Respiratory Tract Infections - Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, Remedies

When we talk about respiratory tract infections, we can easily categorize them into two different types –infections that affect the upper respiratory tract and infections that affect the lower respiratory tract. The parts of the body that fall under the upper respiratory tract are the nose, throat, voice box, and the upper windpipe of a person. The parts of the body that fall under the lower respiratory tract are the lungs and the breathing tube of a person. When the upper respiratory tract is infected, a person commonly suffers from coughs, colds, fevers, a runny nose, headaches, and congested nose. This kind of infection is usually caused by the various numbers or germs and viruses that are forever floating around in the air. Normally this kind of infection resolves within three to four days. But if the infection is a little stronger and has led to sinus, laryngitis, and tonsillitis then you will have to consult your local physician to help treat the problem. When the lower respiratory tract is infected, a person commonly suffers from pneumonia, influenza, bronchitis, and acute bronchitis. These should be taken care of and treated under the supervision of a qualified physician.

Respiratory Remedies

Apart from that, to take care of both the cough and the cold, at home you can make a mixture of honey and ginger juice in equal proportions and consume it three times a day at regular intervals. You can also make a mixture of ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom powder in equal quantities and mix this with sugar powder in the proportion of four is to one. This whole mixture should be consumed everyday with homey and warm water. Since coughing usually gives you a sore throat, it is best to chew on a piece of clove in your mouth at night like a lozenge, when you go to sleep. You should also have a cup of warm milk with half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and a pinch of salt added to it every night before going to sleep. To take care of tonsillitis, make a mixture with one teaspoon of lime juice, one-fourth teaspoon of salt, two tablespoons of honey and add all these to warm water and keep sipping this mixture throughout the day. Just make sure the water remains warm. In bronchitis, the bronchial tubes swell up and get filled with mucus. To dislodge this mucus, apart from taking all the mixtures mentioned above, make sure that you drink as much fluid as you can. Fluids will help to thin out the mucus and this in turn will help to flush it out of the system.