When the Coronavirus outbreak was severe in Italy, Spain, and New York in the spring, it was found that deaths happened to not just the elderly but to those with underlying conditions.
As more and more information, statistics, studies, research are made available in regards to CORONAVIRUS, the group of individuals deemed “high risk” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to expand.
The CDC released an updated and expanded list of who is at increased risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19. “Understanding who is most at risk for severe illness helps people make the best decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities,”
CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD said. “While we are all at risk for COVID-19, we need to be aware of who is susceptible to severe complications so that we take appropriate measures to protect their health and well-being.”
Here are 15 major changes the CDC made to the list. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others.
The CDC Has Removed a Specific Age Range From the “Older Adult” Classification
No longer are those “65 and over” being defined as the higher risk age group. “CDC now warns that among adults, the risk increases steadily as you age, and it’s not just those over the age of 65 who are at increased risk for severe illness,” they explain.
High Risk: Obesity (BMI of 30 or higher)
If you are obese regardless of your age and end up with the Coronavirus, you could succumb to it. That is because you are more likely to require ventilation which can cause other complications. Psychologists and therapists that specialize in eating disorders do not like to single out this condition as it can thicken the stigma. However, unfortunately, obesity is a risk.
High Risk: Chronic Kidney Disease
Those that have chronic kidney disease cannot excrete waste easily and have toxins building up in the blood which the virus thrives on as well. This is why those who have chronic kidney disease should stay home as often as they can if they live in regions where cases are high. If not, then they must be quite diligent with hand-washing and staying away from others.
High Risk: Respiratory Diseases
If you have COPD, chronic bronchitis, chronic emphysema, or any other lung disease, the risk of dying from the Coronavirus is high. The virus attacks the respiratory system as it is, and if you have an underlying condition that targets it, then you can easily succumb to it. You will end up with pneumonia and that has been known to kill even healthy people which is a risk you want to avoid.
High Risk: Conditions That Require Your Immune System To Be Compromised
Whether you had an organ transplant or have an autoimmune disease, you need to be on drugs that suppress the immune system. Otherwise, your immune system will attack healthy tissue which includes the transplanted organ. However, with your immune system not functioning at the optimal level, this can increase the chance of death if the Coronavirus is caught.
High Risk: Chronic Liver Disease
It is not known how the virus impacts the liver but it has been found that those who are healthy that end up with the virus can be at risk for liver injury. That means those who have chronic conditions such as hepatitis or cirrhosis can be at risk. However, those who have had liver transplants who are on immunosuppressants are the most at risk of succumbing to the virus.
High Risk: Heart Disease
The virus does attach itself to the heart as it is which can cause complications in those who have healthy hearts. However, those who already have cardiovascular diseases have been known to die from the virus as it likely triggered sudden heart attacks. It has a negative effect on those who have a plaque in their arteries.
High Risk: Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat and those who have this condition that ends up with the Coronavirus are at risk for death. This can lead to heart attacks, blood clots, as well as strokes. Or if they end up surviving the virus itself, they can end up with heart failure which means down the road they will end up dying from complications.
High Risk: Hemoglobin Disorders Such as Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia
Having sickle cell disease (SCD) increases your risk for severe illness from COVID-19, according to the CDC. Having other hemoglobin disorders, like thalassemia, may increase your risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
High Risk: Type 2 Diabetes
The reason that diabetes is a major risk for Coronavirus patients is that the virus thrives on high blood sugar levels. Therefore, it gives it the opportunity to ravage the body which puts the diabetic patient at risk for succumbing to it. At the very least, they can develop serious complications from the virus even if they survive it.
High Risk: Cancer Within Five Years
Patients that had cancer within five years that was active that was on treatments for it also had been known to succumb to the Coronavirus. Their respiratory and immune systems are compromised which allows the virus to thrive and ravage the body.
Possible Risk: Asthma
The CDC also clarified the list of other conditions that might increase a person’s risk of severe illness, including additions such as asthma. “COVID-19 can affect your respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs), cause an asthma attack, and possibly lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory disease,” the CDC writes.
Possible Risk: High Blood Pressure
Those who have high blood pressure are at risk for many diseases as it is such as heart disease and can end up with a stroke. However, it was found that many people who died from the Coronavirus had hypertension or high blood pressure. Those with normal blood pressure without other underlying conditions that had the virus became less sick and were able to recover from it.
Possible Risk: Neurologic Conditions Such as Dementia
Having neurologic conditions such as dementia may increase your risk of severe illness from COVID-19, says the CDC. One analysis of data from Pennsylvania and New York courtesy of NPR, found that people with intellectual disabilities and autism –including dementia — who are infected with COVID-19 die at higher rates than the rest of the population.
Possible Risk: History Of Stroke
If you had a history of a stroke with no other complications, that in itself does not increase your risk of death from the Coronavirus. However, stroke patients rarely end up with a stroke without any other underlying cause. Many stroke patients are diabetic, have cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney diseases, or respiratory ailments.
Possible Risk: Pregnancy
According to an MMWR published today pregnant women were significantly more likely to be hospitalized, admitted to the intensive care unit, and receive mechanical ventilation than nonpregnant women. However, pregnant women were not at greater risk of death from COVID-19.
Protecting Yourself, Your Family, and Your Community
Even if you don’t have any of these conditions, chances are you have a family member, friend, or co-worker who does. Always wear your mask in public indoor settings, stay clean, and keep your distance from others. You don’t want to inadvertently pass the virus onto someone who is vulnerable.
