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Introduction

5 Ways to avoid getting pneumonia include performing measures that don’t seem to pose a big challenge but promote the general well being of an individual. Pneumonia is an acute inflammatory disease of the lungs due to bacterial, viral or fungal infection and complications may follow if the infection advances. Everyone can be infected, although children, elderly and people with comorbidities are more vulnerable, as are babies. The positive side of this however is that you can greatly decrease your chances of developing pneumonia by practicing a healthy lifestyle and taking proper precautions. Thus, in this article we will reveal 5 practicable and effective strategies to avoid pneumonia and support health of the lungs. It is good also to point out that those strategies are rather simple which makes their execution very important for enhancing your overall quality of life.

1.Get Vaccinated: The First Line of Defense

it is impossible to stop pneumonia or some other PICs without a vaccine. Getting a flu vaccine every year and receiving the pneumococcal vaccine may help prevent some of the top causes of pneumonia. For example, pneumococcal one is against Streptococcus pneumonia, bacterium, primarily responsible for many incidents of pneumonia, and flu is against the influenza viruses, which take over secondary bacterial infections.
The vaccines are most important for the most vulnerable populations meaning those that are young, seniors or who have preexisting health conditions like diabetes or asthma. This you achieve by ensuring that you are up to date on your immunization to ensure that you form a wall against pneumonia pathogens. It is also helps in preventing the spread of certain disease in the populace, so getting vaccinated is not only an act of protecting oneself but also those who one share close proximity with. You need to, therefore, consult your doctor to know which vaccines are ideal for your age and medical situation. This is a proactive approach and a sure means of preventing this possibly deadly disease from becoming an umbrella term and claiming your life.

2.Practice Good Hygiene to Avoid Lung Infections

Hand washing is a very important but misunderstood weapon in the fight against pneumonia. Infections or illnesses that result in pneumonia are caused by germs and they can easily be picked from surfaces and transferred to your hands. The only way to prevent pneumonia is to adopt hygiene practices into your daily activities. The easy yet effective way of reducing these germs is by washing your hands with soap under running water. Some wash the hand after using the washroom, before they eat, or after they have been in some open places. Hand washing with soap and water should be done where possible, but if the latter is not available, then using alcohol-based hand sanitizers when hand washing with soap and water is not possible is also recommended to prevent cross infections. Also getting used to always wear a tissue or your hand’s elbow around the mouth and the nose when coughing or sneezing minimizes on the spread of airborne particles. Another important behavioral change is one that involves shunning close contacts with people who are affected by diseases which are know to have originated from certain agents. Regular cleaning of such items as doors, computers and telephone handsets also lowers your probability of meeting nasty bugs. By adhering to these simple but effective hygiene practices, apart from avoiding pneumonia, other lung diseases are minimized, leaving your general health uncompromised.

3.Increase the Health Defense System through a Healthy Lifestyle

Immunization involves taking foods that are recommended with fruits; vegetables; whole grains as well as lean proteins. These foods provide the necessary vitamins, such as C and D, zinc and antioxidants that the body needs for it to be immunocompetent. Hydration is also important because you need to drink enough water and make sure any of your bodily processes do not get slowed down.
Immunity also requires a regular exercise as much as anything else. This way, circulation is encouraged, a fact which means that the immune cells can cover larger distances within your body. Regular moderate-intensity exercise like brisk walking, yoga, swimming etc are beneficial for your whole body and your lungs especially they help in preventing respiratory tract infections. Sleep is another sure way of building up a strong immune system that will help you overcome any form of NCDs. Ultimately, they betray your immune system if you do not get at least 7-9 hours of refreshing sleep every night. Coping with stress is equally fundamental because stress weakens the body’s immunity. It can therefore be managed by use of relaxation methods such as meditation deep breathing or even going for nature that calm the body. That way, you keep your body armed with natural defense mechanisms against infections and consequently pneumonia.

4.Stop Smoking and Stay Away from Polluted Places

Cigarette smoking is one of the most devastating habits for your respiratory system and is a strong risk factor for pneumonia. Tobacco smoke affects and kills the tiny hair like structures in your respiratory system that remove mucus and debris from the airways. Without these natural barriers, your lungs are at a higher risk for developing infections such as pneumonia. Smoking is beneficial to your lungs for good and gives you less chances of participating in chronic respiratory ailments including bronchitis as well as emphysema when you decide to quit smoking.

It is also important to reduce contacts with polluted environments together with refraining from smoking. Ironically, the outdoor pollutants such as industrial emissions, car exhaust, and chemicals may cause you respiratory discomfort at some point and progressively reduce the strength of your lungs. If you breathe polluted air most of the time, be sure to cover your face every time you step out or better still buy an air purifier for your house. Second hand smoking is also discouraged due to the reason that one will be exposed to chemicals that are dangerous to the lung. By managing these environmental impacts, you reduce them and bring into the community a safer and healthier place for selves.

5.Stay Hydrated and Maintain Physical Activity

There are basic measures of avoiding pneumonia, which are drinking plenty of fluids, and taking part in physical exercises. Drink water because your mucus membranes depend on water in order to keep moist and effectively catch and eliminate dangerous elements and viruses out of your breathing system. Staying hydrated, that is, consuming water all the time makes the body organs perfect ready to fight diseases.

While travelling, lung capacity and the strength of respiratory muscles receive the effort, while exercising. Exercise increases the availability of oxygen in the body and increases the bouquet of blood, allowing immune cells to see adverse stimuli more easily. Exercise such as jogging, or anytime exercises like, Aerobics, and even deep breathing exercises will do lots of good for your respiratory health. Moreover, physical fitness decreases one’s vulnerability to getting chronic ailments, including obesity and diabetes, which are recognized to cause vulnerability to pneumonia. By taking proper care of one’s body through water intake and physical activity, one lays a strong bar against any sickness most especially those that affect the respiratory system.

Conclusion

Nowadays, pneumonia is considered as an easily preventable disease, and nevertheless, proper actions can significantly contribute to the wellbeing. Through vaccination, washing your body, boosting your immunity, avoiding vices and keeping yourself hydrated and active, you can enhance your health security against pneumonia. These are not only measures that you can be able to use in order to prevent pneumonia but also enhance the health of your lungs and your overall living. Prophesies is always better than the worry, and by making these few changes in your everyday life, you can avoid this condition, which has the possibility of getting severe. Pneumonia doesn’t have to be a part of your future any longer start a new and improved life today!

This article is for informational purposes and is not supposed as clinical recommendation. Please consult a qualified doctor for personalized clinical recommendation, analysis. If you find signs and symptoms or fitness troubles, are trying to find immediately clinical attention.

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