Pneumonia can be caused by infection from germs such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. It is an illness of the lungs and respiratory system which occurs when the alveoli become inflamed and flooded with fluid. Pneumonia is a common illness that occurs in all age groups and is one of the leading causes of death among elderly people who are terminally ill. Before the discovery of antibiotics, one-third of all people who developed pneumonia died from the infection. However, nowadays over three million people develop pneumonia each year in the United States alone, with only half a million of these people being admitted to a hospital for treatment. Although most people are able to get better at home with treatment from a doctor, pneumonia can occasionally be very serious and require hospitalization. If left untreated, pneumonia can lead to serious illness and even death. Approximately 5% of the three million people that develop pneumonia each year will die from it. Therefore it is important to receive treatment if you feel you are experiencing symptoms of pneumonia. These symptoms include fever and chills, coughing, wheezing or fast breathing, chest pain, tiredness, muscle pain, and headache. Pneumonia is usually caused by an infection that spreads to the lungs. There are vaccines available to prevent certain types of pneumonia. Pneumonia is diagnosed by health care provides based on symptoms and findings from physical examination. Information gathered from a chest X-ray, blood tests, and sputum cultures are also helpful to diagnose this illness. Diagnosing pneumonia can be especially difficult in some people, especially those with other illnesses. On rare occasions, a chest CT scan may be needed to distinguish pneumonia from other illnesses. For those people who suffer from chronic pneumonia, there are many concerns with aging. The desire is to encourage the body to fight the infection naturally as we continue to get older. Smoking, malnutrition, kidney failure, asthma, chronic viral infections of the respiratory tract, taking immunosuppressive drugs, and a weakened immune system all predispose certain people for contracting pneumonia. There are many things you can do for yourself when considering natural alternatives for treating pneumonia. These include drinking large amounts of fluid such as water, fruit and vegetable juices, soups, broths, and herbal teas. You should also avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, sugar, greasy foods, and dairy products which increase mucus production. Be sure to eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables. Recommended supplements for those who deal with chronic pneumonia include vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, and zinc. Vitamin A, which is essential for lung tissue regeneration, will also stimulate immune function. Beta carotene is a powerful antioxidant compound that can help to protect lung tissue from damage caused by smoke and infection. Vitamin C stimulates the immune system while being an anti-inflammatory compound. Additionally, it boosts immunity and scavenges free-radicals that are caused by pneumonia infection. Be sure to boost your immunity year round so that you can do all that you can to encourage your body's ability to fight off the destructive infection of chronic pneumonia.
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