To prevent pneumonia, we should know its symptoms and types, and how they are infected in the body. We can surely answer this question, “How to prevent Pneumonia” by seeking help from these guided arguments and knowledge to treat it.
A person can be infected with pneumonia when the lungs are filled with fluid or pus while the air enters the lungs and become inflamed. This infection is then converted into severe disease and makes it unable to breathe properly.
Pneumonia has a wide range of symptoms if you recognize it early, it can be treated sooner and can be cured easily. But if you have symptoms such as fever, coughing, fatigue, pain in the chest, and shortness of breath, and have very severe impacts then it will be difficult to manage pneumonia at this stage.
1. Types of Pneumonia:
Various types of pneumonia are occurred by several types of microorganisms and cause different types of infection as well. It depends on the locality and the reason for the infection to spread in the lungs.
1.1. Bacterial Pneumonia:
The most common type of pneumonia is Bacterial pneumonia named streptococcus pneumoniae, and it is often treated with antibiotics. It is developed on its own or by the flu spreading in the air.
This type of pneumonia is a respiratory illness caused by a virus named Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the flu virus or coronavirus that causes COVID-19. It is common in children and older adults.
1.3. Fungal Pneumonia:
This type of pneumonia is caused by fungi named Aspergillus. It causes pneumonia and is more common in people who have weakened immune systems. It causes severe health conditions and diseases such as HIV/AIDS or cancer.
However, there are several steps to minimize the increased risk of developing pneumonia or these specified criteria to prevent the risk of pneumonia itself:
2. Proper Hygiene:
The first and immediate step is to take proper hygiene to prevent pneumonia. Good hygiene practices will never lead to the risk of pneumonia again. It avoids the spread of germs that can occur as respiratory infections. It can also be spread from person to person through upper respiratory infection droplets when sneezing, coughing, and talking. Here are some pieces of advice to maintain good hygiene:
- Wash your hands frequently with sanitizer and soap before eating particularly, also after using the bathroom, and after sneezing or coughing. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available at that moment.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief, tissue, or sleeve when you sneeze or cough, and dispose of the used tissues immediately in a dustbin.
- Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth as germs spread through here and enter into your body.
- Stay away from sick people, especially if they have breathing problems or lung-related diseases.
- Clean those areas that are frequently touched such as doors, windows, chairs, and switches.
3. Vaccination:
One of the most effective ways to prevent infections of pneumonia is vaccination. Get vaccinated as soon as possible after getting the infection that causes viral pneumonia. Vaccines are available for different types of pneumonia caused by bacteria and viruses. Here are some recommended pneumonia vaccines that can be injected if someone is going through pneumonia symptoms:
3.1. Pneumococcal Vaccine:
This vaccine is recommended for all age groups up to 65 years and doses are given as per the health and age of the person. It has also some common side effects as other vaccines have, but still, it is considered to be safe and effective to cure pneumonia. This vaccine prevents pneumococcal disease which is common bacterial pneumonia and also it prevents some other infections such as meningitis and bloodstream infections.
3.2. Influenza Vaccine:
This vaccine is recommended for everyone aged between 6 months and older, but especially for those who are at a high risk of developing flu such as children, pregnant women, adults, and people with several medical conditions and risk factors. This vaccine is especially injected to prevent influenza that may lead to pneumonia and other influenza-related infections.
The flu vaccine is given every year because the virus in the flu changes from time to time frequently and the vaccine also needs to be updated according to the new flu. This vaccine is also safe and very much effective, but like other vaccines, this vaccine has also some common side effects which may lead to redness, soreness, fever, or fatigue in some exceptional people.
3.3. Hib Vaccine:
This vaccine is very helpful for an individual who has a weakened immune system and is recommended for both children and adults both as well to boost their immunity.
It is a type of influenza infection named Bacterium Haemophilus influenza type b. Hib diseases are also a type of infection that may lead to bacterial pneumonia or some other severe infections such as epiglottitis, sepsis, and meningitis.
4. Healthy Lifestyle:
A healthy lifestyle can prevent pneumonia and heart disease by boosting the immune systems in the body and reducing the risk of getting pneumonia or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Here are some important factors to maintain a healthy lifestyle:
4.1. Eat a Balanced Diet
Eat a balanced diet that includes every type of fruit, vegetable, grain, protein, and healthy fats and carbohydrates.
4.2. Avoid Fatty Foods
Avoid fatty, saturated foods, and sugars because they can weaken your immune system and may increase the risk of chronic disease.
4.3. Drink Huge Amounts of Water
Drink an adequate amount of water and juice to be hydrated and help your body to remove toxins from the body.
4.4. Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise for at least 30 minutes a day is a must. Choose an exercise that you enjoy by doing that such as running, jogging, yoga, walking, or cycling. It can boost your immune system and improve your respiratory functions.
4.5. Manage Stress and Anxiety
Try to manage stress and anxiety through different techniques such as yoga, meditation, or counseling with your health mentor. Stress can also weaken your immune system and increases the risk of chronic diseases.
4.6. Sleep
Sleep as the ideal timestamp (usually 7 to 9 hours) of sleep is recommended, to allow your body to, rest, heal, and repair itself. Lack of sleep may lead to inflammation and weaken your immune system.
4.7. Avoid Smoking
As we know, smoking is the primary factor that increases lung diseases, and lung infections. It damages the lungs and weakens the immune system of the body. It also helps to develop various types of diseases and respiratory infections such as bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer.
There is the only way to get rid of these lung infections is to quit smoking. One should always be away from those who smoke around you which increases the risk of infections for both of you. There are various resources, organizations, support groups, meditation, and therapy available that help to quit smoking and save your life.
5. Manage Recurring Diseases:
If a person has any chronic disease such as Asthma, Diabetes, COPD, or immune disorder, it is very important to manage those diseases properly to prevent the risk of getting pneumonia caused by those diseases. It can be controlled and managed by disease control techniques and tips stated here:
- Follow your instructions as prescribed by your doctor or counselor to manage your underlying condition including proper medication, tracking of symptoms, check-ups, and follow-up appointments effectively.
- Stay updated with your prescribed antibiotics and vaccines that are recommended in your chronicle conditions such as the pneumococcal vaccine and the influenza vaccine.
- Manage complications through lifestyle modifications such as eating a healthy diet which should be balanced, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and avoiding any allergens or pollutants.
- Consult and communicate frankly and regularly with your healthcare provider about your condition and ask for any changes in your symptoms and work on it accordingly.
Conclusion
Pneumonia is a type of lung disease or an infection that can be caused by various microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, influenza, fungi, etc. It leads to life-threatening diseases, hospitalization, and complications for people with weakened immune systems and people of all ages, from infants to children, and the elderly.
If not taken care of it might even lead to death. But it can be easily prevented by maintaining proper hygiene, vaccination, and a balanced diet.
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