The Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists interrupt our series of blogs on “How To Talk To Your Doctor About Lung Cancer,” with urgent material concerning Pneumococcal Pneumonia and the health of our readers and patients over fifty years old.
Hank is not really a health nut, but he does one fabulously healthy thing every morning. He jogs along his favorite section of Florida beach. He attributes his robust health to the jogs. At 50 years old, he feels better than he did in his 30’s.
Lisa’s friends call her the energizer bunny. With her busy schedule of owning her own business and helping care for her young grandson, she barely noticed turning 50 years old as anything special. She feels stronger than ever, and she calls 50 the new 30!
Over Fifty? You Are High Risk!
Both Hank and Lisa have something in common besides the fact they just turned 50. They both just entered the high risk group for Pneumococcal Pneumonia. This is a serious bacterial respiratory infection.
Even if you are a youthful fifty years old, full of vitality, like Lisa or Hank, you have a high risk factor of contracting this bacterial respiratory infection.
The Bad News About Pneumococcal Pneumonia :
FLASS wants you to know this disease is air-born. Somebody sneezes, and you don’t even notice, but the bacteria is already on its way to your lungs. Here is a list of the symptoms:
1. The Flush: You will quickly develop a High Fever.
2. The “I-don’t-smoke-I-just-cough-like-I-do” Hack: As you develop a bad cough, you will notice you must struggle to clear thick phlegm.
3. The Shivers: The shivering, chilling and sweating will confirm this is far more serious than a cold.
4. The Strangest Blues: This blue refers to a bluish tinge on your lips and the beds of your fingernails. It happens when you are starved for oxygen. Your case of Pneumonococcal pneumonia would have reached the severe level before you develop this symptom.
The Good News: Powerful Protection For Your Lungs Over Fifty!
This powerful illness is a strong, miserable, life-interrupting experience, but there is one thing you can do to prevent it: Take a shot at it before it gets a shot at you!
The good news is that there is a vaccine, a powerful one that prevents Pneumococcal Pneumonia. At FLASS, our doctors recommend you take the vaccination if you are over 50. Just like the old folks used to say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Pneumococcal 13-valent diphtheria conjugate vaccine is an active immunizing agent used to prevent infection by Pneumococcal bacteria. It works by causing your body to produce its own protection (antibodies) against the disease.” We invite you to read more technical information by clicking at the above link.
Prevent Pneumococcal Pneumonia With a Quick Trip and a Little Stick!
There is another pneumonia vaccine named Pneumovax. We want you to be aware that Pneumovax has to be administered every 5 years, but Prevnar protects you for a lifetime. FLASS wants you to be as well protected as possible, for as long as possible.
By the way, it is true that Prevnar is administered to children. The vaccination was first used for protecting babies from ear infections as well as pneumonia. It’s not just for children any more!
Here’s the Take-Away about Pneumococcal Pneumonia:
1. Remember ! Pneumococcal Pneumonia is not simply an illness that preys on elderly or sickly people, or people who are hospitalized. This illness also attacks vital, healthy respiratory systems like those of Hank and Lisa, the active 50 year olds in our opening example story.
2. Simply explained, once you are in that high risk group, your immune system is no longer as strong as it was when you were 29, or even 39 years old.
3. Improve Your Odds! Chances are good that the Prevnar vaccination will compensate for that loss, and protect you from the disease.
Pneumococcal pneumonia is not to be confused with a “bad cold” although people often make this mistake when they attempt self diagnosis in the early stage of the infection.
4. Avoid A Life Interruption: With Pneumococcal Pneumonia, you will miss work, and you will lose quality family time. Here’s a startling statistic for you: In the U.S.A. alone, Pneumococcal pneumonia has caused at least 302,000 trips to the hospital every year.
The doctors and staff of the Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists invite you to talk to your healthcare provider about scheduling your Prevnar vaccination today. Please do not wait for another Birthday to take your vaccination. We don’t want to worry you, but that date might come too late. Pneumoccal Pneumonia can also claim lives.
Discover indepth information about the FDA approval of Prevnar at this expert online resource. If you’re 50 or older, talk to your healthcare provider about your Prevnar vaccination, or call the Florida Lung, Asthma, and Sleep Specialists here in Orlando for more information.
We invite you to study more about this illness, your risk and your amazing Prevnar option by clicking here.