A Natural Approach To Health
Living With Legionnaires’ Disease
I had a question the other day about Legionnaires’ disease.
This is a serious lung and bronchial tube infection caused by bacteria of the genus Legionella, especially Legionella pneumophila.
It was first identified following an outbreak affecting 182 people attending an American Legion convention in 1976 – hence the name.
The bacteria live primarily in water and are transmitted through airborne vapor droplets, although they’re sometimes found in excavation sites and newly plowed soil.
The incubation period is from 2 to 10 days after exposure to the bacteria.
The disease doesn’t spread from one person to another.
The first signs of illness may resemble those of the flu – achiness, fatigue, headache, and moderate fever.
The disease then progresses to include high fever (up to 105 degrees F), chills, coughing, diarrhea, disorientation, nausea and vomiting, severe chest pain, shortness of breath, and, as a result of inadequate oxygen, a bluish tinge to your lips, nails, or skin.
Coughing begins without sputum but eventually produces gray or blood-streaked sputum.
Laboratory blood studies and cultures of sputum help with diagnosis.
The risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease increases with chronic illness like diabetes, emphysema, or kidney failure, and with immune-suppressing lifestyle habits like smoking and alcohol consumption.
Young adults usually recover fully from the disease, whereas elderly people, especially those in poor health, are at greater risk of developing respiratory failure.
To deal with Legionnaires’ disease it’s beneficial to:
*Drink 6-8 cups of purified water daily as it hydrates body and brain cells and flushes toxins (whether thirsty or not!).
*Catnip tea is good for reducing fever.
*Echinacea is a powerful immune stimulant (don’t take for longer than 3 months and don’t take if you’re allergic to ragweed).
*Eucalyptus helps to open up air passages.
*Olive leaf extract helps protect against bacterial and viral infections. It’s proven effective against pneumonia and sore throat.
*Eat a diet consisting of 75% raw foods and very lightly steamed vegetables.
*Consume no alcohol, dairy products, fried foods, sugar, or tobacco.
*Use a cool mist humidifier to increase the amount of moisture in the air and to thin lung secretions.
*Keep warm – don’t get chilled, as this will worsen the disease.
*Practice deep-breathing exercises.
*Use a heating pad or a hot water bottle on your chest to relieve pain.
*Be aware recovery from Legionnaires’ disease takes time. Allow yourself 2-4 weeks for recovery, and be sure to get enough rest. Don’t push yourself to resume normal activities prematurely.
*Legionnaires’ disease progresses rapidly and can be very dangerous. Hospitalization and aggressive treatment with intravenous antibiotics and oxygen may be necessary.
*Legionella bacteria may inhabit heating and cooling systems. It’s wise to have the heating and cooling systems in both your home and workplace cleaned and inspected regularly, and to change the filters often.
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