Generally, aspiration pneumonia refers to the condition in which a person inhales oropharynx secretions or even stomach contents thus resulting in lower respiratory tract infections. Most healthy adults experience low aspiration levels but this is remedied naturally through coughing and lung cilia without possible side effects. However, severe conditions usually calls for an understanding of aspiration pneumonia prevention.
Several effects come from aspiration. First, there are chemical pneumonitis that produces some chemical irritations to your lungs and it can also advance to respiratory distress syndrome or the bacterial infection which is severe. Additionally, some fatal and critical illnesses can get generated as a result of acute gastric content aspiration. Secondly, you may get obstructions where the amount of the material aspirated blocks your respiratory tract.
The third possible effect is bacterial infections. Infections to the airways usually results in lung abscess, empyema, acute lung injuries or even respiratory failure. On the other hand, if the condition is persistent could be as a result of anaerobes and may develop into bronchiectasis or lung abscess. There are a number of predisposing or risk factors for the condition. One is poor oral hygiene.
Most people especially adults do aspirate saliva as they sleep. However, normal immunity, respiratory ciliary movement, good cough reflex as well as proper oral hygiene ensures that no bad effects are suffered from aspirating saliva. The other factor is swallowing dysfunctions or dysphagia. Other factors include certain medications that normally inhibit saliva flow. These include diuretics, anxiolytics, anticholinergics, levodopa and antipsychotics which by reducing the flow of saliva, they increase bacterial concentration within the oral cavity.
Certain drugs as well cause impairments in swallowing. All these may ultimately cause the condition. Patients particularly those who are old and are normally fed using tubes remain highly predisposed to the condition. Normally, feeding through these tubes cause neglect of oral hygiene thus increasing the chances of contracting this condition. However, there are various measures that may be adopted to prevent the, when taken to hospital, . Proper oral hygiene is one key way.
According to studies, you can minimize the aspiration pneumonia by tooth brushing, cleaning of dentures and several essential interventions. These are the ways you can adapt to make sure that you have proper hygiene. You can also adjust your medication to prevent this condition. When you keep away drugs and cut down the use of drugs which leads to decrease in saliva flow, you lower the development of this situation.
Where possible, sedation medications should be avoided. In addition, a person can withhold medications which could raise your gastric pH so as to prevent the condition. On the other hand, patients who may not be at a position of eating by themselves can be assisted to hand feed. This is one viable and suitable alternative to the reliance on tubes in feeding particularly with agitated patients.
Additionally, another significant way is by identifying the patients with the high risk of getting aspirations pneumonia. They include the people who are suffering from swallowing disorders, elderly and the impaired mental status, people with a history of seizures or stroke and also those with frequent vomit. When you take these patients to hospitals, they are handled with great care to eradicate the pneumonic condition.
Several effects come from aspiration. First, there are chemical pneumonitis that produces some chemical irritations to your lungs and it can also advance to respiratory distress syndrome or the bacterial infection which is severe. Additionally, some fatal and critical illnesses can get generated as a result of acute gastric content aspiration. Secondly, you may get obstructions where the amount of the material aspirated blocks your respiratory tract.
The third possible effect is bacterial infections. Infections to the airways usually results in lung abscess, empyema, acute lung injuries or even respiratory failure. On the other hand, if the condition is persistent could be as a result of anaerobes and may develop into bronchiectasis or lung abscess. There are a number of predisposing or risk factors for the condition. One is poor oral hygiene.
Most people especially adults do aspirate saliva as they sleep. However, normal immunity, respiratory ciliary movement, good cough reflex as well as proper oral hygiene ensures that no bad effects are suffered from aspirating saliva. The other factor is swallowing dysfunctions or dysphagia. Other factors include certain medications that normally inhibit saliva flow. These include diuretics, anxiolytics, anticholinergics, levodopa and antipsychotics which by reducing the flow of saliva, they increase bacterial concentration within the oral cavity.
Certain drugs as well cause impairments in swallowing. All these may ultimately cause the condition. Patients particularly those who are old and are normally fed using tubes remain highly predisposed to the condition. Normally, feeding through these tubes cause neglect of oral hygiene thus increasing the chances of contracting this condition. However, there are various measures that may be adopted to prevent the, when taken to hospital, . Proper oral hygiene is one key way.
According to studies, you can minimize the aspiration pneumonia by tooth brushing, cleaning of dentures and several essential interventions. These are the ways you can adapt to make sure that you have proper hygiene. You can also adjust your medication to prevent this condition. When you keep away drugs and cut down the use of drugs which leads to decrease in saliva flow, you lower the development of this situation.
Where possible, sedation medications should be avoided. In addition, a person can withhold medications which could raise your gastric pH so as to prevent the condition. On the other hand, patients who may not be at a position of eating by themselves can be assisted to hand feed. This is one viable and suitable alternative to the reliance on tubes in feeding particularly with agitated patients.
Additionally, another significant way is by identifying the patients with the high risk of getting aspirations pneumonia. They include the people who are suffering from swallowing disorders, elderly and the impaired mental status, people with a history of seizures or stroke and also those with frequent vomit. When you take these patients to hospitals, they are handled with great care to eradicate the pneumonic condition.
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