Understanding Pneumonia
Pneumonia, despite modern medical treatments, is still a serious illness that usually takes place during the winter months. Especially an issue in the elderly, no one is immune to pneumonia, and often the simplest of chest colds can turn into this sometimes critical condition. Pneumonia, by definition, is an inflammatory illness of the lung. The disease occurs when the parenchyma (air-filled sacs of the lungs that absorb oxygen from the environment) become not only inflamed, but begin to fill up with fluid. You can catch pneumonia from bacterial infections, a virus, or even a chemical injury to the lungs. Many 9/11 rescue workers experienced pneumonia-like symptoms following the inhalation of the damaging air engulfing Ground Zero.
If you are suffering from pneumonia, you will experience a wide variety of symptoms, primarily isolated to your respiratory area. These can include a persistent cough, chest pain, difficulty in breathing, and a high fever. You will usually be diagnosed through a series of x-rays and other examinations. Your x-ray will reveal any white areas in your lungs that show infection. A computed tomography can also show evidence of pneumonia; however it is not a favored diagnosis, as it can diagnose individuals with pneumonia when they actually may have a more serious disorder such as congestive heart failure.
Before x-rays are done, usually there is a physical examination given, including listening to the lungs with a stethoscope. This can decipher whether or not your breathing sounds are normal, if there is an existent “crackle” sound, or if there is other evidence of stiffened lungs potentially filled with fluid.
Your treatment plan will vary depending upon the type of pneumonia you have, for example, bacterial pneumonia will be treated with antibiotics. Now that medical advancements have been made, there are even certain vaccines available to help prevent certain types of pneumonia.
As mentioned above, there are various forms of pneumonia that can be contracted. The most dangerous is known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). This gained international attention after a severe outbreak occurred in China in 2002. Fortunately, there have been no new instances of this version of pneumonia since 2003. It is very rare, and is the most deadly.
Chemical Pneumonia is caused by the inhalation of toxins like oils and pesticides. You don’t have to only inhale the poisonous substance, as you can contract it through the pores in your skin.
Aspiration Pneumonia is caused by inhaling random objects , usually during eating or vomiting. The lung inflammation that follows can contribute to an infection that develops into pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia is one of the highest causes of death among elderly people, as their airways are weakened with age and they do not have all of the physical abilities common among the young. At times, very sick hospital patients can also suffer from aspiration despite age.
When you have pneumonia, you can usually heal without the need for hospitalization. Oral medications and plenty of fluids and rest can resolve pneumonia. If things have progressed to a point of severity, hospitalization may be necessary. Often this forced rest and round the clock care will help a patient to greatly improve, and fortunately hospital stays can often be brief.
If pneumonia is left untreated, it can lead to respiratory or circulatory failure. While pneumonia rarely starts out as a serious illness, ignoring it will inevitably cause a distressful progression. Treatment should always be sought, as often the solution is simple. Unfortunately sometimes newborns suffer from pneumonia if the amniotic fluid is not properly suctioned by the nurse or doctor at birth.
Fortunately, with proper health choices and prevention, pneumonia is an illness that most people never have to worry about. If you do however begin to experience pneumonia-like symptoms, call your doctor immediately.
If you are suffering from pneumonia, you will experience a wide variety of symptoms, primarily isolated to your respiratory area. These can include a persistent cough, chest pain, difficulty in breathing, and a high fever. You will usually be diagnosed through a series of x-rays and other examinations. Your x-ray will reveal any white areas in your lungs that show infection. A computed tomography can also show evidence of pneumonia; however it is not a favored diagnosis, as it can diagnose individuals with pneumonia when they actually may have a more serious disorder such as congestive heart failure.
Before x-rays are done, usually there is a physical examination given, including listening to the lungs with a stethoscope. This can decipher whether or not your breathing sounds are normal, if there is an existent “crackle” sound, or if there is other evidence of stiffened lungs potentially filled with fluid.
Your treatment plan will vary depending upon the type of pneumonia you have, for example, bacterial pneumonia will be treated with antibiotics. Now that medical advancements have been made, there are even certain vaccines available to help prevent certain types of pneumonia.
As mentioned above, there are various forms of pneumonia that can be contracted. The most dangerous is known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). This gained international attention after a severe outbreak occurred in China in 2002. Fortunately, there have been no new instances of this version of pneumonia since 2003. It is very rare, and is the most deadly.
Chemical Pneumonia is caused by the inhalation of toxins like oils and pesticides. You don’t have to only inhale the poisonous substance, as you can contract it through the pores in your skin.
Aspiration Pneumonia is caused by inhaling random objects , usually during eating or vomiting. The lung inflammation that follows can contribute to an infection that develops into pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia is one of the highest causes of death among elderly people, as their airways are weakened with age and they do not have all of the physical abilities common among the young. At times, very sick hospital patients can also suffer from aspiration despite age.
When you have pneumonia, you can usually heal without the need for hospitalization. Oral medications and plenty of fluids and rest can resolve pneumonia. If things have progressed to a point of severity, hospitalization may be necessary. Often this forced rest and round the clock care will help a patient to greatly improve, and fortunately hospital stays can often be brief.
If pneumonia is left untreated, it can lead to respiratory or circulatory failure. While pneumonia rarely starts out as a serious illness, ignoring it will inevitably cause a distressful progression. Treatment should always be sought, as often the solution is simple. Unfortunately sometimes newborns suffer from pneumonia if the amniotic fluid is not properly suctioned by the nurse or doctor at birth.
Fortunately, with proper health choices and prevention, pneumonia is an illness that most people never have to worry about. If you do however begin to experience pneumonia-like symptoms, call your doctor immediately.