What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a serious infection or inflammation of your lungs. The air sacs in the lungs fill with pus and other liquid. Oxygen has trouble reaching your blood. If there is too little oxygen in your blood, your body cells can't work properly. Because of this and spreading infection through the body pneumonia can cause death.
There are over 30 different causes of pneumonia. Most are due either to a bacterial or viral infection.
Because pneumonia is a common complication of influenza (flu), getting a flu shot every fall is good pneumonia prevention.
Should I Get the Pneumonia Vaccine?
Vaccine is available to help fight pneumococcal pneumonia, one type of bacterial pneumonia. Your doctor can help you decide if you, or a member of your family, needs the vaccine against pneumococcal pneumonia. It is usually given only to people at high risk of getting the disease and its life-threatening complications.
The greatest risk of pneumococcal pneumonia is usually among people who:
- Have chronic illnesses such as lung disease, heart disease, kidney disorders, sickle cell anemia, or diabetes.
- Are recovering from severe illness
- Are in nursing homes or other chronic care facilities
- Are age 65 or older
If you are at risk, ask your doctor for the vaccine.
Go to http://www.lungusa.org/diseases/lungpneumoni.html for more information.
