Pneumonia In The Elderly
In 2003, pneumonia, combined with influenza, was the seventh leading cause of death in the United Sates, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. This fact is illuminated by another statistic: one out of twenty adults who get pneumonia dies, says the Centers for Disease Control. Preventing pneumonia in the elderly a serious matter.
"Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs usually caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or other organisms," says Dr. Norman Edelman, the chief medical officer for the American Lung Association. This inflammation causes an outpouring of fluid in the infected part of the lungs, affecting either one or both lungs. The blood flow to the infected portion of the lung (or lungs) decreases, meaning oxygen levels in the bloodstream can decline.
This artice continues at Pneumonia and the Elderly.