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Crackling in lungs

Crackling in Lungs

Any sounds during breathing, sound of popping or wheezing are known as crackling in lungs. This sound cannot be heard by a person suffering rather it can be heard only by a stethoscope of a doctor. The sound is very low, soft, brief and occurs when the airway opens up suddenly and resulting in crackling sound when the air escapes. Such sounds even occur due to some serious disease like pneumonia, acute bronchitis, metastasis ablation, interstitial lung disease, post thoracotomy and the treatment completely depends upon the underlying disease. These can be both unilateral and bilateral.

Types of Crackling in Lungs

There are various types of crackling in the lungs. These varieties are usually recognized by a doctor during the check up. Each and every type has a different meaning and treatment. The following are the different types of crackling in lungs that one can hear if heard carefully–

  • Wheezes

Wheezes are high pitched sounds, continuous, whistling and coarse that usually comes from the airway during breathing. This sound can be heard when the air struggles to come out. In certain cases these sounds are so loud that it can be heard without stethoscope. Persons suffering from lung disease and asthma attacks usually suffer from wheezing and might be a symptom of lung cancer. Wheezes are heard both at the end of expiratory and inspiratory phases collapsing a part of lungs.

  • Rales

Rales are a similar to bubbling sound or rattling sounds. These are fine and dry sound, usually light and without any moist sounds during breathing.

  • Stridor

Stridors are similar to wheezes. Stridors are caused by problems in the trachea, epiglottis or larynx whereas in case of wheezes the main reason is blocked airways. It is a high pitched, harsh, vibrating sound heard in the respiratory tract.

  • Rhonchi

These are a type of snoring or coarse rattling sound and can range from low intensity ones to high intensity caused by secretion in bronchial airways. Rhonchi or rhonchus occur when the breath does not flow in and out of the lungs due to some blockage.

Watch out for this video to know about  different crackling sounds of lungs.

Causes and Treatments of Crackling in Lungs

As seen earlier there are various types of crackling sounds in lungs. Along with the various types these are even caused due to a number of reasons. Only a doctor can tell you the main reason for crackling in the lungs and how to treat it. Below are mentioned the most common causes of this sound –

  1. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of lungs which causes inflammation. There are several reasons of lungs infection such as bacteria, fungi, virus, parasites and bacteria. The symptoms of this type of crackling in lungs mainly depends upon the underlying disease but some general symptoms are fever, coughing, shortness in breathing, pain in the chest, muscle pain, headache and the most important crackling sound when you breathe.

Treatment of pneumonia completely depends upon the reason because of which it occurs or the underlying reason. Antibiotics might work well for you in this case. Pneumonia being a serious disease might even require you to stay in the hospital. Stay in the hospital generally incurred to remove the mucus and the fluids and along with it to supplement oxygen during breathing.

  1. Pulmonary Edema

Pulmonary edema is filling of fluids in the air sacs causing left sided congestive heart failure. These air sacks line the lungs and make breathing difficult leading to crackling in the lungs. This is an emergency condition and usually requires medical help. Signs and symptoms that include gurgling, wheezing sounds during breathing, fatigue, feeling of suffocation, shortness of breath and coughing up blood. For treatment you can go for supplemental oxygen to breath and medications to treat the underlying causes. Diuretics can also be used to help drain fluid and medications to strengthen the heart muscle and to make it work easily.

  1. Bronchitis

Bronchitis is the situation in which the bronchial tube gets inflamed. Acute bronchitis usually occurs after cold. This usually resolves in few days. Medical intervention is usually required in case of chronic bronchitis because it does not resolve easily. Signs and symptoms of bronchitis include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest discomfort, coughing, chills, fatigue and slight fever. Chronic bronchitis is a very serious and long term medical condition. Usually an antibiotic does not work in case of viruses. The best treatment in this case is rest and consumption of plenty of fluids. Even airways often get blocked during bronchitis which can be opened up using medications. Avoid smoking if you are facing this problem.

  1. Atelectasis

In this disease a part of the lung collapses and then drawing air into the lung becomes difficult. Atelectasis also causes crackling in lungs and this usually happen after some trauma like car accident or because of some disease. Common symptoms in this case include sudden difficulty in breathing and chest pain. This is a disease which requires medical emergency. The treatment basically includes removing blockages in the airway and opening up the lungs. This might even include surgical intervention in some cases.

  1. Pulmonary fibrosis

Growing of fibrous tissue in the lungs is known as pulmonary fibrosis. The main reason for this disease is inhalation of pollutants. Pollution is increasing day by day and so is this disease. When you suffer from this disease crackling in lungs will be heard by your doctor using stethoscope. The common symptoms of this disease include fatigue, discomfort in the chest and shortness of breath. Few ways in which this disease can be cured are steroids, medications and natural amino acids. Even oxygen therapy can work great in this case. Often doctors recommend physical exercising and breathing support to cure this disease. Surgeries are considered to be the last resort in this case. If you feel any difficulty in breathing then this might be an emergency situation and you must call up your doctor immediately.

