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It can not be denied that Oprah Winfrey is a powerful and inspiring woman, but even the strongest people get sick. And in a true Oprah form, she released her recent health alert to spread her health – and potentially deadly – like pneumonia.
"I came back from overseas and I thought I had a cold, but it was not a cold," Oprah told Ellen On Monday. "I ended up in the emergency room and they said," You have pneumonia. ""
We often hear about pneumonia, but you may not know much about it. According to the Mayo Clinic, pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, where air sacs become inflamed.
"Pneumonia is not something to play, everyone," Oprah said. "It's very serious."
She's right. Sometimes pneumonia is not serious, but it can also lead to serious complications, including:
Bacteria in the blood that can transmit the infection to other parts of the body.
Difficulty breathing. Patients may need to be hospitalized and / or use a respirator.
Fluid in the lungs. If this gets infected, it must be drained or removed.
Pulmonary abscess. This is essentially pus in the lungs. (Ugh!)
Pneumonia also resulted in death.
Pneumonia can be caused by various viruses, bacteria and fungi. In the United States, it is most often caused by influenza and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). It can also be caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The most common symptoms of pneumonia are cough, fever and breathing difficulties. For Oprah, it was a rattling in the chest.
"I said, I had a little problem," she told Ellen DeGeneres. "[The lung specialist] puts a stethoscope here [on my chest]and I see [his] … face. It's like, Oh my God, something is wrong with you. And I could see him, he did not hide it.
He immediately said, "You must cancel everything. "I have never canceled anything in my life, I work when I'm sick."
There are several ways to reduce your risk of developing pneumonia:
Wash your hands frequently.
An alcohol-based hand sanitizer or a 20-second wash with soap and water can kill germs that can cause pneumonia.
Get vaccinated with your children.
Hib vaccines, influenza, measles, whooping cough, chicken pox and pneumococcus can all help prevent diseases that can lead to pneumonia.
No smoking.
Smokers are at higher risk for pneumonia because smoking interferes with the lungs ability to defend against infection.
Fortunately, Oprah is fully recovered from her pneumonia, but she urges others to do prevention.
"Do not play with that," she says. "Get vaccinated against the flu and your pneumonia, it's not a game to play with. It makes people go out.
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