Why Individuals with SMA Often Experience Having Pneumonia?
One of the most serious health concerns for individuals living with SMA is an increased risk of pneumonia, especially when respiratory muscles are weak. Pneumonia can happen when infection, mucus, or aspirated material affects the lungs, and people with SMA may be more vulnerable because their breathing and coughing muscles may not work with full strength. Individuals with SMA may have very weak intercostal muscles, a weak cough, increased risk during viral respiratory infections, and an increased risk of pneumonia.
Many individuals with Spinal Muscular Atrophy experience respiratory challenges because weak muscles can make it harder to take deep breaths, cough forcefully, and clear mucus from the airways. When mucus stays in the lungs, infections can be harder to fight and may become more serious. For individuals with SMA Type 2, respiratory complications such as ineffective cough, decreased airway clearance, nocturnal hypoventilation, reduced lung and chest wall development, and increased risk for pulmonary infection. Swallowing weakness can also increase the risk of aspiration, which happens when food, liquid, saliva, or stomach contents enter the airway or lungs instead of going safely into the stomach. Research on respiratory morbidity in SMA notes that weak cough can cause infections to clear slowly and that aspiration pneumonia may present as acute respiratory failure.
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