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Internal and External Respiration

Internal and External Respiration

The survival of the human body depends on two kinds of respiration: the internal and external respiration. While people think that the two are one and the same, however, there lies considerable difference between the two. For starters, external respiration is the exchange of gases between the lungs and the outside world and takes place before internal respiration, while on the other hand, internal respiration is the exchange of gases inside the human body between blood and cells.

Internal and external respiration cannot survive without each other. They are incomplete processes on their own and need the assistance of one another to complete the whole process of respiration. The body depends on internal respiration as much as it depends on external respiration. In fact, the term ‘respiration’ refers to the both of them collectively. However, to gain a full understanding of the two body processes, one needs to understand the various differences that exist between the two. So let us now delve into the various differences that exist between the two kinds of respiration to find out more about them.

 Differences between Internal and External Respiration

In both internal and external respiration, exchange of gases takes place, either inside our body or outside our body. There do exist a few differences between the two, which we are now about to discover.

External respiration is basically just plain and simple breathing. In this kind of respiration, we take in or inhale oxygen from the air through our nose and mouth into our lungs, and exhale carbon dioxide into the air. In this process, the oxygen is basically mixed with our blood, and the resulting carbon dioxide is expelled. It is this external respiration which makes all our organs function properly. If we don’t perform this external respiration, internal respiration won’t even take place.

Internal respiration is also known as cellular respiration or tissue respiration. It is basically a simple metabolic procedure in which oxygen is released from the blood into the tissues and cells, and carbon dioxide is absorbed by the blood, which in turn carry the carbon the dioxide to the lungs to expel it from the body. The oxygen that is absorbed by the different cells and tissues of the various organs helps in the production of energy by forming adenosine triphosphate or ATP. Internal respiration makes use of the air inhaled by external respiration. Internal respiration on its own cannot do much if it cannot expel the toxic carbon dioxide gas from our body, which is done by the external respiration system.

A visual representation of the whole thing will give you a better grasp of the whole concept. Following is the link of a short video showing the workings of internal and external respiration.

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10 Best Natural Remedies For Asthma

Swine Flu Prevention

Tired of the inhaler and allopathic treatment? Want to try out natural remedies for asthma?

Well, this post will surely make your life easy, but before we start with remedies lets first learn what asthma is?

Asthma is a lung disease and can be troublesome, as it makes breathing difficult. Sadly the exact causes of Asthma are still unknown, thou in some instances it gets triggered by air pollution, weather conditions, food, allergies and other respiratory infections.

Some of the other causes are:

  • Obesity
  • Heartburn
  • Exercise
  • Tension
  • Stress
  • Depression
  • Genetics
  • Smoke and tobacco
  • Premature birth
  • Lung infection during childhood
  • Foods, like soy, eggs, fish, peanuts, etc.

Symptoms of Asthma

There are 8 major symptoms of Asthma that are listed below:

  1. Coughing
  2. Wheezing (on expiration)
  3. Chest tightness
  4. Shortness of breath
  5. Difficulty in breathing
  6. Feeling tiredness
  7. Cold and cough (Frequently)
  8. Uneasy sleep

Now since you have a fair bit of  idea,what asthma is and what are the symptoms of asthma, you must now be looking for natural remedies of asthma. But before you read about natural food and supplement store or herbal supplements alley you should know that the natural remedies for asthma are 100% safe and effective. In fact, 40 percent of people with an allergic problems try natural remedies for this reason. So now we can move to some scoop of health whoops on natural remedies to help, those looking for help.

Top 10 Natural Remedies For Asthma

  1. Ginger : Ginger has many health benefits and is very effective and well-known for asthmatic treatments . Ginger helps in inflammation and reduces airway contraction. Many types of research and studies have shown that it has compounds that enhance muscle relaxant effects of quite few asthma drugs.

Preparation :

  • Mix ginger, honey and pomegranate juice in equal quantity and start consuming one tablespoon of this mixed juice twice or thrice in a day for better results.
  • You can even try with 1 teaspoon of ground ginger mixed with one and a half glass of water and start consuming 1 tea spoon while sleeping at night
  • Another option is that you mix one tablespoon of honey with two tablespoons of dried fenugreek seeds and soak it for night and start consuming it every day in the morning and evening , it will help in detoxifying your lungs
  • Cut Ginger into small pieces and add it to a glass of boiling water, keep it for some time and when it get normal you can simply drink it.
  • If you don’t want to any of the above simply take raw ginger mix it with salt and start to try it.
  1. Mustard Oil : During asthma attack you can massage with mustard oil as it will help in clearing respiratory passages and simultaneously will also help to restore normal breathing.
  • Mix mustard oil with camphor , heat it (not too hot) and massage it over the chest and upper back until the person with asthmatic gets some relief , this will make chest warm and bring relief to the person.
  • Do it many times in a day till its symptoms subsided.
  1. Figs: Figs is another very effective natural home remedy for asthma patients. Figs have nutritional properties that promote respiratory health and its help draining phlegm and alleviating breathing difficulties.
  • Soak 3-4 dried figs after washing in glass of water overnight. Consume these soaked dried fig on an empty stomach along with the water in which it was soaked overnight for better results, continue doing it for few months and it can bring in some positive results
  1. Black Tea/ Coffee : Coffee contains caffeine in it which helps in controlling asthma attacks, caffeine acts as a bronchodilator during asthma attacks..
  • Coffee helps in clearing air passage and thereby makes way for the air to pass through which means it helps in making breathing easier.
  • For better results try consuming strong coffee, stronger the coffee, the better it is.
  • hot black tea is another option in case you don’t like coffee

