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In these unprecedented times, you should be more aware of your health than ever before. Although the information on Covid-19 is incomplete, here are health risk factors you should be aware of.

 

 

The world is reeling at the moment. Covid-19 and the worldwide response is something that has never occurred before in human history. Of course, there have been epidemics in the past. But that was before social media and the internet allowed us to watch the events in real time. This has created an atmosphere of fear. But more information can also give you an unparalleled opportunity to take control of your health in this uncertain time.

 

The Response to Covid-19

Governments all over the world are scrambling to respond to Covid-19. Each government has a different response to the virus. And each response and measure has different levels of effectiveness. No matter what you think about your government or anyone else’s, no one has got it right 100 percent.

 

This might sound like a scary thing. And in most cases, it’s true that many governments should be doing more to protect the people. But it isn’t all up to the people in power to make needed changes. You have your role in this crisis too, particularly when it comes to your personal health and the health of the people around you.

 

Even if there was a government that responded perfectly, your safety still wouldn’t be guaranteed. There are too many factors that contribute to your risk of developing Covid-19. And many of them aren’t under your government’s control. They’re under your control. To stay safe, you need to take steps to protect yourself and your family.

 

So, ask yourself: are you doing everything you can to protect yourself? Unfortunately, for most people, the answer is probably no.

 

Personal Health Risks and Covid-19

Evidence suggests that Covid-19 may be more widespread than even the current numbers show. Because many infected people are symptomless, it’s almost impossible to completely avoid this virus.

 

This means that, unless you’re completely isolated, there’s a good chance you’ll encounter the Covid-19 virus. And the outcome of that encounter will rely on your personal health risk factors.

 

At this stage, medical researchers can’t definitively say what increases the risk of infection or of serious infection by Covid-19. But preliminary information, gathered from the first victims, may give some clues. About 73 percent of the first victims were male with a median age of 66 years. And these victims had heart problems or diabetes. This suggests that gender, age, and preexisting conditions may be health risk factors.

 

Another risk factor seems to be excess weight. Excess weight can suppress the immune system, hampering the body’s ability to fight the virus. It can also hamper lifesaving efforts. Excess weight can create problems with transportation and intubation during life threatening emergencies. This is bad enough during normal times. But in an overcrowded hospital, with overstretched staff, it could be deadly. So, if you’re admitted to hospital with Covid-19, being overweight will increase your risk of a bad outcome.

 

The Takeaway

This information makes it more important than ever that you become aware of your personal health risk factors. You obviously can’t eliminate them instantly. But you can change some of these health risk factors by modifying your attitude and behaviors.

 

If you can’t change certain risk factors, then you need to be aware that you’re at higher risk. And then you can take further steps to protect yourself against infection, and plan for what could happen if you are infected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re concerned about a health risk, try using HomeLab to keep track of your condition and any preventative measures you take. And if you see signs of a significant problem, you should check with your doctor as soon as possible.

 

 

Tags: health risk, Covid-19