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Ways of preventing pneumonia

Pneumonia usually develops when the immune system is temporarily weakened from different causes. This condition is not “caught” from someone else. Here are some tips that may help preventing pneumonia.

• It is very important for every person to wash his or her hands because the hands are almost always in contact with bacteria and germs which can enter the human body by touching the eyes, nose or mouth. Those risks are significantly reduced by washing the hands often. The viruses and bacteria that cause diseases can be also eliminated from the hands by using an alcohol – based hand sanitizer. Many of those hand sanitizers also contain ingredients that moisturize the skin.
• Vaccination. Pneumonia can sometimes represent a complication of influenza so in order to prevent it, a flu vaccine should be taken every year. After the age of 65 people are at higher risk for developing pneumococcal pneumonia so at least one vaccination should be taken for this type of condition. In case of spleen removal, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, impaired immune system or if having a lungs or cardiovascular condition, the doctors recommend a pneumonia vaccine. Young children are recommended to use the prevnar vaccine for pneumonia prevention. This vaccine is recommended before and after the age of 2 years especially to those with an immune system deficiency, cancer, cardiovascular disease or sickle cell anemia, who are at higher risk to develop pneumonia. In addition, the side – effects are minor (mild soreness and swelling at the injection site) for the pneumococcal vaccine.
• The lungs defense system can be altered by smoking allowing infections to occur more easily.
• Prevent the spread of the virus by coughing in a tissue and wearing a face mask. The best thing in the case of pneumonia would be to stay away from people with weakened or compromised immune system for their protection.
• Maintain the strength of the immune system by physical exercises, proper diet and good rest.

Factors of risk

An increased risk for developing pneumonia is presented by young children who haven't got a fully developed immune system and old people who have passed the age of 65. Other risks are:

• Tobacco and alcohol abuse also deteriorate the cilia (microscopic hairs that cover the surface of the cells from the bronchial tubes which clear the airwaves from secretions through wave like movement) and affect the normal gag reflex and the activity of white blood cells that fight infections. If those secretions that accumulate in the bronchi contain bacteria, pneumonia may be triggered.
• Suffering from certain diseases like HIV/AIDS or other immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes or emphysema. Spleen removal, long-term use of immunosuppressant drugs or chemotherapy can also increase the risks for developing pneumonia.
• Hospitalization in the intensive care facility. In this case, one of the most common infections spread is pneumonia, especially for those who use mechanical devices for breathing because the endotracheal tube which is inserted bypasses the defense mechanism of the organism allowing the bacteria and other infections to enter directly into the lungs.
• An increased risk is presented by those persons that are exposed to certain chemicals and pollutants. People that work in agriculture, construction or with certain animals or industrial chemicals and are exposed to air pollution or toxic fumes are at increased risk of developing some uncommon types of pneumonia.
• Persons that live in certain parts of the country are more exposed to some types of pneumonia because of the spreading of some types of fungi. Examples of this kind of areas are Southern California and the Southwest desert. Most people that get in contact with fungi don't get sick but there are cases of severe pneumonia among them.

In the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys areas, a soil – borne fungus causes a serious lung infection called histoplasmosis. Severe symptoms caused by this affliction will be shown by young children, old people and persons with impaired immune system or chronic lung diseases.