Clinical Definition of Pneumonia
Pneumonia occurs when the lungs become inflamed, and the tiny air sacs, or alveoli, inside the lungs fill up with fluid.The body sends white blood cells to attack the infection causing the air sacs become inflamed. The bacteria and viruses fill the lung sacs with fluid and pus, which normally starts with a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection.
Symptoms
The first symptoms of pneumonia usually resemble those of a cold or flu. The person then develops a high fever, chills, and cough with sputum. Common symptoms include;
- Cough
- Rusty or green phlegm, or sputum, coughed up from lungs
- Fever, sweating or shaking chills
- Fast breathing and shortness of breath
- Chest pain that usually worsens when taking a deep breath
- Fatigue, weakness and muscle pain
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Headache
- Confusion or delirium, especially in older adults
- Dusky or purplish skin color, or cyanosis, from poorly oxygenated blood
How Does Salt Therapy Assist Pneumonia?
Inhalation of the salt particles reduces and dehydrates the bacteria or virus preventing it from spreading. The natural inflammatory properties reduce and congestion of the mucosal lining of the airways and can often reduce the production of sputum. The salt molecules attach to the cilia fibers allowing the mucous to dry up and be removed (via sputum). This process reduces the bacteria reducing lung infections and will provide relief from coughing, wheezing and general tightness across the chest.