Over the past few months, there have been some unfortunate trends emerging. The condition can affect the elderly and those battling myriad health conditions more severely than their younger and healthier counterparts.
One important thing to keep in mind, however, is when our healthcare professionals talk about “risk” for these groups, they are not necessarily talking about the ability to contract the virus. Rather, they are talking about the severity of symptoms and potential outcomes.
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They are essentially saying that it hits older individuals with existing health conditions harder than others. But biological age and how well conditions are managed may play a more important role.
So, if you’re 85 and in great health with no existing conditions like type-2 diabetes or heart disease, you might not be as high risk as somebody who is 60 with multiple, or poorly managed, chronic health conditions.
Likewise, if you are doing a good job of managing your conditions, you also might have a slightly reduced risk for serious complications from COVID-19.
All of this is determined on an individual basis.
This is important to know because many chronic conditions can be managed by the decision you make each day. Exercise and activity can improve blood sugar and blood pressure at any age, as can adopting a healthy diet to manage your condition.
There is plenty of evidence to suggest a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, unprocessed meats, whole grains, and one low in refined carbohydrates and processed foods can improve several health markers in a very short period.
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When chronic conditions are better managed to reduce inflammation, immune system functionality gets better and biological aging can slow down.
Getting a handle on your conditions by making lifestyle adjustments, while remaining on prescribed medications, may lead to improvements and better fate if you contract COVID-19.
Of course, it is still essential to take precautions against the disease. Self-isolation, regularly washing hands and high-touch surfaces, and avoiding face contact are all important in reducing the risk of getting the virus. If you absolutely must leave home, practice social distancing.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
