Coronavirus - vulnerability - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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Coronavirus - vulnerability

SingerMan profile image
SingerMan
β€’31 Replies

I have a pacemaker for Sinus Bradychardia. Otherwise luckily, in good health. Does that put me in the the high risk group if I get Coronavirus COVID 19?

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SingerMan profile image
SingerMan
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31 Replies
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I dont think so. I think the more vulnerable people are those with chronic cardiovascular and lung diseases such as copd/emphysema, coronary artery disease, etc. People with clogged up lungs from smoking or living in highly polluted places, or clogged up blood vessels where there circulation is poor are more likely to have weakened immune systems. Poor general health, poor nutrition, lack of exercise robs our bodies immune systems our natural ability to fight off viruses and bacteria in general. Staying hydrated, well rested, well fed etc helps our immune systems.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloydβ€’ in reply to

Well said

SingerMan profile image
SingerManβ€’ in reply toSpiritoftheFloyd

Thank you for your helpful comments

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Starβ€’ in reply to

And plenty of fruit (but watch the fructose) and veggies! 🍏🍊πŸ₯‘πŸ†πŸ₯•πŸ₯¬πŸŒΆοΈ

β€’ in reply toMichaelJH

Good point

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Starβ€’ in reply to

The NHS also advises that people over 65 should avoid some foods because of impaired immune systems. It is probably worth us hearties following this guidance.

nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/f...

SingerMan profile image
SingerManβ€’ in reply toMichaelJH

Thank you for your helpful comments

not2worry profile image
not2worryβ€’ in reply toMichaelJH

Well you learn something new every day! I never knew about fermented meats!

From now on I’m going to freeze my meat and poultry before cooking.

Thanks for the article!

SingerMan profile image
SingerManβ€’ in reply to

Thank you for your helpful comments

Rob6868 profile image
Rob6868β€’ in reply to

WOW your a great help for people who want positivity... NOT

stevejb1810 profile image
stevejb1810

Ok, so I'm guessing you are male, so that puts you at slightly higher risk than if you were female. How old are you? In addition to what everyone else has said re lifestyle etc., your risks of developing serious complications rise appreciably with age.

Lezzers profile image
Lezzersβ€’ in reply tostevejb1810

Just curious but, why does being a male put someone at more risk than a female?

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Starβ€’ in reply toLezzers

I wondered that too!

stevejb1810 profile image
stevejb1810β€’ in reply toMilkfairy

I don't know either. Its just what the stats are pointing to at the moment. Take a look at the attached

worldometers.info/coronavir...

β€’ in reply toLezzers

I think it’s because men tend to suffer in silence more than women, so our unparalleled high pain threshold would mask any symptoms until it’s to late ☺️that’s why everyone’s more worried about us men. Makes perfect sense really πŸ€—

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Starβ€’ in reply to

Ah what about the theory that oestrogen protects women from pain and as it falls at the menopause women 's perception of pain changes.

Though man flu is a real thing or so they say ( men)

πŸ˜‰

β€’ in reply toMilkfairy

What has frightened me is Trumps speech saying don’t panic or worry etc etc. When has a president/ prime minister (health officials, yes) ever come out to tell the public not to panic or worry about a virus.

Someone I spoke today said, Apparently in China they’ve been told not to reveal the true devastation of this virus.

It doesn’t take a genius to connect the dots.

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Starβ€’ in reply to

Can I please stick my head in the sand?

πŸ™ˆπŸ™ŠπŸ™‰

I can't get the image out of my mind of Corporal Jones running around shouting ' don't panic'

I personally do not have the energy to worry about this there is nothing I can do other than keep washing my hands 😁

β€’ in reply toMilkfairy

I turned up at a meeting at work on Friday in my old Royal Navy issued gas mask. Everyone howled with laughter. It was a buggar to drive with it on.

Lezzers profile image
Lezzersβ€’ in reply toMilkfairy

Whilst I totally agree with 'don't panic, I really can't agree with you sticking your head on the sand....what if you get those wormy things in your ears!!! πŸ€” πŸ˜‚

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Starβ€’ in reply toLezzers

Ah I forgot about the worms but then there's not much of interest between my ears πŸ˜‚

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2dayβ€’ in reply toLezzers

I've wiped what I wrote about stronger heartbeats - I went looking for a link and couldn't find one so I thought I should delete the comment rather than leave it up and risk spreading none-sense (pun intended).

Lezzers profile image
Lezzersβ€’ in reply toSunnie2day

Thank you, though to be honest I actually liked Deano's explanation, it sounded very plausible!! πŸ˜‚

stevejb1810 profile image
stevejb1810β€’ in reply toLezzers

Further to my other reply, attached is a link to a BBC story which also shows men more at risk than women

bbc.co.uk/news/health-51674743

I have no idea why and nobody is offering a rationale that I have seen, it just 'is'!

Lezzers profile image
Lezzersβ€’ in reply tostevejb1810

Thank you, interesting story. Big increase re people in their 60's compared to those in their 50's!! I'm gonna start lying bout my age! πŸ˜‚

No surprise to see cardiovascular disease at the top of the medical conditions though

stevejb1810 profile image
stevejb1810β€’ in reply toLezzers

Yes. More or less doubles for each 10 years in age from 50 onwards. I'm working on being a sprightly 40 πŸ˜‚

Lezzers profile image
Lezzersβ€’ in reply tostevejb1810

I believe you may have stumbled on a cure πŸ˜‚

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Starβ€’ in reply toLezzers

Male newborn babies especially when born prematurely have a higher mortality than baby girls.

Slightly more boys are born than girls so nature knows something....

bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-4...

Helen_BHF profile image
Helen_BHF

Hi SingerMan , the BHF has some information on coronavirus from our senior cardiac nurse: bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

If you do have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact our heart helpline on 0300 330 3311 or email hearthelpline@bhf.org.uk. Hope this helps.

Rob6868 profile image
Rob6868β€’ in reply toHelen_BHF

Helen I think your link is so basic and so obvious.

But what do people actually do who are at home with heart disease and they catch this?site at home and hope for the best?or actually call an ambulance and get taken to hospital? as we would in normal circumstances.

I'm diagnosed with heart disease and micro vascular angina and as much as I'm on the younger side at 52 and keep fit and eat well and keep my weight down I'm obviously worried.

There is no advice on there that surprises anyone

It's almost as if the BHF don't really know what to say or do other than follow others advice..

Helen_BHF profile image
Helen_BHFβ€’ in reply toRob6868

Hi Rob6868 - we completely understand your concern. The BHF recommends that everybody closely follows the advice provided on the NHS and Government webpages, as they are updating their information daily. This is the best possible way to protect yourself and others.

If you think you might have the coronavirus, please call the 111 coronavirus service and they will advise you on what to do next. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

All the information you need can be found via the NHS website: nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir...

If you would like to speak with a cardiac nurse about any of this, please contact our heart helpline on 0300 330 3311.

Hope this helps.

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