Seniors And Pneumonia

01/02/2015

Why the Elderly are More Susceptible to Pneumonia

Catching the flu is one illness that predisposes a person to pneumonia. With that said, the best way to avoid getting pneumonia is to avoid catching the flu. Everyone should make sure to get a flu shot each year; especially seniors. Seniors are more susceptible to pneumonia. In fact, pneumonia is a major cause of mortality among seniors aged 65 and older. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says more people die each year from pneumonia than from automobile accidents.

What Is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a common infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe. Common signs of pneumonia can include cough, fever, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia is not a single disease. It can have more than 30 different causes. Understanding the cause of pneumonia is important because pneumonia treatment depends on its cause.

Causes and Types of Pneumonia

Pneumonia can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. In the United States, common causes of viral pneumonia are influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and a common cause of bacterial pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).

When someone develops pneumonia in the community (not in a hospital), it's called community-acquired pneumonia. Pneumonia developed during or following a stay in a healthcare facility (like hospitals, long-term care facilities, and dialysis centers) is called healthcare-associated pneumonia, which includes hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia. The bacteria and viruses that most commonly cause pneumonia in the community are different from those in healthcare settings. It is important to know the specific cause of pneumonia to make the best decision about how to treat it.

Who Is At Risk for Pneumonia?

Certain people are more likely to become ill with pneumonia:

· Adults 65 years of age or older

· Children younger than 5 years of age

· People who have underlying medical conditions (like asthma, diabetes or heart disease)

· People who smoke cigarettes

Encourage friends and loved ones with certain health conditions, like diabetes and asthma, to get vaccinated against the flu and bacterial pneumonia.

Why are Elderly People at Greater Risk?

A few reasons seniors are more susceptible to pneumonia:

· Frailty – Older people are simply frailer than other individuals. A frail elder can't clear secretions from their lungs. Those secretions tend to go down into bronchial tubes causing the infection.

· Weakened Immune Systems – Elders tend to have weaker immune systems, and therefore cannot fight off the infection. In addition, a suppressed immune system may be due to an organ or bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy (treatment for cancer), or long-term steroid use.

· Senior Health Conditions – Seniors may have other ailments – such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, chemotherapy treatments, or HIV – which put them at a higher risk for pneumonia. If a person has a lung condition such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), bronchiectasis, he or she is at greater risk of contracting pneumonia.

· Surgery – Seniors who have surgery are susceptible. Elders who are experiencing pain, or being given pain medication, tend to take shallow breaths, which results in mucus gathering in the lungs.

What seniors can do for protection against pneumonia

Seniors can lower their risk with vaccines. In the United States, there are several vaccines that prevent infection by bacteria or viruses that may cause pneumonia:

· Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

· Influenza (flu)

· Measles

· Pertussis (whooping cough)

· Pneumococcal

· Varicella (chickenpox)

Ultimately, however, it’s best just to be sure to stay healthy on a daily basis. Eat right, get your rest, and avoid bad habits that lower one’s resistance to illness.

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