 [ Symptoms ] how can i prevent pneumonia [ Disease ] the best way to prevent pneumonia is to get a flu shot because influenza can lead to pneumonia there is also a vaccine against one kind of bacterial pneumonia pneumococcal pneumonia you should get this vaccine in these cases you have a chronic illness such as diabetes emphysema or heart disease you are recovering from a severe illness you live in a nursing home you are 65 or older as with all diseases a healthy lifestyle    proper diet regular exercise good hygiene and not smoking    decrease the chance of illness and speed recovery from infection