body’s immune system.

2. Avoid smoking, smoke-filled rooms, and heavy drinking: These all weaken your ability to fight off infection.

3. Avoid close contact with people who have respiratory infections.

4. Exercise several times a week. Regular physical effort and movement not only increase your energy and strength, they build your body’s resistance to colds and flu.

5. If you’re bedridden, try to sit up for one or two hours after eating to avoid inhaling food particles, which can lead to developing pneumonia.

Posted in: Health Tips