Most people do not perceive pneumonia as a deadly disease, but statistics prove otherwise. Often, pneumonia can be the complication that pushes a patient to the limit. According to Lisa M. Cannon, M.D., pneumonia can introduce complications that can be hard to spot but produce deadly effects. Here are some examples of these complications.
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What makes pneumonia a deadly respiratory disease?
1. Image source: health.harvard.edu
Image source: healthline.com
What makes pneumonia a deadly respiratory disease?
December 20, 2019
Most people do not perceive pneumonia as a deadly disease, but
statistics prove otherwise. Often, pneumonia can be the
complication that pushes a patient to the limit. According to Lisa M.
Cannon, M.D., pneumonia can introduce complications that can be
hard to spot but produce deadly effects. Here are some examples of
these complications.
Septic shock: Bacteria-caused pneumonia can sometimes enter the
bloodstream, especially if treatments were ignored. This condition is
called Bacteremia, which can lead to septic shock. Septic shock occurs
as a reaction to an infection in the blood, which causes a person’s blood pressure to drop down to dangerous
levels. It can starve a person’s organs of blood and force them to stop functioning altogether.
Kidney failure: When a person’s kidneys don’t get enough blood, it can lead to kidney failure. Bacteremia or
septic shock can cause this as it could prevent a person’s heart from pumping enough blood to a person’s
organs. Odds of kidney failure increases for patients who are suffering from other medical conditions other
than pneumonia.
Respiratory failure: People who suffer from pneumonia
can sometimes have fluid build-up in their lungs. This can
prevent the lungs from transferring oxygen to the blood, as
well as remove carbon dioxide in the blood. If left
untreated, this can affect all organs and lead to death.
Accomplished physician Lisa M. Cannon, M.D. , graduated
with a degree in medicine from New York Medical College
and earned her fellowship in pulmonary, critical care, and
sleep medicine from the renowned Mount Sinai Hospital in
New York. To read more about pulmonary health, visit
this website.