Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Bryan Betty: Pneumonia


Listen Later

Pope Francis has spent a month in hospital, struggling with bilateral pneumonia – but what exactly is this infection? 

 

What is pneumonia?  

  • It’s a serious infection of the lungs.  
  • Bacteria and virus (or even a fungus) lodge themselves down in the lungs and cause an infection.  
  • It’s often at the base of one or both lungs.  
  • The body reacts to the bacteria or virus, causing a reaction to get rid of the infection, resulting in inflamed lung tissue with fluid or pus.  

   

What are the causes and how do we know we have pneumonia?  

  • There are two basic types: community acquired, and hospital acquired (hospitals are dangerous places for infections!). 
  • Risk factors: a weakened immune system, which could be a result of age, a chronic illness like diabetes, asthma, some medications, smoking, or admittance to a hospital.  
  • Viruses such as influenza, Covid, and RSV can cause pneumonia, which is why they are dangerous.  
  • Main symptoms (can be sudden onset): cough, bringing up phlegm, fever/chills, chest pain, feeling short of breath. 

   

How do we treat pneumonia?  

  • It depends on the type.  
  • It’s often community acquired and is diagnosed on exam with a chest Xray.  
  • Treatment includes antibiotics, fluids, rest, paracetamol. If it’s severe and you have difficulty breathing – go to the hospital.  
  • If it’s caused by a virus (influenza or Covid), it’s occasionally treated with an anti-viral medication, however, often paracetamol, fluids, rest are used. Some can end up in hospital with oxygen, or if severe, a ventilator till it gets better.  

   

How do we prevent pneumonia?  

  • This is a reason why vaccination so important, preventing things like influenza, Covid, pneumococcal.  
  • Quit smoking. 
  • A healthy immune system: eat a balanced diet, regular exercise, mange diabetes, or asthma.  

 

If you’re short of breath with a temperature, see your doctor! 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Saturday Morning with Jack TameBy Newstalk ZB

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

1 ratings


More shows like Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

View all
Nine To Noon by RNZ

Nine To Noon

23 Listeners

Saturday Morning by RNZ

Saturday Morning

50 Listeners

Sunday Morning by RNZ

Sunday Morning

10 Listeners

Gone By Lunchtime by The Spinoff

Gone By Lunchtime

25 Listeners

The Mike Hosking Breakfast by Newstalk ZB

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

59 Listeners

Weekend Sport with Jason Pine by Newstalk ZB

Weekend Sport with Jason Pine

5 Listeners

The Weekend Collective by Newstalk ZB

The Weekend Collective

2 Listeners

The OneRoof Radio Show by Newstalk ZB

The OneRoof Radio Show

6 Listeners

Smart Money by Newstalk ZB

Smart Money

1 Listeners

The Detail by RNZ

The Detail

58 Listeners

Matt Heath & Tyler Adams Afternoons by Newstalk ZB

Matt Heath & Tyler Adams Afternoons

1 Listeners

A Captain's Cup by Radio Sport

A Captain's Cup

1 Listeners

The Property Academy Podcast by Opes Partners

The Property Academy Podcast

36 Listeners

Between Two Beers Podcast by Steven Holloway & Seamus Marten

Between Two Beers Podcast

85 Listeners

The Girls Uninterrupted by Stuff | Brodie Kane Media

The Girls Uninterrupted

19 Listeners

Newstalk ZB ANZAC Centenary Tribute by Newstalk ZB

Newstalk ZB ANZAC Centenary Tribute

0 Listeners

Kiwi Yarns by Stuff | Brodie Kane Media

Kiwi Yarns

15 Listeners

On The Front Foot by Newstalk ZB

On The Front Foot

5 Listeners

Holiday Breakfast by Newstalk ZB

Holiday Breakfast

0 Listeners

The Superior Sailor Series by Newstalk ZB

The Superior Sailor Series

0 Listeners

Keep The Change by nextAdvisory

Keep The Change

13 Listeners

Rugby Direct by Newstalk ZB

Rugby Direct

1 Listeners

The Birmingham Bulletin by Newstalk ZB

The Birmingham Bulletin

0 Listeners

The Dom Harvey Podcast by Dom Harvey

The Dom Harvey Podcast

61 Listeners

News Fix by Newstalk ZB

News Fix

0 Listeners

Grey Areas with Petra Bagust by rova | Love It Media

Grey Areas with Petra Bagust

7 Listeners

The Big League Podcast by Newstalk ZB

The Big League Podcast

0 Listeners

Tova by Stuff Audio

Tova

0 Listeners

Election 2023: Behind the List with Barry Soper by Newstalk ZB

Election 2023: Behind the List with Barry Soper

0 Listeners

Election 2023: The Front Bench by Newstalk ZB

Election 2023: The Front Bench

0 Listeners

All Sport Breakfast Canterbury by NewstalkZB

All Sport Breakfast Canterbury

0 Listeners

Sports Fix by Newstalk ZB

Sports Fix

1 Listeners

Football Fever by Newstalk ZB

Football Fever

0 Listeners

Sportscafe-ish by iHeartRadio NZ

Sportscafe-ish

9 Listeners