Pneumonia in the elderly is an inflammation of one or both lungs and is caused by a bacterial infection. This dangerous disease is one of nursing home infections that accompanied by severe cough, fever, and chills. Elderly people are more affected by this disease due to heart disease, blood pressure, and diabetes problems, etc. and need special care. Timely diagnosis and treatment prevent the progression of the disease and the death of the patient. In this comprehensive management of pneumonia in older patients from the Human Health Mag website, we will comprehensively review pneumonia in the elderly, treatment methods, and pneumonia prevention strategies for adults over 65.
What Is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a very serious infection or inflammation of one or both lungs. In pneumonia, the air sacs in the lungs fill with pus and other fluid, making it difficult for oxygen to reach the blood. When oxygen is blocked, the body’s cells can’t work properly. This can make you feel very sick. About a third of people with pneumonia develop an elevated white blood cell count within a week of the illness. Pneumonia can last from a few days to a month, and sometimes longer.
Pneumonia like cold in elderly starts when a virus, fungus, or bacteria gets into one of your lungs. (If it’s in both lungs, it’s called bilateral (Double) pneumonia.) It causes the tiny air sacs inside to become inflamed and fill with fluid or pus. It’s usually not serious if you’re healthy and get treatment right away. Pneumonia is dangerous for the elderly, children, and people with other illnesses or weak immune systems. Sometimes, the infection can kill a person.
Specific Symptoms of Pneumonia in Adults Over 65
Symptoms of pneumonia in the elderly are somewhat different from other age groups. Common symptoms of pneumonia include fever, chills, cough, and shortness of breath. But these symptoms may appear in a milder and unusual form in the elderly. After an elderly person has the disease, symptoms of pneumonia appear 24 to 48 hours later. The main symptoms of pneumonia are:
- Feeling weak, unbalanced, and more likely to fall
- Body temperature lower than normal
- Low alertness and delirium
- Urinary incontinence
- Loss of appetite
Since the symptoms and pneumonia prevention strategies for adults over 65 often vary, this can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment. The symptoms listed above are somewhat specific to older adults, but in addition, general symptoms of pneumonia at all ages include:
- A dry cough with yellow or bloody phlegm
- Fever and chills
- Chest pain that worsens with deep breathing or coughing
- Extreme and unusual fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid and abnormal breathing
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
How to Prevent Pneumonia in Adults Over 65?
How seniors can prevent pneumonia? For older people, you can help prevent pneumonia by doing the following tips on preventing pneumonia in older adults:
- Get the pneumococcal vaccine: This vaccine is significantly effective in preventing pneumonia. There are two pneumococcal vaccines, PPSV23 and PCV13, for seniors over 65. If a person’s immune system is weak or they have chronic lung, kidney, or heart diseases, their doctor may recommend the pneumococcal vaccine before the age of 65.
- Getting the flu vaccine: The flu virus is one of the causes of pneumonia in the elderly. Therefore, we recommend getting the flu vaccine annually.
- Wash your hands regularly: Practicing hand hygiene is very effective in preventing various infections, including pneumonia.
- Quit smoking: Harms of smoking in the elderly is very high. Smoking seriously damages the lungs and can make it difficult to fight respiratory infections. Diet after quitting smoking can also be effective.
- Lifestyle modification: Tips such as following a balanced diet, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep, cold weather safety for older adults are all beneficial for the overall health of the body and strengthening the immune system.
- Sufficient rest: Rest can help your immune system to respond more strongly to infection. In these cases, getting help from in-home nursing care for post-surgery recovery has an important impact on the elderly’s comfort and rest.
- Warm drinks: Consuming warm drinks such as various herbal teas or eating soup can help soothe the mucus in the throat and lungs.
Pneumonia Prevention Strategies for Adults Over 65
Lung infection or pneumonia has different types and may be progressive enough to cause permanent lung damage. To prevent pneumonia in the elderly and other people, it is better to pay attention to the following strategies:
- Elderly people who smoke are at higher risk of developing the disease than other people, and quitting smoking is the most important factor in preventing pneumonia. It is better for the elderly and young children to stay away from places where the risk of infection is higher.
- Avoid taking medication, especially antibiotic use among geriatric and corticosteroid drugs.
- Proper nutrition is an important factor in preventing lung infections.
- Take fresh vitamins, especially vitamin C, when pneumonia occurs in the elderly.
