Pneumonia causes more than a million hospitalizations and more than 50,000 deaths each year, according to the American Lung Association. Your risk of getting pneumonia increases in winter as people spend more time together indoors. But by taking a few precautions, you can help protect yourself and your loved ones.

Here’s what you need to know about pneumonia:

• Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. It's a serious infection in which the air sacs fill with pus and other liquid. It can cause mild to serious illness in people of all ages.

• Anyone can get pneumonia. But those at highest risk include children younger than age 2, adults ages 65 and older, people who smoke and people with certain health conditions.

• The flu is a common cause of pneumonia, so you can reduce your risk for pneumonia by getting a flu shot.

• A vaccine is also available for pneumococcal pneumonia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends pneumococcal vaccination for children younger than age 5 and adults ages 50 and up. The vaccine is also recommended for people of other ages who have certain risks.

• The most common symptom of pneumonia is a cough that makes green, yellow or bloody mucus. Other symptoms include fever, shaking chills, shortness of breath, low energy and extreme tiredness.

• Pneumonia can often be diagnosed with a health history and physical exam. Lung imaging tests, blood tests and tests on the sputum you cough up may also be used to diagnose pneumonia.

• Most people with pneumonia respond well to treatment, but pneumonia can cause serious lung and infection problems. It can even be deadly.

• You can help prevent respiratory infections like pneumonia by washing your hands regularly, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that are touched a lot, coughing or sneezing into a tissue or into your elbow or sleeve, taking good care of chronic medical conditions such as asthma and limiting contact with cigarette smoke or quitting smoking.

Ask your healthcare provider about vaccines for winter respiratory illnesses. If you are looking for a primary care provider, Aultman Medical Group Primary Care has more than 80 providers ready to take care of you and your family. Many of our offices are accepting new patients – and more than likely, we have a location in your community.

Visit aultman.org/NewDoc to find a provider in your area who is accepting new patients, or call the new patient hotline at 330-433-1264 for assistance with scheduling your appointment.

Sources:
American Lung Association
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The StayWell Company, LLC