10 Tips To Avoid Respiratory Infections During Monsoon

Respiratory tract infections or respiratory infections refer to the infections of those parts of the body that are involved in breathing. These include the nose, throat, sinuses, air passage or lungs. Respiratory tract infections are very common and most of them get better with home remedies. However, in case of severe or recurrent respiratory infections medical help is needed.

In this article, we will know the role of homeopathy in treating respiratory infections as well as tips to avoid them.

What are the signs and symptoms of respiratory infections?

• Dry cough or cough with phlegm or mucus
• Sneezing
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Body ache
• Tight chest, wheezing or breathlessness
• Fever
• General feeling of being unwell

What are the causes of respiratory infections?

• Lung problems– Those with lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma or chronic pulmonary disease have more chances to get respiratory infections.
• Structural problem– Any structural anomaly such as nasal polyps which are the growths developed in the nasal passage or deviated nasal septum which leads to making one of the nasal passages smaller as well as any other such blockage can eventually lead to respiratory infection. A tumor in the case of lung cancer can cause frequent respiratory infections by causing a blockage in the respiratory passage.
• Aspiration in which one breathes liquid, food or vomit into the lungs can also cause pneumonia
• Secondary immune system deficiency– In this a factor such as bad burns, HIV, chemotherapy medications or even malnutrition weakens and damages the immune system making it more prone to catch respiratory infections
• Primary immune system deficiency– This happens when there are inherited or genetic defects such as B- cell and T- cell deficiency that weakens the immune system. This makes a person more prone to get respiratory infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia and sinus infection. Primary immune system deficiency is less common than secondary immune system deficiency.

Also Read Best Homeopathic Medicines For Respiratory Infection

How to prevent acute respiratory infections during monsoon season?

10 Easy and helpful tips to avoid respiratory infections during monsoon season

1. Take enough rest. Sleep for 7-8 hours a day
2. Take plenty of water as it will help to loosen mucus if any and make it convenient to expectorate mucus.
3. Drink hot water with lemon and honey added to it to get relief. However, this tip is not recommended for children under one year of age
4. Gargle with warm saline water to get relief from sore throat. However, this tip is not recommended for children
5. Sleep with your head raised with help of extra pillows. This will clear the chest of mucus and will make breathing easier.
6. Stay back at home as much as possible if you don’t feel good enough to continue normal routine activities or if you have a high body temperature and avoid coming in contact with other people.
7. Restrict alcohol consumption.
8. Avoid smoking as it can make the symptoms worse.
9. Never give aspirin to children who are under 16 years of age.
10. Wash hands regularly and discard used tissue papers immediately to avoid spreading respiratory infections to others.

Also Read 13 Easy and Effective Monsoon Disease Prevention Tips

What is the homeopathic treatment for respiratory infections?

Homeopathy has a significant role to play in the treatment of respiratory infections. In conventional systems of medicine, there is no standardized treatment for viral respiratory infections. Also, it relies heavily on antibiotics to deal with more harmful bacterial respiratory infections These antibiotics can in turn have side effects on other organs of the body.

Homeopathic medicines on the other hand treat the distressing episodes of acute respiratory infections in an effective and safe way. Not only do these constitutional homeopathic medicines help to strengthen the immune system of the body which helps to deal with the problem of chronic respiratory infections permanently.

For this, a trained homeopathic physician takes a detailed case record of the patient and elicits the required symptoms from both the mental as well as physical spheres of the patient.

Common homeopathic medicines for respiratory infections

Causticum – In this there is a rawness in the throat and a sensation as if the mucus is stuck in the throat. The patient has a deep and hard cough in order to expel the mucus. The patient generally gets aggravated by exposure to cold air but otherwise gets relief in coughing spells from drinking cold water.

Antimonium tartaricum– In this, there is the rattling of mucus in the chest on coughing but no expectoration of mucus. The patient feels drowsy and better on spitting mucus or after vomiting.

Dulcamara – It is indicated when respiratory infections arise from exposure to cold and damp air. There is a running nose with sneezing and the patient feels better from warm air.

Hepar sulphuris calcareum– In this, there is a sore throat with a sensation as if splinters in the throat. The pain may radiate to the ear. There is the rattling of mucus on coughing and easy discharge of yellow-colored mucus from the nose and throat. The patient is very sensitive to cold air and drinks and better from warmth.

Pulsatilla nigricans– It is indicated for cough which is dry during the day and with yellow mucus at night. The patient desires open air and feels worse in a warm room. There is no thirst and the patient feels weepy and is better by consolation.

CONCLUSION

Respiratory tract infections refer to the infection of the nose, throat, sinuses, air passage or lungs. Common signs and symptoms of respiratory infections are dry coughs or cough with phlegm, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, body ache, tight chest, wheezing or breathlessness, fever and a general feeling of being unwell.

Respiratory infections have some common causes such as a structural anomaly in the airway passage, aspiration of liquid or food into the lungs and immune system deficiency which can be inherited or acquired as seen.

Respiratory infections are very common during the monsoons and mostly get better at home. Steps like taking adequate rest, taking plenty of water especially hot water with honey and lemon added to it, gargling with warm saline water restriction alcohol intake and avoiding smoking can be helpful to help deal with respiratory infections at home.

However, for distressful acute respiratory infections as well as recurring episodes and persistent respiratory infections homeopathy provides safe and effective treatment options.