- If you have chronic diseases, be sure to consult a doctor for prevention.
- Timely treatment of simple respiratory infections reduces the risk of lung infection.
In addition, doctors recommend doing these pneumonia prevention strategies for adults over 65:
- Regular exercise
- Get enough sleep
- Drink plenty of fluids during the day
- Quit drinking alcoholic beverages
- Manage underlying diseases
- Maintain personal hygiene
- Do breathing exercises
- Avoid being in the vicinity of cold air
- Caring for elderly in cold weather
- It is better for the elderly to avoid being in polluted environments and contact with people with respiratory infections.
- To prevent pneumonia, maintain personal hygiene as much as possible.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Throw away dirty tissues immediately and wash your hands frequently.
What Type of Breathing Exercises Are Suitable for the Elderly with Pneumonia?
Breathing exercises for the elderly with pneumonia include exercises that increase respiratory capacity and improve lung function. Here are some of these exercises:
- Deep breathing exercises involve diaphragmatic breathing through the nose and then exhaling through the mouth. This exercise can help improve lung ventilation and reduce shortness of breath in the elderly with pneumonia.
- Some breathing devices such as spirometers and CPAP devices can help improve breathing and increase respiratory capacity in the elderly.
- Aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming, cycling, and tennis improve lung capacity and reduce shortness of breath. The type and duration of exercise should be determined in consultation with a doctor.
Treatment
After familiarity with pneumonia prevention strategies for adults over 65, it is better to know treatment of pneumonia in the elderly varies depending on its cause and severity. Outpatient treatments, taking various medications, and hospitalization are common treatment methods for treating pneumonia. First of all, the doctor prescribes antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral medications depending on the main cause of the disease. If the patient’s respiratory condition is not good, chest physiotherapy is also performed. If the patient with pneumonia has fever, mild pain, and congestion, acetaminophen, nasal drops, sprays, or decongestant tablets are prescribed.
It is better for patients with pneumonia to stay in an environment with humid air. You can provide humidifiers with cold steam for the elderly with pneumonia. For patients with chest pain, a heating pad or warm compress on the chest is recommended. Some people also use traditional and medical methods to treat pneumonia.
Don’t forget to consult your doctor before starting traditional medicine and using herbal medicines. According to research by nutritionists and traditional medicine experts, using carrot juice, water, beet juice, spinach juice, garlic, ginger, and baking soda strengthens the immune system. Consuming garlic or mixing it with water and lemon cleanses the chest and lungs. Combining ginger with honey and lemon, baking soda solution with warm water, and mixing turmeric with milk or water also help improve breathing.
| Description | |
| Main treatments for the disease | taking antibacterial, antiviral, or antifungal medications orally or by injection, chest physiotherapy, and in some cases, oxygen |
| For mild pain, fever, and congestion | use medications such as acetaminophen or decongestant nasal drops, sprays, or lozenges |
| To keep the air moist | use a humidifier with cool mist |
| To reduce chest pain | use a heating pad or warm compress on the chest |
Concluding Remarks
In this article, you learned about pneumonia prevention strategies for adults over 65. You learned that this disease is dangerous for both young and old people; but the elderly should be given more attention because they have a weaker body. This disease has even led to death in some cases and we must be very careful not to get this disease.
This disease causes the small air sacs inside to become inflamed and fill with fluid or pus. Pneumonia occurs due to infections caused by bacteria or viruses and usually in less cases by fungi and parasites. By knowing the symptoms and ways to prevent this disease if you get it, you can get treatment sooner and prevent secondary complications. You can share your suggestions and experiences with us.
We’re curious to hear your thoughts! What’s your take on this topic? Comment below and join the conversation; your opinion could spark new ideas!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pneumonia dangerous in the elderly?
Yes. Elderly people may die from pneumonia due to their weaker immune systems and physical strength.
Is pneumonia contagious?
Pneumonia is a bacterial disease and highly infectious.
Is pneumonia fatal?
Both yes and no. The later the treatment and use of antibiotics, the higher the mortality rate. But if you take timely action to treat pneumonia, it cannot be fatal.
Can pneumonia be cured?
Yes. Pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics and common treatments. But time is key in this disease and you must take timely action for treatment.
What are the special pneumonia prevention strategies for adults over 65?
Having a healthy lifestyle, quitting smoking and alcohol, getting enough sleep and maintaining personal hygiene.