Tips To Prevent Pneumonia Secondary To An H1N1/Seasonal Flu Infection
THIS ARTICLE FEATURED DEC 10 ON GOOGLE NEWS TOP STORIES OF THE DAY & BASIL AND SPICE.COM BREAKING NEWS
Recently, The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a warning that an H1N1 infection can put patients at risk for serious bacterial pneumonia. The warning was issued in response to the observation of an increase in serious pneumococcal infections around the country. This is a warning that should be taken seriously as pneumonia can be both a deadly and a potentially fatal condition. According to the American Lung Association, pneumonia is currently the 7th leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 60,000 lives each year. In order both to prevent and address a pneumococcal infection satisfactorily (in the event it has already occurred), it is important to be aware of the following facts:
PNEUMONIA – CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS
Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by bacteria; however, nearly half of all pneumonia cases start off as viral infections. When bacteria invade the lungs, pneumonia can occur. The bacteria can also invade the body’s bloodstream and/or the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord resulting in a condition known as Meningitis. This is one of the reasons why it is so critical to do all that is possible both to prevent and control a pneumococcal infection.
If you have had the seasonal flu or an H1N1 infection, it is important to be aware of the following symptoms of pneumonia as these symptoms generally appear secondary to a flu infection:
- High Fever and/or chills
- Sweating
- Cough with thick mucus OR Dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Overall sense of extreme fatigue and weakness
TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM PNEUMONIA
1. Strengthen your immune system – As Influenza infections can easily lead to pneumonia, one of the key factors to help prevent pneumonia is to do ALL you can to recover from a flu infection quickly. To that end, one of the most important factors is to eat sensibly, and obtain adequate rest to strengthen and boost your immune system. Those that are overworked and under-rested while fighting a flu are the ones who are most likely to come down with a pneumococcal infection.
2. Discuss vaccination needs with your doctor – The Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV) protects high-risk individuals 2 through 64 years of age against serious pneumococcal disease. Generally, only a single dose of PPSV is required in a lifetime. Children less than 5 years of age should receive a different vaccine called Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV7); and high risk children 2 to 4 years of age need both pneumococcal vaccines. The decision to obtain vaccination may depend on your individual health status, and must be made in consultation with your doctor.
3. Throw the cigarettes! - If you are a smoker and want to prevent or overcome pneumonia, quitting the smoking habit is simply essential.
4. Follow common-sense rules – Washing hands regularly, disinfecting commonly used surfaces such as doorknobs and telephones, and keeping the living environment as clean and germ-free as possible are all common-sense guidelines that help protect against the spread of both the flu and/or a bacterial pneumonia infection. They must be observed at all times.
THOSE AT HIGH RISK FOR PNEUMONIA
CDC classifies certain groups of people as being those who may be at a higher than average risk for contracting pneumonia. Specifically, this list includes those over 65 years of age, and those who may have cardiovascular disease, lung disease, diabetes, a weakened immune system, and/or certain other conditions. Please refer to the full list of those who may be at high risk at this link. It is particularly recommended that individuals who fall under the “high-risk” category get vaccinated using the PPSV or other appropriate vaccine.
Ordinary seasonal flu or the H1N1 flu can very easily lead to a prolonged infection resulting in pneumonia if your body gets overwhelmed with lack of adequate nutrition or rest. Protect yourself from pneumonia using the guidelines above, and please refer to the following resources for authoritative additional information. Please also forward this post to ALL who may benefit from the guidelines and resources provided here.
RESOURCES
CDC – Prevention of Pneumococcal Infections
