Pneumonia Dangers the Elderly Face
Lucy Wyndham
According to the Lung Foundation of Australia, the number of Australians between the ages 50 and 80-years-old infected with the pneumonia virus rises every year. It’s currently at around 200 per 100,000. Many older Australians don’t realise how urgent it is to get the appropriate vaccinations to protect them from this possibly fatal infection.
Equally concerning is that the elderly often won’t develop the same symptoms as younger people who get pneumonia; their bodies are ill-equipped to handle the infection and it will take longer for them to get over the infection than it does for younger people. Read on to discover how pneumonia affects the elderly in more detail.
What is Pneumonia?
Several types of lung infections caused by malignant organisms can cause pneumonia. Your lungs process nitrogen, oxygen and other nutritive gasses for your body to use. When your lungs are compromised, several other areas of your health are compromised as well.
In addition, the viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia are contagious. However, not everyone exposed to a pneumonia causing bacteria or virus will get pneumonia. Healthy people or those who’ve been properly immunised typically won’t get pneumonia.
- Bronchial/Lobular pneumonia is an inflammation of the bronchi,
- Lobar pneumonia is an infection of the lung lobes, and
- Double pneumonia is an infection present in both lungs.
The Symptoms of Pneumonia and the Elderly
Typical symptoms of pneumonia include a rattling, phlegmy cough; shaking; the chills; feeling a worst flu after an initial cold or flu; a fever of over 102 degrees; shortness of breath and other breathing issues; chest pain; nausea; diarrhea and vomiting.
However, elderly people typically won’t experience a fever. Many of them experience low body temperature as a sign of pneumonia infection. They will also begin to behave differently, experiencing altered mental states. Many will start to appear unaware of their surroundings.
Changes in the Body
As the human body ages, the systems begin to breakdown. Many senior citizens have multiple chronic diseases making their immune systems weaker. The body also experiences physiological changes like:
- Weakening of the respiratory muscles and cough reflexes,
- Loss of lung elasticity, and
- Decrease in mucociliary clearance, (the coughing mechanism and the bronchial cilia aren’t strong enough to move viruses and bacteria out of the lungs).
What Healing Looks Like
When it comes to healing, it takes longer for elderly people to recover from a pneumonia infection (6 to 8 weeks) than it does for younger people, (2 to 3 weeks). The symptoms are also more severe for older people because their systems are weaker. If you have older people in your life, it’s crucial to keep them immunised and give them access to ongoing medical care to increase their chances of avoiding pneumonia infection.
No comments yet.
1.This month.
Zoom webinar – “Nuclear Winter: The Environmental Consequences of a Nuclear Exchange.”
April 7th at 11:30 am PST / 2:30 pm EST
Nuclear Winter: The Environmental Consequences of a Nuclear Exchange”
Join us for an informative webinar with renowned atmospheric scientist, Professor Brian Toon, as he discusses the environmental risks and global impacts of a nuclear war. Despite the potential damage caused by the blast from even small nuclear weapons, many countries continue to invest in and expand nuclear arsenals. Professor Toon will provide a scientific assessment of civilian fatalities, agricultural failures, climate concerns, and complications with food supply that would follow any international nuclear conflict. We need to plan how to prevent nuclear conflict and avoid catastrophe. Politicians and military planners must be made aware of global climate and agricultural complications that would ensue. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from, and engage in, this vital conversation
The Road to War brings a sharp focus to why it is not in Australia’s best interest to be dragged into a war with China which will almost inevitably go nuclear very quickly. The filmmaker has interviewed some of Australia’s senior foreign policy analysts who have vast experience behind them in analysing what really is going on here as the United States rattles its sabres with China. And sets us up to be its proxy, like the poor Ukranians have been fed into the Meatgrinder. So America can remain the Top Dog. The Road to War reveals how the United States through its spy base at Pine Gap and by stationing six nuclear capable B52 bombers in the Top End (without permission from the traditional owners) is making Australia a prime nuclear target if the current war of words suddenly melts down into full scale war.
The Road to War shows the implicit connection between Carbon emissions (the US military uses a whopping 70% of America’s annual petroleum to move its armies and vast War Machine around the globe to its 800+ military bases..but under a loophole wangled at Kyoto, the US military does not have to report its C02 annual emissions). The Road to War starts screening at selected cities and regional centres in March. See the trailer end for details.
Antinuclear 
Leave a Reply