KidDoc said:
SVaggie84 said:
I got into an argument on Facebook.
I posted these articles:
https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/asthma-library/covid-asthma
https://www.rheumatologyadvisor.com/home/general-rheumatology/qa-overview-of-covid19-in-patients-with-autoimmune-diseases
My conclusions were that having asthma or autoimmune doesn't necessarily make you high risk.
They said my conclusions were wrong.
I'm under 60, I'm not overweight, I'm not low on vitamin D, I'm not diabetic, and I don't have high blood pressure.
Since my asthma and thyroid (I have Hashimoto's) are under control, I don't think I'm high risk. I also conclude that others with similar conditions that are under control are not high risk.
I'm avoiding going inside with lots of people ( which right now is only church), but other than that I'm carrying on life as usual and I'm not too worried about dying from Covid.
Am I missing something?
I'm no COVID expert but I've read a ton on it. You should not be high risk. Autoimmune is not high-risk it is the immunosuppressive medications that are needed to control auto-immune conditions like arthritis, UC, etc that allow an infection to run rampant. Your condition is different. With Hashimoto's we basically just kill the target of the autoimmune and then replace it with a pill. No immunosupression.
Asthma can be a risk factor if severe and poorly controlled.
I have UC. I am on Remicade. Its an immunosurpressant. So technically I am at risk. But, I haven't sheltered, I only wear a mask where I have to and I take the same precautions I have always taken since I started Remicade in 07. I've been sick less in that time than any time of my life. But I do not get ill very often anyways.
Here is the issue, we tend to generalize way too much when looking at health. In the end, I may be "at risk" generally and as such, take precautions when necessary but those precautions will be different than are required for others. I'm in relatively elite level shape. I strength train and find its better for me and for an immune system then, say, traditionally cardiovascular training (guess what, strength training has cardiovascular benefits too). I eat clean as hell. For asthetics and performance mainly but it boosts the immune system. I GET SLEEP. This is vital. Since I train VERY hard, not recovering from that could actually bring my immune system down. So get at least 7 hours. More if possible. That's something that has been studied so much that it's not up for debate. In essence I "live the life" as a lot of us in the weightlifting community call it. I see only anecdotal evidence that shows people who train at a truly high level die from Covid. And I take any report on this with a huge grain of salt. Why? I am a trainer and literally talk to people all the time about getting into shape and the vast majority of people in our society have almost no clue how hard some people train and what the dedication looks like. So they see a coworker die that "works out all the time" but were they really doing that? How hard did they train. Did they follow a real, measurable, intelligently designed program? Or go to Orange Theory or wonder around a gym just doing "whatever" felt good. That is not training. It's exercise. There is a huge difference. Now that doesn't make me Superman or indestructable. But my doctors are also not really concerned about me. If you are in the an at risk group, instead of hunkering down in a hole and hiding, do the opposite. Do everything in your power to flip the switch and turn the tables on your condition. Make yourself strong inside and out. Give yourself the advantage and take as much control as you can. Why the hell is any of this relevant? b/c it's how I am hopefully avoiding getting sick in the first place and if I do, I am armoured up and completely weaponized to handle any illness I might get. If anything, it gives me a sense of control that I might otherwise not have and that alone can help mones mental health and in turn help one's overall health during all of this crap.
Long rant short, you have to talk with your doctors and seek advice from a few doctors if you like. I honestly think too many people are living scared of Covid, which is the wrong approach. Be concerned and take it seriously but do not let it freeze you. That isn't reasonable at all.
