[Hadassah On Call] Clearing the Air

We’ve heard it as kids. We say it to our kids. “Put a coat on, or you’ll catch pneumonia.”Is there any truth to this age-old warning?

“We still don’t have a good answer to that, to be honest,” says Dr. Neville Berkman, director of the Institute of Pulmonology and head of the Adult and Invasive Pulmonology Unit at the Hadassah Medical Organization, on the newest episode of the Hadassah On Call podcast.

For various reasons, cold weather can influence susceptibility to viral infections, which may lead, in time, to pneumonia, which is probably the most common cause of death worldwide, according to Dr. Berkman.

We do know for sure, though, who’s most susceptible to the disease. No longer is it the average Joe. Today, it’s more common in children under 5, adults over 65, people with chronic illnesses and those who are malnourished. Even people with poor dental hygiene are at high risk.

Tune in to Clearing the Air to learn more, including causes, differences from other respiratory illnesses, vaccinations, early warning signs and more.