Can Chest Infection Kill You? Get the Facts to Help Keep You Safe!‍

We all know that chest infections can be horrible for you, with symptoms that can be just annoying and sometimes turn out to be kind of dangerous depending on the situation. But can a chest infection actually kill you? If you don’t know the answer already, sit back and enjoy reading this blogpost because we will also cover some tips on how you can stay safe!

What is a chest infection?

It’s when there is an infection inside your lungs and airways, also known as a “lower respiratory tract infection”. So where does it come from? The simple answer is from either a virus or bacteria and anybody can get a chest infection but however its more common for children, and older people. Those who have weakened immune systems or those who haven't established a better immune system yet.

Types of chest infections

Acute chest infection – This one appears when you get a virus, this can happen when you get the cold. Most of the time these viruses last only for up to two weeks and if you want to speed up the process there are some things you can do. First of all, its always important to get some rest, this is when your body is fighting of diseases and it’s important to stay hydrated, drink a lot of water! Another great solution is Chest Congestion Relief 50 Tabs By Sunmark which can help you out with chest congestion. If you experience a lot of mucus and coughing Tussin Chest Congestion Liquid 8 Oz By Sunmark is the product you should go for!

Chronic chest infection – This one most of the time is caused by bacteria, but apart from acute chest infection this one can last for several months, some cases have shown to be even up to years. This one is more serious than the acute chest infection and needs antibiotics to get fully restored. Bronchitis and pneumonia are the two most common chronic chest infections you can catch.

The symptoms of chest infection

If you are coughing a lot and feel a pain in the chest and experiencing fever, these are all signs that you may have a chest infection. Everyone can have different symptoms, some worse than others, you might even experience other symptoms like a sore throat, a headache or you might even feel very tired. If you come across any of these symptoms it's highly recommended to seek help so you can get the right treatment and as fast as possible, and it's very important to do this as soon as possible if you have trouble breathing or a high fever.

When should you seek medical treatment for a chest infection?

It’s important to seek medical attention if you are experiencing any of the symptoms we talked about above in “The symptoms of chest infection”, this is even more important to do if you are elderly, weakened immune system, or if you have a underlying medical condition. These could be anything from asthma to COPD.

Can chest infection kill you?

The simple answer is yes, chest infections can be life-threatening even though it's very rare for them to be fatal. Even if it’s rare to have a fatal outcome it’s always best to seek medical advice to guide you in the right direction. 

How to help prevent chest infection

There are different things you can do to prevent a chest infection, keeping good hygiene routines is very important. Washing your hands, try to avoid sick people as much as possible or avoid close contact, there is also vaccinations that can help you prevent chest infections such as: Pneumococcal vaccine, influenza vaccine, haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

It is also important to avoid smoking, as smoking can increase your risk of developing a chest infection. If you are a smoker, it is important to quit or to reduce your smoking to help reduce your risk.

When chest infection needs antibiotics

It’s hard to determine if you need or don’t need antibiotics on your own, therefor you should always visit a doctor to determine if you they should put you on antibiotics.

Will chest infection go away on its own?

It depends if the chest infections are caused by bacteria, if it’s not caused by bacteria the human body will most of the time restore itself, if you are feeling worse over time, we always suggest to seek medical advice.

Chest infection with asthma

If you have asthma, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of a chest infection. This is because chest infections can make asthma symptoms worse, and can also make it more difficult to control your asthma.

If you have asthma, it is important to get regular check-ups with your doctor, and to take your medications as prescribed. You should also be aware of the signs of a chest infection, such as a fever, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.

Conclusion

chest infections can be serious and potentially fatal, although it is rare. It is important to seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms, particularly if one has an underlying medical condition or weakened immune system. To prevent chest infections, individuals should maintain good hygiene, avoid sick people, get vaccinations, and avoid smoking. Determining if antibiotics are needed is best done by visiting a doctor. Furthermore, if chest infection caused by virus can go away on its own, chronic chest infection caused by bacteria need to be treated with antibiotics.