Val Kilmer, ‘Top Gun,’ ‘Batman Forever’ star, dies at 65
Val Kilmer portrayed larger-than-life characters, such as Jim Morrison, Doc Holliday and Batman, throughout his prolific acting career.
The death of actor and leading man Val Kilmer is a stark reminder of how one of the most common lung infections in the country can turn deadly.
Pneumonia causes more than a million hospitalizations and about 50,000 deaths each year, according to the American Lung Association. The infection can impact one or both lungs, causing inflammation and fluid buildup.
Kilmer, best known for his roles in films like “Batman” and “The Doors,” died from the illness Tuesday night in Los Angeles, his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, told The New York Times and the Associated Press.
USA TODAY has reached out to Kilmer’s representatives for comment.
Although anyone can develop pneumonia, those most at risk are children under 2, adults 65 and older and patients with weakened immune systems. The American Lung Association said these populations are also most at risk of pneumonia complications, which may include respiratory failure, lung abscesses and sepsis.
Lung abscesses occur when pockets of pus form inside or around the lung. Sepsis is a condition that leads to uncontrolled inflammation in the body and sometimes organ failure.
The American Lung Association said certain medical conditions can also put people at higher risk for developing pneumonia, such as COPD, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases. Those with weakened immune systems due to HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, chemotherapy or long-term steroid use may also face a higher risk of developing pneumonia.
Pneumonia can also affect those who have difficulty swallowing due to a stroke, dementia or other neurological condition because they’re at a higher risk for food or fluid entering the lungs, which could become infected.
The lung infection has more than 30 different causes including certain bacteria, viruses and fungi. Common symptoms of pneumonia include chest pain when breathing or coughing; fatigue; fever, sweating and shaking chills; nausea or vomiting; and a cough that produces phlegm, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Some adults older than 65 or who have weakened immune systems may experience a low body temperature.
One of the best ways to prevent pneumonia is to get vaccinated against one of the many vaccine-preventable infections that can lead to pneumonia, such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), measles, pertussis or whooping cough and COVID-19, among others.
Children younger than 5 and adults 50 and older are also recommended to get vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia, a common form of bacterial pneumonia, according to the American Lung Association.
Besides vaccines, the organization recommends that those at risk practice healthy habits such as washing hands to prevent the spread of germs that can cause pneumonia, while also avoiding smoking as tobacco can damage the lungs’ ability to fight off infections.
Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at [email protected].
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