The first and most obvious answer to this would be, avoid getting COVID-19. Part of this is about your behaviour in terms of wearing a mask, social distancing etc, and the other part is about getting vaccinated. But still, the reality is, you could get COVID-19. So, what if you did get COVID-19? How can you avoid getting very ill?
Consider the following…
You are at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 if you:
- Are 70 years of age or older
- have had an organ transplant and are on immune suppressive therapy
- have had a bone marrow transplant in the last 24 months
- are on immune suppressive therapy for graft versus host disease
- have blood cancer eg leukaemia, lymphoma or myelodysplastic syndrome (diagnosed within the last 5 years).
Things listed above, you can’t really modify or avoid. You have them, or you don’t.
You are at moderate risk of severe illness if you have:
- chronic renal (kidney) failure
- heart disease (coronary heart disease or failure)
- chronic lung disease (excludes mild or moderate asthma)
- a non-haematological cancer (diagnosed in the last 12 months)
- diabetes
- severe obesity with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2
- chronic liver disease
- some neurological conditions (stroke, dementia, other) (speak to your doctor about your risk)
- some chronic inflammatory conditions and treatments (speak to your doctor about your risk)
- other primary or acquired immunodeficiency (speak to your doctor about your risk)
- poorly controlled blood pressure (may increase risk – speak to your doctor)
(The above information is extracted from the Department of Health website.)
What you will notice is that many of the above risk factors are avoidable or at least controllable. These include heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. So, the point is, as we push through this era of the current pandemic, we would like to help and support you to improve your health and minimise the number of modifiable risk factors for getting severely ill with COVID-19. Get in touch with your GP and talk about the above, and if there’s something to work on, let’s do that together. Again, the message is, first avoid getting COVID-19, but if you do, let’s get your body into the best shape it can be, to avoid getting severely ill because of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Positive Telehealth Consults
Alternatively, we offer a Telehealth service for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 through Doctor in My Pocket. After arranging an appointment, a doctor will consult with you to monitor your symptoms and decide if/when to move you to a higher level of care. See you on the other side.
Best, Floyd.
