One of the deadliest diseases in the western world is also one of the most curable – pneumonia. Most healthy folks who head to the ER near me can navigate this disease quite easily. Unfortunately, if you are a very old or very young patient, then pneumonia can be dangerous. But what is pneumonia? The answer is simple – pneumonia is an infection in either one lung or both lungs. This infection results in some clear evidence that you have the disease, and the good news is early detection results in successful outcomes with little distress. Let it linger, and this disease can be quite problematic.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia?
As stated earlier, pneumonia is an infection of one lung or both lungs. There are several things that your body will do to deal with the infection. Sometimes it will resolve itself, other times it will be a persistent problem. Make sure you consult with your doctor when you notice symptoms.
Here are some symptoms of pneumonia:
- Headache
- Appetite loss
- Fatigue
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Wheezing or funny breathing
- Feeling of a chest that “cracks” when you breathe
- Coughing
- Large amounts of mucus
- Phlegm that’s discolored, yellow, and in severe cases, bloody
When these symptoms make an appearance, pay close attention to the chest ones. This will help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis and recommend a proper course of treatment.
Treatment for Pneumonia
There are a lot of different ways to treat pneumonia, including plenty of homeopathic remedies. The key to determining treatment is understanding the type of pneumonia. Bacterial pneumonia gets antibiotic treatment, and this usually clears it up relatively quick. Viral pneumonia isn’t responsive to antibiotic and requires pain relievers or fever reducers to alleviate the symptoms. Viral pneumonia typically will clear itself up, but if the pneumonia isn’t getting better after treatment starts, then it is imperative to get the patient to the doctor immediately.
Conclusion
Most folks get worried when they hear that they have pneumonia, but the truth is this disease resolves relatively quickly. Unless a person is quite old or very young, there’s little need to worry about the infection.
