You might not think of yourself as particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus.
Sure, no one would accuse you of being a spring chicken anymore. But the news reports keep pointing out that the majority of the victims of this new virus are folks who aren’t just older, but also much sicker and weaker to begin with.
You, on the other hand, are in pretty good shape for your age. (If you do say so yourself.) Your blood sugar is under control. You aren’t obese. And you don’t have asthma or any other breathing problems.
So, you might think you’re in the clear and breathe a sigh of relief. You might even be tempted to let your guard down a bit. DON’T.
I don’t want to scare the pants off of you. And you definitely shouldn’t panic. But I DO want you to stay safe. And there’s another new risk factor that could put you in COVID-19s crosshairs that most folks don’t know about yet.
This vicious disease seems to hunt for ANY sign of weakness – including some conditions that may not always be obvious as “risk” factors for a more critical case of coronavirus.
Risks that could put YOU or your LOVED ONES in danger if you let your guard down.
But not anymore because I’ve got the inside scoop on this frightening new risk. So you can take quick action to protect yourself and those you care about.
SECRET risk factor sending seniors to the hospital
We know older folks face a higher risk and need to be more careful. But some factors make you much more vulnerable than age alone.
These conditions can make it more likely you’ll go into the ICU for critical care… more likely you’ll need one of those increasingly scarce ventilators… and more likely you could face the ultimate risk.
They get the blanket treatment on the news. “Seniors with underlying conditions.”
And that makes it sound like folks already on their last legs, with one foot in the grave even before the virus came along. But the new analysis shows how that’s NOT the case at all.
The biggest “underlying condition” is something you or a loved one probably have right now. After all, at least one in two seniors does.
It’s HIGH blood pressure.
Hypertension the hidden coronavirus risk factor
Nearly three out of four seniors hospitalized for the infection have hypertension.
That makes it a BIGGER risk factor for COVID-19 hospitalization in seniors than the heart disease and obesity you keep hearing so much about on the news.
Part of the reason could simply be that high blood pressure is so common. Take any random group of seniors, and you’re going to find at least half have hypertension.
But part of the reason could also be something else that’s concerning. A report earlier this year found certain hypertension drugs – especially ACE inhibitors and ARBs – could enhance a protein in the body the virus uses to establish itself.
That could, in theory, mean that folks who take these drugs may be at a higher risk of infection if exposed to the virus. Researchers are still trying to work it out, but it could mean a lot of folks are even more vulnerable to the coronavirus than we thought.
But regardless of the reason for the link between hypertension and coronavirus risk, it means every senior needs to take two actions.
- Don’t assume you’re not at risk: As the study shows… you don’t need to be desperately ill to be considered high-risk.
- Get your BP under control: Whether it’s hypertension itself, or the drugs used to treat it (or both), keeping your levels down could help protect you from the condition. And – in theory – all the risks that come with it. Check with your doc about trying proven natural remedies for high blood pressure such as beet juice, fennel seed extract, and chamomile.
And don’t forget to use common sense. Avoid going out if you don’t have to, keep away from others when you do, don’t touch your face, and wash your hands often.
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