How is pneumonia prevented

Pneumonia infections can occur because of infected teeth. Clean your teeth and schedule regular dentist visits. Treating your body right does wonders in all areas of your health. By eating a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly, and getting the proper amount of rest, your immune system will be able to fire on all cylinders.

Keep your lungs as healthy as possible to reduce the risk of you getting pneumonia. Ready to quit smoking? Learn more about how you can get your lungs healthy again. Pneumonia affects hundreds of thousands of Americans each year, most of which are elderly adults and young children.

While it can be fatal, it can also can be treated — and prevented! Take the steps listed above to lower your risk of getting pneumonia to ensure you can continue to live actively.

Have additional questions regarding your lung health? There are two types of pneumococcal vaccine. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if one of them is right for you. There are several other vaccines that can prevent infections by bacteria and viruses that may lead to pneumonia, including pertussis whooping cough , chicken pox and measles.

Please talk to your doctor about whether you and your children are up to date on your vaccines and to determine if any of these vaccines are appropriate for you. Wash Your Hands Wash your hands frequently, especially after blowing your nose, going to the bathroom, diapering, and before eating or preparing foods. Don't Smoke Tobacco damages your lung's ability to fight off infection, and smokers have been found to be at higher risk of getting pneumonia.

Be Aware of Your General Health Since pneumonia often follows respiratory infections, be aware of any symptoms that linger more than a few days.

Good health habits —a healthy diet, rest, regular exercise, etc. They also help promote fast recovery when you do get a cold, the flu or other respiratory illness. If you have children, talk to their doctor about: Hib vaccine , which prevents pneumonia in children from Haemophilus influenza type b A drug called Synagis palivizumab , which is given to some children younger than 24 months to prevent pneumonia caused by respiratory syncytial virus RSV.

Our service is free and we are here to help you by phone, web chat or email. Previous: Pneumonia Treatment and Recovery. About 50, of those people die from the disease. The good news is: pneumonia is preventable. Find out the 5 steps to keep pneumonia away. Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi that can strike one or both lungs. While it can occur any time of year and affect anyone, pneumonia often hits during flu season, and becomes most serious among older adults, children and those who suffer from respiratory conditions, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD and asthma.

Young, healthy people are affected differently than those whose immune systems are weaker. The disease usually starts while a person is already suffering from another kind of upper respiratory infection, such as a cold or flu. Symptoms may include: fever, with or without chills; muscle aches; fatigue; enlarged lymph nodes in the neck; chest pain; sore throat; coughing; shortness of breath; and rapid breathing. One may also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heavy sweating, and mental confusion.

Bacterial pneumonia in children may be more subtle with labored and rapid breathing, fever, cough, wheezing, and bluish skin and lips. Infants may become fussy or have difficulty feeding.