As early winter is approaching, the weather is getting colder and pneumonia is at a high incidence.

On November 12th, World Pneumonia Day, let us take a look at how to protect our lungs.

Today we are not talking about the terrible novel coronavirus but pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia refers to lung inflammation, which can be caused by microbial infections such as bacteria, fungi and viruses or radiation exposure or inhalation of foreign bodies. Common manifestations include fever, cough and sputum.

People susceptible to pneumonia

1) People with low immunity such as infants, young children and the elderly;

2) Smokers;

3) People with underlying diseases such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and uremia.

Pneumonia accounts for 15% of deaths in children under 5 years of age and is also the leading cause of death in this group.

In 2017, pneumonia caused the death of about 808,000 children under 5 years old worldwide.

Pneumonia also poses a great health threat to 65-year-olds and patients with underlying diseases.

In developing countries, the carrier rate of streptococcus pneumoniae in the nasopharynx of infants and young children is as high as 85%.

Clinical studies in some cities in China have shown that streptococcus pneumoniae is the first bacterial pathogen in children suffering from pneumonia or respiratory tract infection, accounting for about 11% to 35%.

Pneumococcal pneumonia is often fatal to the elderly, and the risk of death increases with age. The fatality rate of pneumococcal bacteremia in the elderly can reach 30% to 40%.

How to prevent pneumonia?

1. Strengthen physique and immunity

Maintain healthy behaviors in life such as adequate sleep, adequate nutrition and regular physical exercise. Professor Lin Zhi-Bin mentioned in the article “Ganoderma Lucidum’s Basis for Preventing Influenza – Sufficient Healthy-Qi inside the body will prevent invasion of pathogenic factors” in the 46th issue of “Health and Ganoderma” in 2009 that when there is sufficient healthy qi inside, pathogenic factors have no way to invade the body. The accumulation of pathogens in the body leads to the decrease of the body’s resistance to disease and the onset of the disease. The article also talked about “prevention of influenza is more important than treatment of influenza. During the influenza season, not all people who are exposed to the virus will get sick.” By the same token, enhancing immunity is a feasible way to prevent pneumonia.

A large number of studies have proved that Reishi mushroom has an immunomodulatory effect.

First, Ganoderma can enhance the body’s non-specific immune functions such as promoting the proliferation and differentiation of dendritic cells, enhancing the phagocytic activity of mononuclear macrophages and natural killer cells, preventing viruses and bacteria from invading the human body and destroying viruses.

Second, Ganoderma lucidum can enhance humoral and cellular immune functions, constitute the body’s defense line against virus and bacterial infections, promote the proliferation of T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes, promote the production of immunoglobulin (antibody) IgM and IgG, and promote the production of interleukin 1, Interleukin 2 and Interferon γ and other cytokines. Thus it can eliminate viruses and bacteria that invade the body.

Third, Ganoderma can also improve immune dysfunction when the immune function is hyperactive or low due to various reasons. Therefore, the immunomodulatory effect of Ganoderma lucidum is also an important mechanism for the antiviral effect of Ganoderma lucidum.

[Note: The above content is excerpted from the article written by Professor Lin Zhi-Bin in the 87th issue of “Health and Ganoderma” Magazine in 2020]

1.Keep the environment clean and ventilated

2.Keep the home and workplace clean and well ventilated.

3. Minimize activities in crowded places

In the season of high incidence of respiratory infectious diseases, try to avoid crowded, cold, humid and poorly ventilated places to reduce the chance of contact with sick people. Maintain the good habit of wearing masks and follow the epidemic prevention and control arrangements.

4. Seek medical advice immediately after the onset of symptoms.

If fever or other respiratory symptoms occur, you should go to the nearest fever clinic for medical treatment in time and try to avoid taking public transportation to medical institutions.

Reference material

“Don’t forget to protect your lungs in autumn and winter! Pay attention to these 5 points to prevent pneumonia”, People’s Daily Online – Popular Science of China, 2020.11.12.

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