According to a survey, 1 per 1000 to 12 per 1000 incidents of death occur due to pneumonia over the age of 75. Deaths in the elderly due to pneumonia over the age of 65 are almost 65% as observed.

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection of the lung usually caused by bacteria or viruses. One or both lungs show inflammation as a result of this infection. Water accumulates in the air sacs inside the lungs which makes it difficult for the lungs to pass oxygen into the bloodstream.

Who’s at risk of catching viral pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a communicable and airborne disease and therefore everybody is at risk of catching this viral infection. However, there is a higher possibility of getting the infection in the following cases:

• Those aged 65 years or older
• Infants 2 years old or younger
• Pregnant women
• Those with any form of chronic illness or autoimmune disease that affects the respiratory system
• Very poor immune system due to any type of immuno-suppressant medication or therapy post any surgery
• Those affected by any other kind of communicable or immunodeficiency diseases
• Smoking or intoxication by alcohol or any type of drugs that hamper normal cough reflex
• Digestive tract disorders that cause digestive tract content to pass upwards

The aging population usually suffers from heart and lung disease and is more susceptible to getting affected by this than the younger generations. Pneumonia can cause dangerous complications in old age by weakening the immune system. Health issues increase the chances of mortality in the elderly with pneumonia.

Symptoms of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is caused by almost twenty types of organisms; therefore symptoms can differ from person to person. Some symptoms of Pneumonia are,

1. Weakness
2. Fever
3. Cough
4. Pain in body and chest
5. Breathing problem
6. Green or yellow sputum
7. Loss of appetite
8. Headaches
9. Malaise
10. Dyspnoea

The signs of Pneumonia in elderly people are different from the rest. Fever, dizziness, loss of appetite, or sluggishness may not be noticed in the elderly with pneumonia. An elderly person with dementia may not even realize that they have been affected by the infection and end up harming their lungs. Almost 50% of body organs lose their efficiency with aging which assists the virus to spread rapidly. Elderly people have lower immunity and lesser lung capacity and may most of the time not notice the symptoms because of falling ill very often and being accustomed to it.

Chest Physiotherapy For Elderly With Pneumonia

Chest Physiotherapy plays a very important part in helping the elderly with pneumonia to recover quickly. Chest Physiotherapy can provide,

1. Management of respiratory failure
2. Drain secretions from a specific part of the lungs to increase lung capacity and assist in chest expansion
3. Breathing exercise to remove mucus from the respiratory passage
4. Pulmonary rehabilitation
5. Physical exercise or training for improvement of the respiration
6. Airway clearance systems
7. Respiratory muscle training

Chest physiotherapy can help a person recover from pneumonia. It will help to remove the water that is stored around the lungs and helps to improve breathing and clears the respiratory tract. An assessment done by a physiotherapist can help in discussing the best treatment based on one’s daily activities and symptoms.

We, at TriBeCa Care, care about you, and your family. Our Elder Care is categorically structured to provide the elderly with the support that they deserve. If you have any further queries then feel free to reach us. Call us at + 913366064208 or request a callback. Email us at enquiry@tribecacare.com

References:
http://www.aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/pneumonia-in-the-elderly
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2006/12/pneumonia_vs_the_elderly.html
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Pneumonia
http://www.csp.org.uk/frontline/article/physiotherapy-treating-pneumonia
http://thorax.bmj.com/content/64/Suppl_1/i1
http://www.csp.org.uk/frontline/article/physiotherapy-treating-pneumonia
https://statistics.blf.org.uk/pneumonia
http://www.healthofchildren.com/P/Pneumonia.html