Written by Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : November 5, 2015 4:21 PM IST
Right from cooking stoves to sleeping pills and talcum powder, everyday things that you use or have in your house can increase your risk of pneumonia. To know more about such unknown yet potential risk factors of pneumonia, read this.
Indoor pollutants: Around 50% of deaths caused due to pneumonia in kids below five years of age is attributed to indoor pollution, as reported by WHO. What’s more! Women and kids spend most of their time breathing in smoke and soot from cooking stoves, space heaters and fuel-based lamps as they stay indoors.
Sleep apnea: According to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, people suffering from sleep apnea (disturbed sleep) are at higher risk of suffering from pneumonia. In sleep apnea, the upper airway of the respiratory tract is obstructed lowering the supply of oxygen, leading to pneumonia.
Alcohol: Alcoholics have a high risk of developing pneumonia due to failure of immune system in lungs. It also leads to fat accumulation in the lungs, explains a study published in American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.
Talcum powder: If you have been using talcum powder on your infant, you could be doing more harm than good. As per the American journal of surgical pathology, infants might develop pneumonia from inhaling the talc.
Feeding birds: If you are the one you love feeding birds, here’s something you should know. According to Dr Manav Manchanda, respiratory medicine expert at Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, droppings from birds like pigeon have high chance of spreading infections as severe as pneumonia.
Sleeping pills: Don’t pop a pill every time you find it difficult to sleep as it might have a negative impact on your lungs in the long run. These pills contain benzodiazepines that decrease the ability of brain to respond to stimuli and also damage the airways, as mentioned in a British study.
Premature birth: Although babies born premature are at high risk of various health complications and even death, they are known to be at high risk of pneumonia.
Acid toilet cleaners: If you have been using acids to clean your toilet comodes, please stop. The fumes emitted by these acids damage the mucosal lining of trachea when inhaled. And this when inhaled frequently might lead to chemical pneumonia, explains Dr Jalil Parker, chest physician at Lilavati Hospital.
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