5 Early Warning Signs of Pneumonia
As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” — and that’s especially true when it comes to pneumonia as we age.
That’s because older people who are hospitalized for pneumonia have a greater risk of death compared with the other top 10 reasons for hospitalization, according to the American Thoracic Society. And pneumonia sends more than 400,000 people to emergency rooms each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The signs and symptoms of pneumonia can vary or even go unnoticed as we age! For example, the phlegm-ridden cough and high fever accompanied with teeth-chattering chills often associated with pneumonia is often non-existent in older adults. So we have to look for other signs.
SIGNS OF PNEUMONIA:
Two red-flag signs of pneumonia as we age are confusion and/or delirium, as well as a lower than normal body temperature.
Other signs, which can sometimes be confused with cold and flu, include:
Chest pain during breathing or coughing
Feeling tired or weak
Nausea and/or vomiting
Diarrhea
Shortness of breath
It’s typical for patients with pneumonia to have an elevated white blood cell count, but up to 50 percent of people over 65 with pneumonia have a normal white count. They may also have minimal chest sounds, and 20 percent don’t present with fever, Dr. Ronald D. Adelman, co-chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center says.
To make matters more confusing, a chest X-ray may not show pneumonia if the patient is dehydrated.
EXPERTS RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING FOR HOME TREATMENT AFTER DIAGNOSIS BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL:
Rest, rest and more rest. Remember, pneumonia is sneaky and can recur. Just because you feel better, you may not be fully recovered. It is generally better not to jump back into a normal routine until you are positive you’ve recovered. Not sure? Ask a doctor.
Stay hydrated. Drinking water will help loosen the mucus in your lungs, clearing them sooner.
Finish medication. It is always important to take all prescribed medications. With pneumonia, doing so is particularly important as bacteria can stay in the lungs, multiply and trigger a recurrence.
No matter the age, staying in good health, exercising, and eating well helps protect you, so that if you’re thrown a curveball, you can mount as strong a defense as possible!
