If you’re surprised by gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton’s life-threatening battle with pneumonia, you’re not the only one.
Five-time Olympic medalist is fighting for his life A hospital in TexasAccording to the Associated Press, the family described it as “very rare pneumonia”.
Respiratory diseases most commonly affect young people, babies and toddlers, and seniors 65 and older.But experts say it still poses a risk for someone as relatively young as Leighton, 55 wealth.
“Severe pneumonia – meaning someone is seriously ill, needs oxygen, needs to be hospitalized, or may die from the infection – is relatively rare in healthy people in the middle-aged age group.” Dr. Kelly HornChief Medical Officer and resident physician at National Jewish Health, the nation’s leading respiratory hospital in Denver, Colorado, tells us wealth.
Still, “it can happen, but we don’t always know why it happens to some people and not others,” she added. “Chronic conditions certainly increase the risk of severe pneumonia and complications in middle-aged people.”
Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself from a potentially fatal condition that can cause Nearly 1.5 million emergency room visits every year in the united states
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs or both lungs that causes the alveoli to fill with fluid or pus, according to the National Institutes of Health. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, and its symptoms can range from mild (cough with or without mucus, fever, and chills) to severe (such as difficulty breathing).
The most common causes of pneumonia are bacteria and viruses, Horn said. The most worrying of these is pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium that can “spread from the lungs to other parts of the body, such as the blood and brain.”
“Meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is very serious, which is one of the reasons why high-risk groups are vaccinated,” she said. “The vaccine is not only designed to prevent pneumonia, but also to prevent the spread of infection.”
How is pneumonia diagnosed?
For those suspected of having this disorder, health care providers will conduct a physical examination and order tests such as chest X-rays. Such tests will help determine what type of pneumonia they have and how to treat it.
What is the treatment for pneumonia?
Depending on the type of pneumonia, antibiotics, antiviral, or antifungal medications may be included. If the pneumonia is severe, you may need antibiotics and oxygen in the hospital. very severe pneumonia Ventilation, a machine and/or breathing tube to help someone breathe, and surgery to remove infected or damaged parts of the lung may be needed.
How serious can pneumonia be?
Dr. Clayton Kaul, a pulmonologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, tells us that while pneumonia specifically involves the lungs, other organ systems can be affected. wealth.
“People with pneumonia may develop fluid shifts and problems with their kidneys, liver or heart,” he said. What’s more, if the bacteria causes pneumonia, it can spread into the bloodstream and cause sepsis, life threatening situation This happens when an infection triggers a chain reaction throughout the body.
“It causes a complete downstream effect, a bucket brigade,” he added. “It’s like a juggler spinning a glass plate with sticks. If one of the sticks starts shaking and a plate suddenly falls, all the other sticks will scurry away.”
Is there a vaccine for pneumonia?
Yes, Two kinds. However, it is only recommended for those aged 4 and under and 65 and over. Doctors may recommend one or more vaccines for people in these age groups if they have health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease, or immune deficiencies that put them at higher risk for serious consequences.
Adults ages 19-64 who do not have a medical condition that puts them at higher risk but want to get the pneumonia vaccine should talk to their doctor. If they end up receiving it, they may have to pay cash, even if they have insurance, Horn said.
What else can I do to protect myself from pneumonia?
In addition to the pneumonia vaccine, Horn’s best advice for all ages is to get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines “to prevent serious lung infections going into winter.” In severe cases, both conditions can lead to pneumonia.
If you have a chronic condition, make sure it’s managed well, she advises. “The better you control it, generally speaking, the better you’re going to do if you’re sick.”
Washing hands and staying away from sick people can also help prevent infections that can lead to pneumonia.
If I have pneumonia, how do I know it’s time to seek medical help?
Pneumonia, like other respiratory viruses, causes fever, chills, and cough. More serious symptoms that require medical attention include chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, low oxygen, needing more oxygen than usual, fever that lasts for more than a day or two, coughing up blood, blue lips, low blood flow, stress, constant breathing, Horn said. Coughing and fainting.
“If in doubt, get it evaluated by a professional,” she adds.
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