Crackles leading to pneumonia?!
Question: Was told that if I don't start taking deep breaths occasionally when I breathe, I could get pneumonia. Doctor heard crackles in my lower lungs. Am asthmatic and am recovering from bronchitis.
What is the correlation between breathing deeply and pneumonia prevention?
Answers: Was told that if I don't start taking deep breaths occasionally when I breathe, I could get pneumonia. Doctor heard crackles in my lower lungs. Am asthmatic and am recovering from bronchitis.
What is the correlation between breathing deeply and pneumonia prevention?
yes. Deep breathing will increase the flow of fresh, clear oxygen into your system and open up the alveoli in the lungs.
If you are taking only small, shallow respirations, the oxygen exchange is not nearly as efficient, the alveoli dont open up and you will retain more mucous, bacteria and irritants in the lungs, which can lead to pneumonia, especially if you are already comprimised from having asthma and recent bronchitis.
Deep breaths allow for the pressure gradient in the lungs to remove the secretions via cough or clearing of the throat, as well as reinflation of the alveoli required for good oxygen exchange in the lower generations of the airway.
Take at least 10 long, slow deep breaths about every hour and finish with a good, deep cough to insure clearance. Make sure that you drink plenty of non carbonated fluids and take all the medications exactly the way the doctor prescribed. If you're not feeling any better by the end of the week, you may want to return to the physician.
I hope you feel better soon!!