Siliconsamurai-ga's comment in:

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=484585

Made me wonder ...

If you can't avoid catching a cold ...

How then can you avoid catching Pneumonia?

Hi Bryan! Thanks for another interesting question.

Based on some articles, here are some ways to prevent pneumonia.
Although there are no guarantees, these measures can lessen the chance
of catching pneumonia.

- Get vaccinated for pneumonia. (Different kinds of vaccines are involved here)
- Get a flu shot every fall
- Have good health habits
- Good diet and hygiene
- Get enough rest
- Regular Exercise

?WHAT IS PNEUMONIA??
http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35691#prevention


- Hand washing
- Don?t share tissues
- Avoid crowds during the cold and flu season

?Treating and Preventing Pneumonia?
http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5407,00.html


- People with weak immune systems may take antibiotics to prevent pneumonia
- Using antiviral medication
- Keep distance from people with pneumonia or other respiratory diseases.
- Use separate drinking glasses and utensils
- Avoid smoking

?Can I Prevent Pneumonia??
http://kidshealth.org/teen/infections/bacterial_viral/pneumonia_p2.html 

- ?Avoid rubbing your eyes or touching your nose, as this is how germs
get into your body?

?Preventing Pneumonia & Acute Bronchitis?
http://www.wellmark.com/health_improvement/reports/Bronchitis_Pneumonia/PreventingPneumoniaBronchitis.htm


- ?Researchers at the Tohoku University School of Medicine now report
that supplementation with folic acid is highly effective in preventing
pneumonia?

?Folic acid helps prevent pneumonia?
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/a122b.htm

Search terms used:  
Preventing pneumonia

I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
                                                          
                              
Regards,                              
Easterangel-ga                              
Google Answers Researcher

Many thanks, Easterangel, Excellent, as always.

But having a flu shot every time I fall seems a tad excessive.

Hitherto, I have just had one every autumn.

If I were to have one every time I fall there would be a world
shortage of vaccines.

Anyway, I'll now see if I can buy in bulk. Maybe ebay?

All the Best

Bryan

Hi Probo

I'm putting this here because it is not really an answer with all the
research and stuff.  It is just a reasoned guess.

While a cold is a virus infection, pneumonia can be caused by either
virus or bacteria.

In fact you may have either, or both, of those pests in your lungs at
any given time without any disease developing.

Pneumonia is often an "opportunistic" infection and does not come
about unless something else has lowered your resistance or immunity.

A common cold can do that to you if you do not take care of it thus
allowing the pneumonia do develop as a "secondary infection."

So while vitamins, etc, may or may not shorten the actual cold, they
may boost your immune system enough to prevent the secondary infection
of pneumonia from setting in.

I can make such a reasoned guess because I am an absolute expert at everything.  

Modest about it too.

Cheers
Digs

I just noticed, I am also an absolute expert at typos.

I love doing things well.

Digs

digsalot and easter are both right on the mark.

And many thanks to Digs and Sammy

Your inputs are appreciated.

Oops ... I've just fallen ... I'll go and get another flu shot right away.

All the Best

Bryan

As always thanks for the very kind words, the nice rating and for the
generous tips!

By the way this cracked me up on a Sunday morning! :)

"But having a flu shot every time I fall seems a tad excessive."

"If I were to have one every time I fall there would be a world
shortage of vaccines."

Thanks Bryan!