With Reflexologist Nuria Weaver
Home Remedies for Pleurisy
Pleura are membranes that cover the lungs and are present inside the lungs. Pleurisy is a condition which causes inflammation in the membrane around the lungs and also around the rib cage. In a typical case, pleurisy may cause a sharp pain when you breathe and can occur in either side or one of the lungs.
It is a viral infection that can become acute and chronic and is generally found in children and also a common condition you can face after pneumonia. For a matter of fact, the condition occurs because of the presence of some other ailments in the body.
What happens in pleurisy?
The pleura are a double layer membrane that separates the lungs from the chest wall. A layer of pleura covers each lung and the other on the inner chest wall. Under normal condition, the two layers rub against each other like smooth satin and hence allow the lungs to expand and contract with almost no friction. However, during inflammation the two layers affect the side of the chest and they rub like that of sandpaper which produce the pain associated with pleurisy during inhalation and exhalation.
Causes of Pleurisy
The condition is entirely internal and therefore not contagious and does not spread from one person to another. There may be some underlying medical condition that can cause pleurisy and are listed below:
- A viral infection that can be acute like that of flu
- Pneumonia that affects the lungs and the surface of pleura.
- Autoimmune which involves the lupus, autoimmune hepatitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Tuberculosis and other such kind of infections
- A clot in the artery that affects the lungs.
Other causes of pleurisy are:
- A result of trauma to the chest and heart surgery.
- Fractures in the rib that may also cause pleurisy
- Severe cough
Sometimes the cause of pleurisy is not known.
Symptoms of Pleurisy
The common symptoms and signs of pleurisy are listed below:
- During inhalation and exhalation there may be chest pain
- Dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chills with fever which may depend on the cause
The chest pain can be made worst by coughing, deep breathing, moving and sneezing. In addition to this the pain can extend and go towards the shoulder. You may also observe that at some instances when the breath is held the pain stops and you feel relieved. You may also feel better when a little pressure is applied on the painful area.
The shortness of breath may also occur due to the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. The pain may vanish because the fluid may act as lubricant. However, some extra pressure is involved in the lungs which may result in shortness of breath. In worst case if the fluid becomes infected, other symptoms like that of dry cough, chills, fever can occur. Empyema is the name given to the infected pleural effusion.
Tests for Pleurisy
If the symptoms are not sufficient to diagnose the condition, then the doctor may ask you to undergo the following tests:
- Imaging which may involve X-rays and computerized tomography scan that can show the inflammation of the lungs and indicate pneumonia.
- Blood tests which helps to diagnose what type of infections is involved. It may also detect the autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus which is an early sign of pleurisy.
- Thoracentesis is a kind of lab analysis that is used to remove fluids from the body in between the ribs in the chest.
- Thoracoscopy is a procedure to see the inside of the chest and obtain a pleural tissue.
There are drugs and medications that give some relieve to the symptoms and signs of pleurisy. However, you can try some simple home remedies for pleurisy which are given below:
Home Remedies for Pleurisy using water and hot chest packs
- Water is the best treatment and in fact one of the best home remedies for pleurisy. The patient needs to take 5 to 6 glasses of water or more to feel better.
- Hot chest packs can reduce the pain and be applied on the chest gently at least three to four times a day.
Home Remedies for Pleurisy using milk and heating pad
- Milk is a good treatment to relieve such kind of disorder and cure it also. Increase the intake of milk each day to feel better.
- Cotton can be used as heating pads.It helps in reducing the pain and should be done approximately four times a day and for at least half an hour.
Home Remedies for Pleurisy using celery and hog weed herb
- One of the effective herbal home remedies for pleurisy is celery that can be used to cure the problem. The leaves of the celery plant are very ideal and efficient for the treatment of pleurisy. This has some antispasmodic properties.
- Another recommended herb that can be used in home remedies for pleurisy is the use of hog weed which helps in comfortable breathing and also removes substances like catarrh and phlegm from the bronchial tube.
- The powdered formof hog weed is one of the good home remedies for pleurisy which is made by drying the roots of the hog weed. This should be taken for at least three times a day to reduce the problem.
Home Remedies for Pleurisy using linseed and olive leaf
- Linseed can also be used to cure pleurisy.
- Olive leaf is a good and effective herb solution that helps in the treatment of pleurisy.
Apart from all the home remedies for pleurisy, a breathing technique can also help avoiding pleurisy, trying to sleep on the side where there is less pain.
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