Back to blog

What is pneumonia?

In the middle of cold and flu season, with sickness and sneezing all around, it can be hard to breathe easily. While a stuffy nose or case of the sniffles isn’t worth too much worry, more severe respiratory illnesses are nothing to sneeze at. One of the most potentially serious is pneumonia. As a respiratory infection that affects your lungs, pneumonia can make it difficult to breathe, so it demands urgent medical attention. If you’re worried sick about catching pneumonia, take a healthy look at this respiratory illness to understand whether it’s as common as the common cold and recognize the different types. Then, uncover the factors that raise your risk, the symptoms of sickness and the most effective treatment options to stay well ahead of pneumonia.

Take a cold hard look at pneumonia

Pneumonia is a respiratory infection in the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The infection makes the air sacs within the lungs fill up with fluid or pus. As a result, breathing can become challenging. Pneumonia shares several symptoms with other respiratory illnesses like colds and the flu, which can make it difficult to know which one you’re suffering from. While the symptoms of pneumonia can range from slight to serious, it can become extremely dangerous and may even require hospitalization.

Airing the truth about the spread of pneumonia

While not quite as common as the common cold, pneumonia is becoming more prevalent. Approximately, more than one million people are hospitalized with pneumonia, and it claims more than 50,000 lives each year, according to the American Lung Association. However, the actual number of people suffering is likely to be much higher with many more recovering on their own at home.

Know the types of pneumonia

With three primary types of pneumonia, it’s not a one-size-fits-all illness. Each type gets its name by the cause of the infection, whether a virus, bacteria, or fungi. They differ in the severity of symptoms and treatment, so recognizing which type of pneumonia you have can help you know what to expect. The three main types of pneumonia are:

Bacterial pneumonia – The most common, and potentially most serious type of pneumonia, you catch it by coming into contact with bacteria in the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs nearby. It’s typically treated with antibiotics but may require hospitalization.
Viral pneumonia – The same virus that causes a cold, the flu, and other respiratory illnesses can also lead to pneumonia. As with bacterial pneumonia, it spreads by touching or breathing in droplets containing the virus from infected individuals. As the second-most common cause of the infection, it typically goes away with rest and medication.
Fungal pneumonia – A less common cause of pneumonia, it occurs when you breathe in small particles known as fungal spores. Treatment involves taking antifungal medication.

Sniff out the risk factors

While anyone can catch a cold, certain people run a greater risk of developing more than a runny nose. Pneumonia is a dangerous condition for anyone, but it’s especially a cause for concern for people of certain ages. People over age 65 are more susceptible to getting sick, and the risk only increases with age. It isn’t only seniors who need to take extra precautions because children younger than five years old are also more vulnerable. Yet age isn’t the only risk factor for pneumonia because certain medical conditions can also raise your risk, including chronic heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and liver disease. Smoking and excessive drinking can also put you at greater danger, as can the seasons of fall and winter when respiratory diseases are more likely to be in the air. Luckily, you can reduce your risk by getting vaccinated against pneumonia.

Catch the symptoms

If you’re feeling under the weather, how can you tell whether you have pneumonia? Since the symptoms can be similar to other respiratory infections like colds and the flu, you should contact your SignatureMD-affiliated doctor if you experience the following symptoms:

Difficulty breathing
Coughing
Fever
Shortness of breath
Intense chest pain
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Confusion
Nausea or vomiting

Survive pneumonia with the right treatment

If you’re diagnosed with pneumonia, the treatment depends on the type, your risk factors, and the severity of your symptoms. Serious cases of pneumonia can require hospitalization, but fortunately, most people are able to recover on their own with the following treatment options:

Take antibiotics for bacterial infections.
Use antiviral medications to treat viral pneumonia.
Rely on antifungal medications to alleviate fungal infections.
Reduce a fever by taking over-the-counter medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, acetaminophen, or aspirin.
Drink plenty of fluids to loosen up the mucus in your lungs.
Take hot baths and use a humidifier to make breathing easier.
Get a lot of rest to help you recover faster.

Knowing that pneumonia is in the air, staying aware, and staying informed about the infection can help you breathe a sigh of relief about pneumonia.

Sources:

About SignatureMD

SignatureMD is one of the nation’s largest firms providing initial conversion and ongoing support services to concierge medicine physicians. SignatureMD currently partners with over 200 affiliated primary care physicians and specialists across 35 states, and its network is rapidly expanding.

Concierge medicine
Find a concierge doctor