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Pneumonia: At-home Guidelines to Recovery
Pneumonia: At-home Guidelines to RecoveryTranscript (page 1 of 2)Now that you’re ready to leave the hospital, your recovery at home will soon begin.But before you are discharged, it is important that you receive and understand the athome recovery guidelines which a member of your healthcare team will develop foryou. These guidelines outline what you need to do at home to make your recovery asquick and healthy as possible.Your recovery guidelines will include the date of a follow-up appointment with yourdoctor or specialist.“Yeah, the 10th.”If you don’t already have one scheduled, make sure you call for one when you gethome.“Thank you.”You’ll meet this provider on an ongoing basis to check on your recovery progressand your overall health. You may be referred to another specialist, such as apulmonologist, cardiologist, or nutritionist for additional help.“I’m calling to see if I can get a list of family physicians …”If you don’t have your own healthcare provider, ask the hospital staff or your insurancecompany for a referral.Instructions for taking your medications properly will also be in your recoveryguidelines. Make sure you bring your prescriptions home with you. It’s important totake and finish all of them as directed, even when you begin to feel better.Your guidelines may instruct you to continue practicing your breathing exercisesand20% gradient meshyour controlled coughing, to help keep your lungs clear.Drinking lots of fluids, preferably water, will also be recommended. Fluids helpthinhealthclipsthe mucus in your lungs, making coughing more productive. They also help to keephealthclipsyou hydrated.healthclips(cont. next page)healthclips4% gradient meshThis program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, orsuitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_pd_10037_98_en_t00002.pdf © Milner-Fenwick, Inc.healthclips5% gradient meshPneumonia: At-home Guidelines to RecoveryTranscript (page 2 of 2)Mild physical activity might be included in your guidelines. Walking, for example, isone of the best things you can do to help clear your lungs and regain your strength.But don’t over do it. Getting plenty of rest between periods of activity is important.Doing too much at one time could slow your recovery.If you smoke, you will be told to quit. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist tohelp you find a stop smoking method that’s right for you.Whether you smoke or not, stay away from people while they are smoking, and placeswhere smoke is present.Friends and family members may want to visit you while you’re recovering at home.But you’ll need to avoid contact with people who have a cold or the flu.“We’re not going to be able to come to your house today because Shelby isn’tfeeling well. “Your immune system and lungs are weakened from pneumonia, putting you at highrisk for another lung infection.Before you leave the hospital, make sure you understand all of the information that’sincluded in your at-home recovery guidelines. If you need something explained again,please ask. If you have any questions when you’re home, call the number on yourdischarge paperwork.While you can’t undo the damage that pneumonia has done to your lungs, followingyour at-home recovery guidelines can help you get better – and you can get back todoing what you enjoy.20% gradient meshhealthclipshealthclipshealthclipshealthclips4% gradient meshThis program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, orsuitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_pd_10037_98_en_t00002.pdf © Milner-Fenwick, Inc.healthclips5% gradient mesh
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This video is a patient story about Marilyn, who has COPD.
This video is a patient story about Michael, who has COPD.
Understand what pneumonia is, how it affects the lungs, its symptoms, and how the lungs can become infected in the first place.
Learn the most common methods used to treat pneumonia, and how each one is used to help you recover quickly.
