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What is Influenza?
Influenza — it's all around us, especially during the winter and spring. It is is a viral infection that affects mainly
the nose, throat, bronchi and, occasionally, lungs. The virus is easily transmitted from person to person via droplets
and small particles produced when infected people cough or sneeze. Influenza tends to spread rapidly in seasonal epidemics.
Most infected people recover within one to two weeks without requiring medical treatment. However, in the very young, the elderly, and those with other serious medical conditions, infection can lead to severe complications of the underlying condition, pneumonia and death.
As it is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not effective against flu. Therefore, vey important is to prevent it:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick and keep your distance
Clean you hands often with soap and warm water or alcohol based gels to protect yourself from germs
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth because germs are often spread when you touch something that is contaminated and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth
Contact your doctor to be vaccinated for flu each fall.
At the same time take care that once ill, you'll be contagious for about 5 days. The better is to stay home, but if you cannot, avoid close contact with people and cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough then put used tissue in the waste basket.
What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can make you very sick. As a symptoms you may cough, run a fever, and have a hard
time breathing. For most people, pneumonia can be treated at home. It often clears up in 2 to 3 weeks. But older adults,
babies, and people with other diseases can become very ill. They may need to be in the hospital.
Pneumonia is not a single disease. It can have over 30 different causes. There are five main causes of pneumonia: bacteria, viruses, mycoplasmas, infectious agents such as fungi, various chemicals.
Pneumonia usually starts when you breathe the germs into your lungs. You may be more likely to get the disease after having a cold or the flu. These illnesses make it hard for your lungs to fight infection, so it is easier to get pneumonia. Having a long-term, or chronic, disease like asthma, heart disease, cancer, or diabetes also makes you at high risk to get pneumonia.
Because pneumonia is a common complication of influenza (flu), getting a flu shot every fall is good pneumonia prevention. Also good health habits, proper diet and hygiene, rest, regular exercise, etc., increase resistance to all respiratory illnesses.
If you have symptoms of pneumonia, call your doctor immediately, especially if you are at high risk. Even with the many effective antibiotics, early diagnosis and treatment are important.
Latest news about Influenza and Pneumonia
Scientists Come Closer to Unlocking Secrets of Common Cold
Men at increased risk of death from pneumonia compared to women
Men come to emergency departments sicker, more likely to die over the next year, University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine study finds
[ read full article ]
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