Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that affects individuals of all ages but is especially dangerous for older adults and young children.
In the US, community-acquired pneumonia affects over 5 million people per year. In the UK, 345 people for every 100,000 had one or more episodes of pneumonia in 2012. Some people receive more than one diagnosis within a year.
Types
There are many different forms of pneumonia, ranging from mild to severe. There are four basic forms:
Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)
It is the most usual type of pneumonia and is caused by viruses, bacteria, and other organisms.
Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP)
It develops in a hospital while being treated for another condition or having an operation.
HAP is frequently more serious than CAP because the organisms and bacteria can be harder to treat and because people who get HAP are already sick.
Fungal Pneumonia
It occurs in people with chronic health problems or weakened immune systems and in individuals who have inhaled large doses of the organisms.
Aspiration Pneumonia
It is caused by breathing in vomit, a foreign object, such as a peanut, or a harmful compound. People with medical problems that affect swallowing are at an increased risk of this type of condition.
Who Is Affected?
Anyone may develop it, but it is most frequent and most dangerous in very young children, individuals older than 65, or those who are currently experiencing conditions such as:
- influenza;
- asthma;
- HIV infection;
- exposure to tobacco smoke;
- poor shelter;
- cold;
- poor nutrition;
- diabetes;
- outdoor or indoor pollution;
- overcrowding;
- heart disease;
- lung disease;
- cancer therapy;
- chronic steroid use;
- alcohol use or lack of appropriate breastfeeding for the first six (minimum) months of life.
Is Pneumonia Contagious?
You can catch the germs that cause it in the most common of places, and the environment you frequent on a daily basis may contribute to how susceptible you are to the disease.
Symptoms
Usual symptoms include:
- cough;
- fever (which may be mild or high);
- shortness of breath;
- rapid heartbeat;
- white nail syndrome;
- sweats;
- shaking chills;
- headaches;
- low energy;
- being off your food and feeling generally unwell.
You usually make more sputum. This may become yellow/green colored and is occasionally bloodstained.
In children and babies, symptoms may be less specific, and they may not show clear signs of a chest infection.
Usually, they will have a high fever, appear very unwell, and become lethargic.
Causes
There are more than 30 different organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi, that cause pneumonia.
The most common type of bacteria is Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).
READ MORE: Kidney Stones – Spiritual Meaning
Spiritual Causes of Pneumonia
@Getty Images
Pneumonia usually results from an individual’s inability to handle multiple challenges and fears, overwhelming them in a shorter, more compressed timeframe.
Additionally, this illness is a sign that the process of communication with life is poor.
The “internal floods” manifest as severe lung congestion, which disrupts their connection to breath and ultimately, their connection to life. Breathe in the breath of life again.
READ MORE: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus – Spiritual Meaning
Prevention
The following steps can be taken to reduce the risk of contracting this condition:
Eat Healthfully
Vegetables and fruits are top suppliers of antioxidants, which help your body resist and heal from infections.
A 2010 study published in the “Public Health Nutrition” involving 1,034 women concluded that women who consume diets rich in vegetables and fruits are less likely to develop upper respiratory infections, such as pneumonia.
Physical Exercise
It may help flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways.
Regulate moderate physical exercise reduces your chance of getting flu, cold, or other illness.
Many studies have found that physical exercise can boost your immune system by providing a boost to the cells in your body that are assigned to attack bacteria.
Go To Bed Earlier
Simple advice, but it comes with big payoffs.
Going to bed even just 30 minutes earlier can help you establish an 8-hour sleep habit that is an important way to ward off viral infections.
Without good sleep, optimal health may remain elusive, even if you eat well and exercise (although those factors will tend to improve your ability to sleep better).
Stop Smoking
Smoking damages your lungs and makes it harder for your body to defend itself from germs and disease.
Important note – 1 in two smokers will die from a smoking-related disease.
Stop Drinking Alcohol
It slows down special immune cells called cytokines that normally act as messengers to tell the body when to mount a defense against infection.
Chronic abuse of alcohol wreaks its own havoc on immunity, putting alcoholics at higher risk of bacterial infections, some cancers, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other diseases.
Stay away from individuals who have colds, the flu, or other respiratory tract infections.
Dental Hygiene
This condition can arise from tooth and gum infections, so daily brushing and flossing is a must.
Breastfeeding your baby (preferably more than six months) to help boost their immune system.
Get Outside
Fresh air and sunlight are good for your immune system. Vitamin D can be produced by our body when our skin absorbs the sun’s UV rays.
Our bodies depend on it mostly for bone strength and calcium absorption, but it also assists our inflammatory and immune responses.
Practice Breathing Exercise
Deeply and expanding your lungs will keep them strong and reduce your risk of any type of infection.
Reduce Your Stress Levels
A positive attitude and a proactive approach to dealing with stress can protect you more than you might think.
READ MORE: Depression & Anxiety – Spiritual Meaning
Healing Affirmations
”I allow my body to become an environment for health and healing.”
”I freely take in ideas that are filled with the intelligence of Life.”
”I am submerged in eternal light. It permeates every particle of my being.”
”I am able to metabolize, process, and release all emotions.”
”I am healthy, prosperous, and happy, and I live in abundance.”
Images credit – Shutterstock & Getty Images
READ THIS NEXT: Liver Disease – Spiritual Meaning
References https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2276784/ https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/epic/publications.html https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/5/2/ofy010/4844908
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
As a founder and chief author at InsightState.com, Bulgarea Candin helps readers on their spiritual journeys. His writings are designed to inspire creativity and personal growth, guiding readers on their journey to a more fulfilled and enlightened life.