Pneumonia causes, symptoms, treatment

Pneumonia is an infection or irritation of the lungs. Both conditions usually follow a bout of common cold, flu, or other respiratory illness. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses, and usually develops in people who have a weakened immune system, such as hospitalized patients or elderly individuals with chronic medical conditions. Symptoms of pneumonia include fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, swollen lymph glands, fatigue, sore throat, chest pains, and difficulty breathing.

Pneumonia is actually an infection of the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs, which become inflamed and then fill with mucus and pus. When infected, the alveoli cannot do their job of transferring oxygen from the lungs to the blood, so the person feels tired and out of breath. If the body is denied enough oxygen, the lips, fingernails, and toenails may turn somewhat blue.

Pneumonia can also be caused by stroke, alcoholism, smoking, kidney failure, sickle-cell disease, malnutrition, foreign bodies in the respiratory passages, chemical irritation, and allergies. Pneumonia is a serious illness that should be treated by a physician, though you can also use natural remedies to help manage your symptoms.

Other Health Problems:

Painful Periods
Parkinson's Disease
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Periodontal disease
Pneumonia
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Prostate Cancer
Prostate Enlargement
Psoriasis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Raynaud's Syndrome
Restless Leg Syndrome
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Ringing in the Ears