7 tips to prevent pneumonia

Some advice to prevent pneumonia is to stay hydrated and nourished, wash your hands, avoid cigarettes and humidify the air, for example. Applying these advice helps to strengthen the immune system, reduce the risk of suffering from this disease and prevent its transmission.

Although the pneumonia in itself is not contagious, the microorganisms that cause this disease can be transmitted from one person to another, making it easier for the disease to settle in people with a weakened immune system, as in the case of people majors, children and immunocompromised.

The neumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, generally caused by infections by different microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses or fungi. Know what are the main symptoms of a pneumonia.

Some advice to prevent a son pneumonia:

1. Stay well hydrated and well nourished

It is important to have a balanced diet, as well as drinking about 2 liters of water a day, because you have an active immunity that is able to fight the causative agents, such as viruses and bacteria, before the infection reaches the lungs. Likewise, it is recommended to reduce the consumption of alcoholic beverages, since the consumption of alcohol can interfere with the immune system and facilitate the aspiration of secretions and vomiting, favoring the appearance of neumonia.

2. Avoid smoking

The habit of smoking causes inflammation in the tissues of the airways, which facilitates the proliferation of microorganisms, in addition to reducing the capacity of the lung to promote the expulsion of the microorganism.

3. Control the allergic rhinitis crisis

To avoid situations that trigger allergy, such as octopus, animal hair, pollen or mites, for example, the inflammation caused by allergy can act as an entry point for viruses, bacteria and fungi.

4. Keep the air conditioned clean

Keep the air conditioned clean and in suitable conditions for use, making it accustomed to leaving the air very dry and propagating agents that cause allergies.

5. Humidify the air

Humidify the air using the humidifier or placing a water bottle in the rooms at night, especially in winter, when the air is drier and increases the amount of contamination in the air and irritation of the airways.

6. Keep your hands clean, with frequent washing and the use of alcohol in gel

Washing your hands frequently with a hand sanitizer or using alcohol in gel whenever you are in public environments such as shopping centers, buses or the metro helps to prevent the transmission of microorganisms responsible for causing respiratory infections.

7. Avoid closed and crowded places

It is advisable to avoid closed places with many people, especially in times of epidemics of infections, because this facilitates the transmission of diseases.

8. Get vaccinated annually against the flu

It is important to be vaccinated against the flu, as they are manufactured with the objective of protecting against the most dangerous viruses that circulate in the environment throughout the year, being very important for children up to 5 years, old people and those with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and pulmonary diseases.

In addition, people who have chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory diseases or liver diseases, for example, must keep them well treated and controlled, with the correct use of medications and medical care, because the decompensation of these diseases compromises immunity. and facilitates the infection of the lungs.

how is it transmitted

The pneumonia can be transmitted by contact with viruses, fungi or bacteria that cause pneumonia, present in the air, soil, heces of contaminated birds, or by inhaling drops of saliva or nasal secretions that are released when the infected person coughs or sneezes.

In addition, pneumonia can also be contracted through aspiration or inhalation of food, drinks or vomiting, or even through the use of mechanical ventilation in hospitals.

How to prevent childhood pneumonia

Babies and children up to 2 years have a greater predisposition to infections, due to the immune system, however, it develops. For this reason, it is important not to expose children to contact with people with respiratory infections, such as flu and colds, in addition to frequenting very dirty environments or with excessive contamination and cigarette smoke, especially in periods of epidemics of infections.

The diet must also be balanced, preferably with exclusive maternal milk until around 6 months, for a good development of the child’s defenses and to start introducing new foods according to the pediatrician’s orientation. Find out which is the adequate food and which is the ideal food routine for the baby.

Likewise, children should be vaccinated annually for the flu, especially those with a clinical history of repeated infections, which present pulmonary problems, such as bronchitis and asthma.

Is the pneumonia serious?

In most cases, the pneumonia is not serious, and it can be treated at home to treat the cause, usually with antibiotic pills, such as Amoxicillin and Azithromycin and some care, such as rest and hydration, guided by the doctor. Find out more about some guidelines for the treatment of pneumonia.

However, in some cases, the pneumonia can evolve in a serious way, causing signs, such as difficulty breathing, mental confusion and alteration in the functioning of other organs. In these cases, it is necessary to be admitted to a hospital, use intravenous drugs and until the use of oxygen to help breathing.

Some factors that determine the severity of a pneumonia are:

• type of microorganismwhich can be more aggressive, such as bacteria of the type Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosafor example, that they are very dangerous because they have a great capacity for infection and are resistant to many antibiotics;
• Person immunitywhich is important to create barriers and prevent infection of the lungs being deteriorated in old people, babies and people with autoimmune diseases, AIDS, cancer and decompensated diabetes, for example;
• Treatment start timeyou have a quick detection and start of treatment to prevent the infection from getting worse and becoming more difficult to treat.

Asimism, in the presence of signs and symptoms, which indicate a pneumonia, it is important to undergo a medical evaluation for a quick diagnosis and the beginning of the treatment as soon as possible.