Steps In Aspiration Pneumonia Prevention

By Helen Ward


There are various kinds of illnesses. There are those which can be prevented and those which cannot. Those that can be prevented require individual effort in following all the preventive measures in order to avoid acquiring the illness. On this paper we shall discus some of the procedures of aspiration pneumonia prevention.

Head elevation when swallowing food or liquid substances. It is always advisable for individual, while taking meals to sit in an upright position and for those who are in bed condition to have their head off bed elevated to a higher angle. This help in maintaining an upright or almost upright posture to enable the food material to follow the right passage. It also straightens the food passage for easy entry of the materials.

Use of Proper Quantity of Sedatives. Sedatives help in reducing the frequency of coughs and gags. Experiencing a cough in the midst of a meal or when taking a liquid is dangerous because it can easily lead to entry of the substance into the wind pipe which can further lead to tracheal and lung infection. It is advisable to take appropriate amounts of these sedatives to avoid side its severe side effects.

Observe Table Manners. These are stipulated ways of how one is expected to conduct him/ her when taking meals. Talking while taking a meal may expose an individual to the risk of having the food material entering the wind pipe. This often leads to chocking and injury to the wide pipe. It also leads to the entry of harmful microorganism which causes infection.

Avoid putting things into the Nostrils. The nostrils offers an opening into the trachea and finally to the lungs. Putting objects into these openings pose a risk of these objects entering into the respiratory system. Depending with the nature of the materials, they can cause injuries to the windpipe and the lungs. In addition, they can cause infection if such material were contaminated with pathogens.

Seek Medical Assistance Immediately when signs show up. Aspiration pneumonia always comes with early signs and symptoms. It is advisable that when such signs appear, one should seek medical assistance immediately to avoid worsening of the conditions. The person should be diagnosed to establish the cause in order to get immediate and effective assistance as soon as possible.

Adhere to Doctors Guidance. Many medical practitioners share important information on how one can prevent him or even herself from being infected by diseases or conditions that can be avoided. It is important for an individual to follow these simple guidance principles in order to prevent acquiring an infection. Failure to follows these instructions always lead to infections.

Good health is the utmost desire of every person and achieving this requires a lot of things to consider. There are some of illnesses that can be prevented when appropriate steps to do so are taken such as aspiration pneumonia. It is therefore important to observe every single step that will enable one to prevent him or herself generally from acquiring a given illness as much as possible.




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