Am I At Risk Of Getting Pneumonia?

Are you 65 or older?

Do you smoke?

Are you a heavy drinker (for men, consuming 15 or more drinks a week, and consuming 8 drinks or more a week for women)?

Do you use illegal drugs?

Are you exposed to chemicals, pollutants or toxic fumes, including secondhand smoke?

Do you have chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis?

Do you have other chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and sickle cell disease?

Do you have difficulty swallowing due to stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease or some other neurological conditions?

Have you recently had a viral respiratory infection, such as a cold, laryngitis or the flu?

Do you have HIV or have you been using steroids for a long time?

Have you been hospitalized recently?

Do you live in crowded conditions (students in dormitories, military personnel in barracks, people living in institutions)?

Based on your answers you have a low risk of getting pneumonia. Pneumonia is a medical condition characterized by a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Pneumonia can be a serious illness. The severity of the infection depends on the type of germ that causes pneumonia, the overall health and the age of a person. Anyone can get pneumonia, but people with a weakened immune system due to some other health problems, adults over the age of 65, as well as newborns and small children have the greatest risk. With age, the immune system becomes weaker and less able to fight infections.

Based on your answers you have a moderate risk of getting pneumonia. Pneumonia is a lung disease that refers to an infection of your lungs caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Pneumonia can often be a complication of some viral infection of the upper respiratory tract such as the common cold, laryngitis or flu. It is more common in smokers due to lung damage caused by cigarettes, as well as in people who are exposed to secondhand smoke. People who are exposed to certain chemicals or toxic fumes at work also have an increased risk of pneumonia. You can prevent pneumonia by keeping your immune system strong.

Based on your answers you have a high risk of getting pneumonia. Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Most people get pneumonia in a community setting. However, people can get pneumonia during hospitalization. The bacteria that cause this type of pneumonia are much more resistant to antibiotics. People who have trouble swallowing, either due to an injury, illness, or excessive alcohol or drug use can get aspiration pneumonia. It occurs when you accidentally inhale food, drink, saliva or vomit into the lungs. If the germs that cause pneumonia are strong enough, pneumonia can also occur in people who are otherwise in good health.