Pneumonia is inflammation of the tissue in one or both lungs, and, like Influenza, is a major cause of death for older people.
It’s usually caused by a bacterial infection, and with older people it’s particularly serious, with every likelihood of needing hospital treatment.
It can be caused by a number of factors, including having influenza, or a weakened immune system, and, like flu, it can be caught from other people.
There’s a vaccination recommended, if you’re over 65, called pneumococcal vaccine. This isn’t annual like the flu jab, but a one-off injection that lasts for life. It’s reckoned to halve your chance of getting pneumonia, so is definitely worth having.
So, how best can we avoid Pneumonia?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that you are more likely to get pneumonia if you smoke or have underlying medical conditions, like diabetes or heart disease. However, you can lower your chances by taking good care of your medical problems, and quitting smoking.
The UK National Health Service says: Although most cases of pneumonia are bacterial and are not passed on from one person to another, ensuring good standards of hygiene will help prevent germs spreading.
A healthy lifestyle can also help prevent pneumonia. For example, you should avoid smoking as it damages your lungs and increases the chance of infection.
The Mayo Clinic advises that to reduce your risk of getting pneumonia:
• Get vaccinated.
• Practice good hygiene.
• Don’t smoke.
• Get enough sleep, exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet.
Link to my post on “Influenza”
Link to my post on “Coronavirus“