Who is at Higher Risk?
Early information out of China, where COVID-19 first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. This includes:
- Older adults
- People who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Lung disease
If a COVID-19 outbreak happens in your community, it could last for a long time. (An outbreak is when a large number of people suddenly get sick.) Depending on how severe the outbreak is, public health officials may recommend community actions to reduce people’s risk of being exposed to COVID-19. These actions can slow the spread and reduce the impact of the disease.
If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or because you have a serious long-term health problem, it is extra important for you to take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describe the long term effects COVID may have on a discharged patient:
- Decreased endurance
- Poor strength
- Decreased pulmonary function
- A cognitive “fog”
The CDC recommends restarting an exercise program as soon as possible to rebuild strength and endurance including:
- Airway clearance techniques
- Breathing exercises to enhance lung function and respiratory muscles, including
- diaphragmatic breathing
- pursed-lip breathing
- coughing training
- Handheld respiratory muscle trainers for resistance training
- Flexibility routines that help to improve posture and maximize lung function, especially due to increased periods of sedation
