I’m always hearing about people getting sick with the flu. But what about pneumonia? Is it just a milder version of the flu, or is it something more serious? And if you do have pneumonia, what can you do to feel better? In this post, we’ll discuss these questions and more. First up: could it be pneumonia?
Pneumonia can be caused by a number of different microbes.
It’s important to note that pneumonia is not caused by a single microbe. Pneumonia can be bacterial or viral, and it can be caused by a number of different microbes. The most common cause of bacterial pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumonia, but other bacteria like Klebsiella and Haemophilus influenzae can also lead to this condition. Viral pneumonias are typically caused by adenovirus or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), while fungal pneumonias are usually due to Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Cryptococcus neoformans.
Symptoms vary by the type of pneumonia you’re experiencing.
As with most ailments, the symptoms of pneumonia vary by the type of pneumonia you’re experiencing.
In general, however, you will likely experience one or more of the following:
- A cough that won’t go away after several weeks. This is because your body is trying to clear extra mucous that has accumulated in your lungs.
- Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing (even at rest). This can be caused by inflammation within your lungs or fluid buildup around your heart and/or other organs preventing them from working properly.
- Chest pain that worsens when coughing or deep breathing (this symptom may also be present in viral pneumonias).
Coughing is your body’s way of clearing extra mucous.
Coughing can be a symptom of pneumonia. It’s also important to remember that coughing is your body’s way of clearing extra mucous, which may be why it keeps happening when you have pneumonia. This is a natural reflex and not something you should worry about too much.
However, if the cough doesn’t go away after three weeks or so, it may be time to talk with your doctor or healthcare provider about what else might be causing this symptom.
If you have severe illness or chronic health conditions, it’s important to seek medical help early.
If you have:
- a chronic health condition, or
- severe illness, or
- are over 65 years old, it’s important to seek medical help early.
If you have a mild illness, self-care is the best course of action.
If you have mild illness, self-care is the best course of action. Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. If you are able to, stay home from work or school until your symptoms go away.
The following steps can help prevent pneumonia from spreading:
- Basic hygiene such as hand washing, coughing into your elbow and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
- Keeping your hands clean by washing them frequently with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands because this can spread germs to other parts of your body—and ultimately to others as well.
Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids.
Rest is important for a speedy recovery. This can mean staying in bed, watching TV or reading a book, or even just relaxing in an easy chair. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids while you rest—at least eight 8-ounce glasses every day.
Try to drink enough water so that your urine remains clear and light yellow; this means you’re drinking enough fluid. If your urine becomes darker than usual, try drinking more liquids until it becomes lighter again.
Remember that even when you are feeling better, you need to continue drinking plenty of water because dehydration can cause relapse or make recovery take longer. Avoid caffeine and alcohol as well; these drinks may keep the flu virus alive longer by suppressing the immune system some more—and besides that, they dehydrate! Don’t smoke either; smoking makes lungs dry out faster which makes breathing harder and increases one’s chances for getting sicker faster than normal people would otherwise be able to expect from having pneumonia
Stay home if you’re sick.
If you’re sick and need a doctor, go to the doctor. But if you’re not sick and all the other people who are sick are staying home from work, as well as their families, and no one is coming in contact with each other except for people at work and school? Then it’s probably not worth going into that sort of situation unless there’s something truly urgent about it.
Be sure to get plenty of rest this week so you’re ready for next weekend!
Basic hygiene can help prevent pneumonia from spreading from person to person.
To keep yourself healthy, and help prevent the spread of pneumonia, follow these steps:
- Wash your hands often. The best way to avoid getting sick is to wash your hands frequently throughout the day. Be sure to use warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. Dry thoroughly with a clean towel or air dryer.
- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Coughs and sneezes can spread germs that cause serious illnesses like pneumonia. Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze prevents those germs from spreading through the air and reaching others around you.*
- Don’t share utensils, cups or towels—or food or drinks—with others while they’re sick with an upper respiratory infection (URI). These infections include influenza (flu) viruses such as swine flu and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). They also include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children under 5 years old; ARDVs like parainfluenza viruses 1-4; adenoviruses; rhinoviruses; coronaviruses like SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) or MERS CoV; hMPVs such as Bocavirus; Mumps virus; measles virus (Rubeola); Rubella virus (German measles); Varicella Zoster Virus otherwise known as Chicken Pox; Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 & 2 otherwise known as Cold Sores/Fever Blisters & Genital Herpes respectively
It’s important to recognize the symptoms and know when to get help for your pneumonia symptoms.
It’s important to recognize the symptoms and know when to get help for your pneumonia symptoms.
- Seek medical attention or professional care if:
- You have a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater and a cough that lasts more than two weeks.
- You are coughing up sputum (phlegm) that is green, yellow, or dark brown; this could indicate an infection in the lungs called bronchiectasis.
- Your breathing has become fast or labored; you may also be unable to take a deep breath without discomfort.
Conclusion
It’s important to recognize the symptoms and know when to get help for your pneumonia symptoms. If you’re unsure, it’s always better to play it safe than sorry by getting medical attention sooner rather than later.
