Asthma and Pneumonia

by Dr. Sandy | Comments


Reader Question: I have asthma and I seem to get a lot of respiratory infections. Is there anything I can do to prevent them?

Yes—get the pneumonia vaccine. New recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices say that everyone who has asthma needs it. Here's why: Asthma causes changes in the bronchial tubes that make it harder for the body to clear bacteria. (The lining of the bronchial tubes becomes thickened and there's more mucus production.) As a result, your chances of getting respiratory infections—including very serious ones like pneumonia—are much higher than average. In fact, a recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that asthma doubles your risk of serious bacterial infection from pneumococcal bacterial infection, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis and infections in your bones and joints. Ask your doctor about getting the vaccine now, and in the fall, remember to get a flu shot.

