KNOW YOUR PNEUMONIA

5 Vital Questions That Could Save Your Life

Discover your risk of this deadly disease and what to do about it.

1. How can pneumonia be prevented?

a) Practising good hygiene and a healthy lifestyle

b) Vaccination

a) Correct. Good hygiene and a healthy lifestyle are important.¹ However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends pneumococcal vaccination to protect older persons and people with chronic medical conditions from pneumonia.²

b) Correct. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends pneumococcal vaccination to protect older persons and people with chronic medical conditions from pneumonia.² It is also important to practise good hygiene and lead a healthy lifestyle.¹

2. Pneumonia is a disease of which organ?

a) The lungs

b) The kidneys

a) Correct. Pneumonia is a disease where the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs become inflamed and fill up with fluid or pus. This may cause oxygen in the body to fall to dangerously low levels.³

b) Incorrect. Pneumonia is a disease where the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs become inflamed and fill up with fluid or pus. This may cause oxygen in the body to fall to dangerously low levels.³

3. Which group of people are at high risk of pneumonia?

a) People over age 60

b) People with chronic disease

a) Correct. Ageing naturally weakens your immune system and diminishes lung function which makes you more susceptible to pneumonia. However, younger people who have chronic diseases are also at risk of pneumonia.^3,4

b) Correct. Chronic diseases increase pneumonia risk. However, the elderly are also at risk because of their weakened immune system and decline in lung function.⁴

4. Which of the following can cause pneumonia?

a) Virus

b) Bacteria

a) Correct. Viruses, bacteria, and fungi can cause pneumonia.³ The S. pneumoniae (pneumococcus) bacteria is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. This bacteria is found naturally in the nose or throat, but it can be deadly if it invades the lungs.⁵

b) Correct. Viruses, bacteria, and fungi can cause pneumonia.³ The S. pneumoniae (pneumococcus) bacteria is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. This bacteria is found naturally in the nose or throat, but it can be deadly if it invades the lungs.⁵ You may catch the disease if the infected person coughs or sneezes near you.³

5. Is it important for chronic disease patients and the elderly to talk to their doctor about pneumococcal prevention?

a) Yes

b) No

a) That’s great! Take the opportunity to learn more about the disease from your doctor and how best to protect yourself.

b) Please reconsider because pneumonia can be fatal. Take the opportunity to learn more about the disease from your doctor and how best to protect yourself.

About yourself

Your gender:

Male

Female

Your age:

18-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61 and above

Do you have a medical condition? Select any that applies.

Diabetes

Heart disease

Lung disease

Kidney disease

Other medical condition

Thank you.

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REFERENCES:

1. Preventing Pneumonia. (Updated May 27, 2020). American Lung Association. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/preventing-pneumonia
2. Recommended Vaccines by Age | CDC. (Updated November 22, 2016). US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/vaccines-age.html
3. Learn About Pneumonia. (Updated May 27, 2020). American Lung Association. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/learn-about-pneumonia#:%7E:text=The%20infection%20causes%20the%20lungs,%2C%20chills%2C%20and%20trouble%20breathing.
4. Stupka, J. E., Mortensen, E. M., Anzueto, A., & Restrepo, M. I. (2009). Community-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients. Aging health, 5(6), 763-774.
5. Pneumococcal Pneumonia. (Updated June 18, 2020). American Lung Association. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/pneumococcal#:~:text=Common%20symptoms%20of%20pneumococcal%20pneumonia,last%20for%20weeks%2C%20or%20longer.

MY-PNX-00080 Sep/2020