You may have heard of pneumonia, but many people don’t realize just how dangerous it can be.
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi. This infection can make it difficult and painful to breathe (among other symptoms) and could land you in the hospital. Severe cases can lead to death.
The bacterial form of pneumonia usually results from an infection by the pneumococcus bacteria. This kind of pneumonia can pass easily between people via little droplets in the air that come from sneezing and coughing.
Luckily, the pneumococcus bacteria can be kept at bay with a vaccine that many people only need to get once. What’s more, this shot can help fend off other deadly infections that can be caused by the pneumococcus bacteria, including certain types of meningitis, a condition that causes inflammation in the spine and brain.
With nothing to lose other than a few minutes of your time, why not sign up to get your pneumonia vaccine now? To find out if it’s right for you, take this quiz.
How old are you?
a. Younger than 50 years b. 50 years or older
If you’re age 50 or older, it’s important to get the pneumonia vaccine. Why? People in this age group are at higher risk for becoming seriously ill and dying if they get pneumonia.
Do you have any of the following conditions: heart disease, lung disease, liver disease, diabetes or addiction to alcohol?
a. Yes b. No
If you answered yes, it’s essential to get protected against pneumonia. If you were to get infected with the pneumococcus bacteria, the conditions listed above can make it harder for your body to fight off the infection. This can increase your odds of hospitalization and death.
Do you smoke?
a. Yes b. No
If you smoke, it’s especially important to get vaccinated. If you smoke tobacco, your lungs cannot work as well as they should, and they will have a harder time fighting pneumonia if you are infected.
Smoking exposes your lungs to toxic chemicals, causes lung inflammation and damages the tiny sacs (called alveoli) that pass air into your body. Even before adding pneumonia into the mix, smoking increases your risk of serious lung problems like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It can also worsen existing lung problems, such as asthma, and put you at higher risk of getting pneumonia.
It’s important to get vaccinated and work yourself off your smoking habit. When you’re ready to quit, Sharecare has resources and information to help.
Do you spend a lot of time with friends and family?
a. Yes b. No
If you’re 50 or older and you answered yes, getting the pneumonia vaccine is a wise choice
The pneumococcus bacteria spreads through direct contact with people who are infected via droplets that move through the air from coughs or sneezes.
When you spend time with friends and family, they can pass the infection to you, even if they don’t look or feel sick. This is especially true when it comes to spending time with healthy, young people who might not experience severe symptoms from pneumonia.
Ann Horigan, PhD, RN, is an assistant clinical professor at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University. She specializes in emergency and urgent care and symptom science.
