Should I Be Worried About Coronavirus? (Get the Facts)
“Should I be worried about the coronavirus?”
I hear this question every day from patients and friends.
While it’s true that the majority of people who contract the virus will come through unscathed, not everyone is so fortunate.
That’s evidenced by the death toll, which is climbing daily.
Researchers took a closer look at who is most at risk of having and dying from coronavirus.
Knowing if you’re in this high-risk category can help you make the best choice possible for your health.
COVID-19 is more deadly for some people than others… and scientists have crunched the numbers to determine who is at the highest risk.
And it turns out that people over 80 and those with preexisting heart disease are most at risk.
People 80 and above had a fatality rate of 14.8 percent, while those from 70-79 had a fatality rate of 8 percent.
And here is the breakdown for the death rates in people with specific diseases:
- Preexisting heart disease – 10.5 percent
- Type 2 diabetes – 7.3 percent
- Chronic respiratory disease – 6.3 percent
- Hypertension – 6 percent
- Cancer – 5.6 percent
The American Heart Association reported that 40 percent of the people hospitalized with coronavirus had cardiovascular disease or a cerebrovascular disease like a stroke.
What this DOESN’T mean is that older people or people with heart disease are more likely to get sick.
What it DOES mean is that if you do contract COVID-19, it’s more likely to be serious.
That’s because people with underlying medical conditions have weaker immune systems—and if you have a weakened immune system, you’re more vulnerable to respiratory infections.
But whether you’re in a high-risk category or not, everyone should be taking steps to help stop the spread of this nasty virus.
You can boost your immune system by spending time in the sun, eating lots of whole foods, getting plenty of sleep, and avoiding sugar.
And until the threat dies down, just stay put for a while.
You can’t catch a virus you’re not exposed to.
