Take your best shot in life by helping to protect yourself against pneumococcal pneumonia

Protect against pneumococcal pneumonia

 

This post has been sponsored by Pfizer.

Hello, everyone!  Today, I am partnering with Pfizer to discuss another important topic concerning our health over 50.

This is my 2022 Vision Board.  Do you have one?  As I progress closer to age 70, a vision board really helps me to focus on the shots I want to take at this time of life.  I don’t aim that big…not heading off into space…but there are life goals I continue to pursue and love.

I created my first vision board two years ago, and it really helped me to think about my desires during a volatile time of my life and how my health needs to be more of a priority in order to take my shot at key goals.

I know for me, the last couple of years really captured my attention.  We saw daily reminders that life is short, so I want to take my best shot at living active and healthy each day.  However, in order to do so, I also must be aware of proactive measures I can take to help protect my health.

With everything going on in the last two years, I decided to pay closer attention to my lung health since I have had asthma for over thirty years.  The first time I was asked to breathe into a machine at the doctor’s office two years ago, the results were pretty dismal.  This was a graphic reminder that I had work to do in order to live the way I desire to live.  First this meant I needed to have important discussions with my doctor about a variety of topics related to my lungs.

One of those topics is pneumococcal pneumonia.

protect against pneumococcal pneumonia

Pneumococcal pneumonia is a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that can disrupt our lives for weeks. In severe cases, it can mean hospitalization and even be life-threatening.  I was not aware of this until I began to work on this campaign and now it has my full attention.

As do many conditions, the risk for pneumococcal pneumonia increases with age and certain chronic conditions…like my asthma.

Adults 65+ and those 19-64 living with certain chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, chronic heart disease, or COPD, among others, are at greater risk for pneumococcal pneumonia.

At 68 with asthma, I am at greater risk for pneumococcal pneumonia.  This is why I have decided to take it seriously and learn more about vaccination.

The immune system naturally weakens with age, so even if you’re healthy and active, being 65 or older is a key risk factor for pneumococcal pneumonia. Adults aged 65 or older are over 10 times more likely to be hospitalized with pneumococcal pneumonia than adults aged 18-49.

We should understand these two important points:

  • Getting vaccinated can help protect us from pneumococcal pneumonia.
  • Pneumococcal pneumonia can strike any time of year, so now is the time we should be discussing this with our doctors.

Pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common type of bacterial pneumonia. It is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria that can live in the upper respiratory tract and can be spread to others through coughing or close contact.

Common symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia to be aware of include high fever, excessive sweating, shaking chills, coughing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and chest pain. Some symptoms can appear quickly and without warning.

Then, what should we do?

  1. Visit KnowPneumonia.com to learn more about the risk of pneumococcal pneumonia.
  2. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about pneumococcal vaccination. I have already reached out to my doctor for this discussion.

protect against pneumococcak pneumonia

I want to take my best shot at healthy living the rest of my days. I love what I do as a blogger for women over 50, I love getting out into the community and enjoying events and festivals, and most of all I love my family and our dog! Walking him is an activity I do not want to compromise! 

The immune system naturally weakens with age, so even as a healthy, active woman in my late 60s I know that contracting pneumococcal pneumonia is a risk.

So, join me now in talking with a doctor or pharmacist about pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination.  Pneumococcal pneumonia shouldn’t stand in the way of taking our best shot at life right now.  Do your own vision board with your health in mind and see where you want to go!

KEEP SMILING!!

 By Pamela Lutrell

 Disclaimer:  This post has been sponsored by Pfizer.