Note : Excess of everything is bad hence don’t overdo it and make sure you do-not go beyond 3 cups in a day

  1. Onions : Onions comes with anti-inflammatory properties, which helps in clearing air passages and it also contains sulphur content that helps to decrease inflammation in the lungs.

So, in case you are suffering from asthma, start consuming raw onions and if you do not like or don’t have the bearing capacity to eat raw onion you can eat cooked onions or add onions in cooked vegetables.

  1. Eucalyptus Oil: It is one of the most effective ways of treating asthma symptoms. Eucalyptus Oil has decongestant properties. Eucalyptus Oil has a chemical called eucalyptol that has the capability to break up mucus as per the researches
  • Take steam of boiling water mixed with few drops(2-3) of eucalyptus essential oil :Take few deep breaths and It will help in air passage or nasal passage faster
  • keep a paper towel (Add few drops of eucalyptus oil on a paper towel) by your head while sleeping.
  1. Honey : Honey is amongst one of the most widely used natural remedies for asthma, Honey contains alcohol and ethereal oils which help in reducing asthma symptoms. Mere inhaling the smell of honey have many times produces good results for some people, hence, you can inhale the aroma of honey to see if it works for you.
  • Start consuming hot glass water mixed with 1 teaspoon of honey twice or thrice in a day
  • Before going to sleep just consume 1 teaspoon of honey along with ½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder, it will help in removing phlegm from the throat thereby making your sleep better
  1. Milk : Consume a glass of milk(warm) mixed with few drops of olive oil and honey(equal quantity) along with 2-3 garlic cloves, before breakfast and this acts as an antidote to attacks(asthmatic).
  • Boil 5-6 teaspoons of milk with crushed cloves and consume it regularly.
  • Boil 2-3 cloves in 1/3 glass of milk. let it cool down to room temperature, once it does consume it

Note : Not recommended to people who have lactase deficiency or are allergic to milk

  1. Lemons : Asthmatic patients usually have a low level of vitamin C. Lemons are very rich in vitamins and antioxidants which help reducing asthma symptoms. Lemons should be consumed atleast once in a day with water and sugar.
  • Drink a glass of water Mixed with lemon juice and sugar(as per your taste) on a regular
  • Take a some fresh radish juice and Mix it with honey and lemon juice, consume it.It helps to clear up respiration track (helps in making breathing easy)
  • Regular consumption of Soup made up of radish, honey, and lemon juice is very beneficial for the asthma patients, they help to detoxify respiratory tract.

Note: Avoid bottled lemon juice and citrus fruits during asthma attacks if they act negatively

  1. Carom Seeds : Carom Seeds are also known as ajwain (in India) and Bishop’s weed , is very useful in treating mild asthma. The Carom Seeds act as an a bronchodilator by dilating the bronchial tubes in the lungs.
  • Take steam from boiled water mixed with a teaspoon of carom seeds(you can even drink this boiled water)
  • Make a paste of jaggery and carom seeds, heat it and start consuming 1-2 teaspoons on a daily basis (twice) until you get some relief.
  • Heat few tables spoons of carom seeds after wrapping it up in a piece of cotton cloth
  • Take handful of carom seeds wrap it up in piece of cotton cloth, heat it and when it’s hot just place it on neck and chest until it cools, do it daily until you get desired results

Note : Not recommended for diabetics patients

Bonus tips besides natural remedies for asthma!

  • Quit smoking and stay away from those who are smoking
  • avoid fireplaces
  • Practice : – deep breathing.
  • avoid fried and oily food
  • Check-up every 6 months (to check if you are allergic to anything)
  • use inhaler in case of sudden congestion
  • In winters avoid consuming cold things
  • Be very particular about medications.
  • In winters or during cold weather wrong something warm around your mouth and nose.
  • Have smaller but frequent meals and do-not eat before going to bed
  • Always use an aspirin-free pain killers in-case you are allergic to anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal drugs
  • Add spices and herbs like ginger , turmeric, rosemary, oregano and sage to your cooking
  • Include fresh vegetables and fresh fruits to your diet.
  • Say no to pre-packed and processed and foods with preservatives.

Note : Please do consult your doctor before you start with these Natural remedies for asthma to ensure that you do not meet any side effects.