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\r\n <!-' + '- / icon and title -' + '->\r\n \r\n\r\n <!-' + '- message -' + '->\r\n \r\n \r\n Came across this online, an older article about Pleurisy...we have some Pleurisy Root on the shelf for occasional congestion. \n \n \r\n Quote: \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
\nWhat Is Pleurisy and Other Disorders of the Pleura?
\n
\nPleurisy (PLUR-is-see) is inflammation (swelling) of the pleura. The pleura is
\nalarge, thin sheet of tissue (membrane) that wraps around the outside of your
\nlungs and lines the inside of your chest cavity.
\n
\nBetween the layer of the pleura that wraps around your lungs and the layer that
\nlines your chest cavity is a very thin space. This is called the pleural space.
\nNormally it\'s filled with a small amount of fluid�about 4 teaspoons full. The
\nfluid helps the two layers of the pleura glide smoothly past each other as your
\nlungs breathe air in and out.
\n
\nPleurisy occurs when the two layers of the pleura become red and inflamed. Then
\nthey rub against each other every time your lungs expand to breathe in air. This
\ncan cause sharp pain with breathing. Infections like pneumonia are the most
\ncommon cause of swelling, or inflammation, of the pleura and pleurisy.
\n
\nOther Disorders of the Pleura
\n
\nPleural Effusion
\n
\nIn some cases of pleurisy, excess fluid builds up in the pleural space. This is
\ncalled a pleural effusion. The buildup of fluid usually forces the two layers of
\nthe pleura apart so they don\'t rub against each other when you breathe. This can
\nrelieve your pain. However, a large amount of extra fluid can push the
\npleura against your lung until the lung, or a part of it, collapses. This can
\nmake it hard for you to breathe. In some cases of pleural effusion, the extra
\nfluid gets infected and turns into an abscess. This is called an empyema
\n(em-pi-E-ma).
\n
\nPneumothorax
\n
\nAir or gas also can build up in the pleural space. This is called a
\npneumothorax (noo-mo-THOR-aks). It can result from acute lung injury or a lung
\ndisease like emphysema. Lung procedures, like surgery, drainage of fluid with a
\nneedle, examination of the lung from the inside with a light and a camera, or
\nmechanical ventilation, also can cause it.
\n
\nThe most common symptom is sudden pain in one side of the lung and shortness of
\nbreath. A pneumothorax also can put pressure on the lung and cause it to
\ncollapse. If the pneumothorax is small, it may go away on its own. If it\'s
\nlarge, you may need to have a tube placed through your skin and chest wall into
\nthe pleural space to remove the air.
\n
\nIf the pneumothorax is small, it may go away on its own. If it\'s large, you may
\nneed to have a tube placed through your skin and chest wall into the pleural
\nspace to remove the air.
\n
\nThe symptoms of pneumothorax include:
\n-Sudden, sharp chest pain that gets worse when you breathe in deeply or cough
\n-Shortness of breath
\n-Chest tightness
\n-Easy fatigue (tiredness)
\n-A rapid heart rate
\n-A bluish color of the skin caused by lack of oxygen
\n
\n
\n
\nHemothorax (he-mo-THOR-aks)
\n
\nThe most common cause is injury to your chest from blunt force or chest or heart
\nsurgery. Hemothorax also can occur in people with lung or pleural cancer.
\nHemothorax can put pressure on the lung and force it to collapse. It also can
\ncause shock, a state in which not enough blood and oxygen reach important organs
\nin the body.
\n
\nWhat Are the Signs and Symptoms of Pleurisy and Other Disorders of the Pleura?
\n
\nThe main symptom of pleurisy is a sharp or stabbing pain in your chest that gets
\nworse when you breathe in deeply or cough or sneeze. The pain may stay in one
\nplace or it may spread to your shoulder or back. Sometimes it becomes a fairly
\nconstant dull ache. Depending on what is causing the pleurisy, you may have
\nother symptoms, such as:
\n
\n-Shortness of breath
\n-Fever and chills
\n-Shallow breathing
\n-Unexplained weight loss
\n-A sore throat followed by pain and swelling in your joints
\n
\n
\nHow Are Pleurisy and Other Disorders of the Pleura Treated?
\n
\nThe goals of treatment are to:
\n-Remove the fluid, air, or blood from the pleural space
\n-Relieve symptoms
\n-Treat the underlying condition
\n-If large amounts of fluid, air, or blood aren\'t removed from the pleural space,
\nthey may put pressure on your lung and cause it to
\ncollapse.
\n
\nRelieve Symptoms
\nFor relief of pleurisy symptoms, your doctor may recommend:
\n-Acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory agents, such as ibuprofen, to control pain.
\n-Codeine-based cough syrups to control a cough.
\n-Lying on the painful side. This may make you more comfortable.
\n-Breathing deeply and coughing to clear mucus as the pain eases. Otherwise, you
\nmay develop pneumonia.
\n-Getting plenty of rest.
\n
\nThe procedures used to drain fluid, air, or blood from the pleural space are
\nsimilar. During thoracentesis, the doctor inserts a needle or a thin, hollow,
\nplastic tube through the ribs in the back of your chest into your chest wall. A
\nsyringe is attached to draw fluid out of your chest. This procedure can remove
\nmore than 6 cups of fluid at a time. When larger amounts of fluid must be
\nremoved, a chest tube may be inserted through your chest wall. The doctor
\ninjects a local painkiller into the area of your chest wall outside where the
\nfluid is. He or she will then insert a plastic tube into your chest between two
\nribs. The tube is connected to a box that suctions the fluid out.
\n
\nA chest x ray is taken to check the tube\'s position. A chest tube also is used
\nto drain blood and air from the pleural space. This can take several days. The
\ntube is left in place, and you usually stay in the hospital during this time.
\nSometimes the fluid contains pus that is very thick or blood clots. Or it may
\nhave formed a hard skin or peel. This makes it harder to drain the fluid. To
\nhelp break up the pus or blood clots, the doctor may use the chest tube to put
\ncertain medicines into the pleural space. These medicines are called
\nfibrinolytics. If the pus or blood clots still don\'t drain out, you may need
\nsurgery.
\n \r\n \r\n | \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n __________________
\r\n "We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~Immanual Kant~
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