REPLY1 150 WORDS CITATION AND REFERENCES
Pneumonia is a respiratory infection. This infection causes inflammation of the alveoli which can result in the air sacs filling with pus or fluid. Pneumonia can be fatal to individuals older than 65 years and children and infants. Pneumonia has the potential to adversely affect an individual’s life, and, therefore, prevention against the disease is the best protection. Some forms of pneumonia can result from influenza. Flu vaccines are one step that can be taken to prevent infection. Pletz et al. (2016) state that there are vaccines for some forms of pneumonia as well. An individual can use a variety of health promotion techniques to prevent pneumonia. For instance, handwashing is a critical step in preventing the spread of community-acquired pneumonia. Pathogens are removed from hands and this helps keep the individual and community safe.
Ceasing smoking habits is a key health promotion tool. Smokers are highly susceptible to pneumonia infection, according to Baskaran et al. (2019). Weakened lung function as a result of smoking is worsened when an infected with pneumonia. The
refore, when a smoker stops the habit, he or she lowers the risk of getting infected. Establishing good health habits in one’s life can play a significant role in keeping pneumonia at bay. For instance, a healthy diet boosts an individual’s immunity, and, therefore, improves his or her chances of fighting off the infection with the help of prescribed medication. Other habits such as rest and adequate physical activity enable an individual to maintain optimum respiratory health. Regular check-ups with a physician are also a good way of finding out if an individual’s current health situation leaves him or her susceptible to getting an infection.
References
Baskaran, V., Murray, R. L., Hunter, A., Lim, W. S., & McKeever, T. M. (2019). Effect of tobacco smoking on the risk of developing community-acquired pneumonia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS one, 14(7), e0220204.doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220204
Pletz, M. W., Rohde, G. G., Welte, T., Kolditz, M., & Ott, S. (2016). Advances in the prevention, management, and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia. F1000Research, 5.doi: 10.12688/f1000research.7657.1