Warnings about Pneumonia

We are just now reaching the season when pneumonia is beginning to talce its most territic toll of human life. During January, February and March more people die from this disease than during the remaining nine months of the year. During these three months in 1985 pneumonia killed, in North Carolina, at the rate of over five hundred per month.

If you live in a village of five hundred people, think of an entire village tlie size of yours, men, women and children, being completely wiped off the map in this State each month during January, February and March. Remember that is just what this one dibcase, pneumonia, is doing. The total is approximately 3,000 deaths per year.

Pneumonia can much more easily be prevented than cured and prevention is a personal matter depending on each individual. The doctor will do all he possibly can to relieve a patient that is sick, but preventing the disease is a matter entirely in the hands of the individual. The doctor cannot do that for him any more than he could eat his food for him or sleep for him.

In one series of 1408 pneumonia patients, taking them as they came 852 gave a history of having been ill with a common cold for several days previous to the development of pneumonia.

Some important measures in preventing pneumonia which every one should know are :

1. Consider seriously and treat adequately all "common colds."

2. Dress to suit the weather, remembering that clothing is for protection, rather than alone for adornment.

3. Avoid sudden chilling, wet feet and wet clothing.

4. Vitality, or resistance to infection, is greatly lowered by lack of exercise, excessive fatigue, loss of sleep, excesses of any kind, and poor food.

During dangerous seasons be especially careful to maintain vitality at its very highest.

5. Avoid all unnecessary contact with persons sick with pneumonia, flu or colds. They are contagious.

6. Keep hands clean.

7. Do not let fingers or anything else except proper food and drink enter the mouth or touch the lips.

8. Avoid overheating of living rooms and be assured that there is ample ventilation to keep the air fresh.

Ralph is keen to help you all live a healthy life. Read his articles about head sweating and underarm excessive sweating to find out more useful advice.