Table of contents:
- What is the relationship between COPD and pneumonia?
- What are the symptoms of COPD and pneumonia when they come together?
- Why does COPD increase the risk of getting pneumonia?
- If you have COPD, how can you prevent pneumonia?
- 1. Stop smoking
- 2. Vaccines
- 3. Live healthy
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia are two different conditions. However, there is a link between the two. People with advanced COPD have a higher risk of developing pneumonia. Those of you who have COPD are also more at risk of developing respiratory failure related to COPD exacerbations (flare-ups) and pneumonia.
What is the relationship between COPD and pneumonia?
COPD is a group of diseases that damage the lungs and make it difficult to breathe, which reduces the supply of oxygen to the blood due to blocked airways due to inflammation (bronchitis) and damaged air sacs (emphysema).
Meanwhile, pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. People with pneumonia have inflamed air sacs filled with fluid. This makes it more difficult for you to breathe and can reduce the oxygen level in your blood, which can be fatal.
Research published in Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases states that patients with COPD tend to have more severe pneumonia than those without COPD. In the first year after COPD diagnosis, they had a 16-fold higher risk of developing pneumonia than people who did not have COPD.
A paper in the 2002 issue of American Family Physician states that 70-75 percent of COPD exacerbations (worsening of symptoms) are caused by a bacterial infection such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenza.
What are the symptoms of COPD and pneumonia when they come together?
For COPD patients, environmental factors can infect the damaged lung very easily. That's why COPD sufferers often need an annual vaccine to prevent pneumonia.
In advanced COPD, it is difficult to distinguish worsening COPD symptoms from pneumonia because the two are often very similar. The more common symptoms seen in exacerbations of COPD and pneumonia are:
- Inability to speak due to lack of air
- Mucus discoloration: green, brown, yellow, or bloody
- High fever
- Do not feel the relief you usually get after doing COPD treatment
Why does COPD increase the risk of getting pneumonia?
COPD is a condition that can weaken the respiratory system. Therefore, people who have COPD are at risk of developing COPD complications in the form of respiratory infections, including pneumonia. This is because people with COPD have weak airways and a poorer immune system.
The study, edited by the journal Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, states that smoking increases the risk of pneumonia and COPD simultaneously. In addition, the study also states that there are several conditions in COPD patients that can cause an increased risk of developing pneumonia, namely:
- Chronic bronchitis
- Mucus production
- There is a collection of bacteria
- Microbial imbalance in the body
- Increased airway inflammation
- Immune system disorders
- Structural damage
If you have COPD, how can you prevent pneumonia?
The following are things that can reduce your risk and prevent you from getting pneumonia if you have COPD:
1. Stop smoking
The first step you need to take if you want to avoid and prevent pneumonia if you have COPD is to quit smoking. The reason is, smoking is the most common cause of COPD. This also includes inhalation of secondhand smoke, as well as other vapors or gases that can irritate or damage the lungs.
2. Vaccines
If you have COPD, you should ask your doctor which vaccine you should receive. In addition to the pneumonia vaccine, your doctor may also recommend a flu vaccine.
The annual influenza vaccine is recommended for all adults, especially those with COPD. The influenza vaccine has been shown to reduce pneumonia diagnosis, as well as pneumonia and heart-related hospitalizations.
In addition, the pneumococcal vaccine is also important for preventing pneumococcal pneumonia if you have COPD. Research published in Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines can prevent the worsening of COPD conditions associated with pneumonia.
3. Live healthy
Of course, in addition to the two steps above, you must continue to live a healthy lifestyle so that pneumonia and COPD do not occur and get worse at the same time. Even if you have COPD, that doesn't mean you can't exercise.
People with COPD can do several exercises to maintain and optimize lung function. You also need to have a healthy diet and diet for COPD to help relieve the symptoms.
Tell your doctor if any changes occur in your symptoms and seek emergency treatment if your medications no longer help your symptoms, or if your symptoms are severe and your shortness of breath makes it difficult to move on.
