Why Is Pneumonia So Dangerous?

Pneumonia is a significant killer of people over the age of 65, with the risk increasing with age after that, rising very sharply around the age of 85.

Here’s why:

Take a deep breath…

Pneumonia is an infection of the alveoli (air sacs of the lungs that increase the surface area and allow the gas exchange that’s necessary for our respiration) that causes them to fill with fluid, disrupting the normal exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Now, pneumonia is most commonly caused by viruses or bacteria that enter your body through respiratory droplets or by touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after contacting a contaminated surface.

Fortunately, we (usually) have a functioning immune system, and if pathogens reach your alveoli, macrophages engulf them, and additional white blood cells trigger inflammation that helps fight the infection but also produces fluid.

Unfortunately, as we mentioned up top, fluid-filled alveoli make gas exchange difficult to say the least, causing carbon dioxide to build up, leading to rapid breathing, poor oxygenation (in turn causing most of the rest of the body’s processes to become impaired), and in some cases, an excessive, prolonged inflammatory response spreads beyond your lungs, leading to organ failure, shock, and death.

For this reason, once identified, it’s usually treated with antibiotics (which also carry big risks, but the numbers favor taking one’s chances with antibiotics rather than with untreated pneumonia).

• Things that worsen your risk: smoking impairs your cilia, while genetic disorders, autoimmune disorders, young age, older age, and viral pneumonia can all increase the risk of developing severe pneumonia or secondary bacterial infections.
• Things that reduce your risk: eating a nutritious diet, getting adequate sleep, exercising regularly, receiving recommended vaccinations, and washing your hands frequently all help reduce the risk of pneumonia and protect vulnerable people.

For more on all of this, enjoy:

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Want to learn more?

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Take care!