People who suffer from severe illnesses such as heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancers, asthma or other chronic lung diseases have increased risk of severe disease with COVID-19. This could be because they have a certain chronic condition that affects the immune system, or because of certain medications they are taking. Therefore their body has a reduced ability to fight off and recover from infections.
How to reduce risk
Give attention to managing your medical conditions.
Take your medications as prescribed
Keep an adequate supply of medications, if possible, keep a 30-day supply of your medication
Monitor your condition frequently
Don’t smoke
Maintain connections to family, friends and doctors through phone or online.
Talk early and often about your medical or other needs with friends and family
arrange to have someone check in on you regularly by phone or in person.
Make a plan for who will take care of you if you do get sick.
Follow the recommendations of health experts that apply to everyone.
Wash your hands frequently with water and soap.
Avoid touching your face as much as possible.
Avoid going to crowded places and keep distance between yourself and others.
Wipe down high touched areas of your home with approved household disinfectants.
Stay home as much as possible.
Chronic lung disease
Keep taking your current medications, including those with steroids in them.
(“steroids” is another word for corticosteroids).
Avoid triggers that make your symptoms worse.
Why you might be at higher risk ?
Based on data from other viral respiratory infections, COVID-19 might cause flare-ups of chronic lung diseases leading to severe illness.
Serious heart conditions
Take your medication exactly as prescribed.
Make sure that you have at least a two-week supply of your heart disease medications (such as those to treat high cholesterol and high blood pressure).
People with hypertension should continue to manage and control their blood pressure and take their medication as directed.
Why you might be at higher risk ?
COVID-19, like other viral illnesses such as the flu, can damage the respiratory system and make it harder for your heart to work. For people with heart failure and other serious heart conditions, this can lead to a worsening of COVID-19 symptoms.
Severe obesity
Severe obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above, puts people at higher risk for complications from COVID-19.
Actions to take
Take your medications for any underlying health conditions exactly as prescribed.
Why you might be at higher risk ?
Severe obesity increases the risk of a serious breathing problem called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is a major complication of COVID-19 and can cause difficulties with a doctor’s ability to provide respiratory support for seriously ill patients. People living with severe obesity can have multiple serious chronic diseases and underlying health conditions that can increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
People aged 65 years and older
Older adults, 65 years and older, are at higher risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19.
Actions to take
Take your medications for any underlying health conditions exactly as prescribed.
Follow the advice of your healthcare provider.
Develop a care plan that summarizes your health conditions and current treatments.
Prepare yourself to stay home for long periods using this checklist.
Why you might be at higher risk ?
Although COVID-19 can affect any group, the older you are, the higher your risk of serious disease. The immune systems of older adults weaken with age, making it harder to fight off infections. Also, older adults commonly have chronic diseases that can increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Immunocompromised
If you are immunocompromised, continue any recommended medications or treatments and follow the advice of your healthcare provider.
Call your healthcare provider if you have concerns about your condition or feel sick.
Why you might be at higher risk ?
People with a weakened immune system have reduced ability to fight infectious diseases, including viruses like COVID-19. Knowledge is limited about the virus that causes COVID-19 but based on similar viruses, there is concern that immunocompromised patients may remain infectious for longer than other COVID-19 patients.
Liver disease
Chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis, may increase the risk for serious illness from COVID-19.
Actions to take
Take your medications exactly as prescribed.
Why you might be at higher risk ?
Severe illness caused by COVID-19 and the medications used to treat some severe consequences of COVID-19 can cause strain on the liver, particularly for those with underlying liver problems. People living with serious liver disease can have a weakened immune system, leaving the body less able to fight COVID-19.
Dewmi Sanjana
References
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