Can asthma cause pneumonia?? This might raise a query to people who have asthma concerning the connection between these two respiratory conditions. However, asthma is a persistent lung disease that leads to inflammation and narrowing of the airways resulting in symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Conversely, pneumonia refers to an infection of the lungs caused either by bacteria, viruses or fungi.
So can asthma cause pneumonia? Well, asthma and pneumonia inasmuch as they are different can still show some signs of being related. The problem is that people with asthma may have weakened immune system making them more prone to developing pneumonia because they cannot easily fight it and have compromised lung function. This is worsened by the fact that asthma sufferers often take steroids to control their asthma. Steroids weaken the immune system, making this person more prone to an infection. So asthma doesn’t really cause pneumonia, but having asthma can make one more prone to pneumonia.
If you would like to know whether your cough is caused by asthma or pneumonia (or even both). Please consult with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to differentiate the two using your history, physical examination, and x-ray results. Your doctor may also request for additional laboratory tests if needed. The medication to treat the 2 are also very different.
Those with asthma should take care of their lungs so as to avoid contracting pneumonia. Some of the steps include:
Complying with your individualized management plan for your allergic condition
Taking drugs properly and having control over asthmatic symptoms through inhalers
Being vaccinated against other respiratory infections including pneumonia
Proper hand hygiene practices should be observed while avoiding known causing factors for asthmatic attacks
In addition, one of the best ways I have discovered to reduce the chances of pneumonia is by using a technique to effectively reduce the needs to take steroids. Steroids have that immune-depressing effect which you don’t want. It is added to your inhalers to counteract a specific side-effect. You may want to learn more about this in this video about steroids in inhalers: https://youtu.be/-AhGuGlwS1k?si=8kHtH0CyFqeORf0v
If you want to control your asthma and reduce your medicine use, I highly recommend enrolling in my BEAT ASTHMA masterclass. My patients no longer take medicines for asthma and they dont have any attacks for 10 years and counting. I personally use these techniques to conquer my own asthma. What’s more the technique also helps a lot in reducing cough from pneumonia. I highly recommend it.
For for information about BEAT ASTHMA, visit this link: https://breathingexpert.com/beat-asthma/
