32 | JANUARY 25 • 2024 J
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ach year, it’s estimated 
that more than 160,000 
U.S. adults are hospi-
talized and 10,000 of them die 
due to Respiratory Syncytial 
Virus, or RSV
, a common 
respiratory virus. While most 
people only develop mild 
symptoms similar to that of 
a common cold, RSV can be 
dangerous for certain people 
at high risk, including some 
adults.
The American Lung 
Association’s campaign to edu-
cate people living in the United 
States about RSV in adults is 
supported in part by a grant 
from GSK. As part of the cam-
paign, they are sharing patient 
insights, along with informa-
tion about the risk of severe 
complications from RSV
, and 
steps people can take to help 
protect themselves.

RISK FACTORS
Adults 65 years and older are at 

higher risk of RSV that can be 
severe and even life-threaten-
ing. Also at high risk are adults 
with chronic heart or lung 
disease, and adults with weak-
ened immune systems. RSV in 
some cases may worsen asthma 
or COPD symptoms, lead to 
pneumonia or bronchiolitis, or 
even result in congestive heart 
failure. Adults at high risk need 
to be especially vigilant during 
RSV season, which is occurring 
in the United States right now.
Michele D.’s childhood 
memories of medical visits 
and treatments for her asth-
ma helped shape her path in 
life, inspiring her to become a 
registered respiratory therapist 
so that she could care for and 
educate others also living with 
asthma or other lung diseases. 
Even with Michele’s exten-
sive knowledge of respiratory 
diseases and her lived experi-
ence of growing up with asth-
ma, her severe bout of RSV in 

December 2022, which hospi-
talized her and led to pneumo-
nia, took her by surprise.
“I’m a respiratory therapist, 
and I know RSV can be seri-
ous, but I wasn’t expecting it to 
impact me the way that it did 
and for as long as it did,” says 
Michele. 
“I don’t think most people 
living with chronic lung disease 
realize how an RSV infection 
can impact their lives. I didn’t.”

PREVENTION
Fortunately, there are steps you 
can take to lower your risk of 
severe RSV:
• Keep up to date on all 
recommended vaccinations. 
In June 2023, the CDC 
recommended RSV vaccination 
for adults 60 and older who 
have discussed with their 
healthcare provider whether it’s 
right for them.
• If you live with a chronic 
lung disease, such as asthma 

or COPD, work with your 
healthcare team to keep the 
condition under control so 
your lungs can better heal from 
infectious respiratory diseases.
• When possible, stay away 
from individuals who are sick 
with respiratory infections 
to reduce your chance of 
becoming ill.
• Wash your hands often and 
try not to touch your face with 
unwashed hands as that is a 
common route for infections 
to occur.
For more information and 
prevention resources, and 
to learn your risk for RSV 
complications, visit Lung.org/
RSV
.
“I know how important it is, 
living with asthma, to reduce 
my likelihood of getting sick 
with a respiratory infection,” 
Michele shares. “If there is a 
way to help prevent getting that 
sick again, I’m in.” 

Here’s what to know to safeguard your health.
Here’s what to know to safeguard your health.
RSV Can Impact Adults, Too

STATEPOINT

HEALTH & WELLNESS

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