What are underlying health conditions?

Marydoll
Relvar is the best and most effective drug that I’ve used. It’s dramatically reduced the coughing fits that I suffered from daily, and I’m no longer as reactive to triggers such as dust, car exhaust fumes etc.

Maddyone, I was a teacher and permanently hoarse from using steroid inhalers, which weren't doing any good. I had so many asthma flare ups and off work frequently.

I have been taking the highest dose of Relvar, for four years now, as well as Ventolin and Braltus. It was precribed by the consultant, who was monitoring my brittle asthma and bronchiectasis.
Relvar is a combination of a steroids and a bronchodilator, but doesn't seem to cause the hoarseness, that others do.
It has reduced my chest infections dramatically.

I used Singular years ago, with dreadful side effects. My four year old granddaughter was also precribed it recently , but had to stop, as it was causing night terrors.

bobo and sparkle
Montelukast is the drug in Singulair. Singulair is just the brand name. It suits me, I’ve taken it for years and has improved my asthma.
The hoarseness you both speak of is apparently very common, I was nagged and bullied for several years about only using a long acting bronchodilator because all of the several steroid inhalers I tried gave me hoarseness. I was a teacher, I needed my voice. Eventually I changed GP Practice after unbearable bullying (they refused to prescribe any more Ventolin until I went in and agreed to use a steroid inhaler) and the new asthma nurse said I absolutely didn’t have to have a steroid inhaler if I felt it caused me problems, but she knew about a different kind of inhaler, a new one, would I like to try it? Didn’t matter if I didn’t. I decided to try it, I’ve never looked back. It’s improved my asthma symptoms so much. It’s a powder inhaler, and it’s name is Relvar Eliptor. Ask your asthma nurse about it.

BoBo53 Also I don't use a preventer inhaler for my asthma because of the effect of the steroids on my voice

I had a problem with a permanently rasping throat from my preventer inhaler and it got to the point where I could hardly make myself understood on the phone. I was getting nowhere with the asthma nurse or my GP so I rang Asthma UK and she was very helpful and suggested an alternative preventer inhaler called Alvesco Ciclesonide. She said "It's available on the NHS and your GP might quibble as it's expensive, but point out that it will last twice as long because you will only need 1 puff daily instead of 2."

My GP and asthma nurse had never heard of it and did not believe they could prescribe it, but checked and found that they could, and it has made all the difference to my hoarseness.

I have been prescribed Montelukast in the past for a chest infection and had nasty side effects which are apparently common.

Maddyone me too. Would like to know if it would be best to stop HBP medication to protect against CV. Also I don't use a preventer inhaler for my asthma because of the effect of the steroids on my voice but take Montelukast instead.

Gosh, Tillybelle, I am amazed your friend has avoided hearing/seeing/reading information on the virus. It is absolutely everywhere all the time, and most of us are sick of hearing about it.

Oh well, I had better get my affairs in order! No hope for me at all.! ?

Tillybelle Early intervention could prevent an overwhelming wave of sick people which is too much for the NHS to deal with.
I think that's what they are aiming for and the measures they're taking are meant to do this. It's not the government's fault your friend is ignorant of the situation. There is plenty of information out there, it's on the news and there are lots of details on the BBC website. People are responsible for keeping themselves informed.

I’m 66 with asthma and high blood pressure - treated with Amlodipine. Is Amlodipine one of the drugs which are unhelpful if one contracts Coronavirus? The asthma is treated with steroid inhaler, long acting bronchodilator and Singulair (preventer) but I’m fit and well except for recent surgery on my hand, but that’s not going to effect Coronavirus.
I think we need to try to remain calm and carry on. We have to remember that the death rate for over 80s, that will be some of us, is about 15%. That means 85% of over 80s who contract Coronavirus will not die.

I have just been speaking to a friend in her early 60s who had a 13 hour operation for a very rare cancer and had some organs removed. She made an amazing recovery. She was planning to come and see me, travelling by bus/coach the 200 miles. I explained that being over 70 I have chosen to be in lock-down until things change. I was amazed at how little she knew. She has a special teaching job and has been travelling to school by bus. I am very concerned. She needs to have antibiotics every day and has to carry stronger ones wherever she goes.
The lack of information given is simply appalling. Our Government really are being so remiss. It is time to start strongly reducing social contact. That will be the only way to try and hold back the overwhelming flood of people who will need hospitalisation leading to people who are old or have underlying conditions being left to die. That will be at the feet of this government. Early intervention could prevent an overwhelming wave of sick people which is too much for the NHS to deal with.

I am over 70 with high blood pressure,Asthma and Copd.I have a emergency pack of steriods and antibiotics at home should I need them.I like others are not ready to go anywhere for a few years yet.

Deecrepid you are right. The report I saw didn’t state what type of arthritis it was but of course RA is far worse to have. I have OA.

Me too Seefah, I have a tendency to bronchitis and even pneumonia. I've now had the (bacterial) pneumonia immunisation from Boots and will be having the NHS one in due course (they're different). But I don't think either of them protect against the viral pneumonia you get from coronavirus.

Doodle we read the Times article so now DH is stopping one of his 2 BP medications (the ACE one) and will take his BP 3 times a day and see how it goes.

I think anyone over 60 would be wise to isolate themselves, possibly for months, until everyone has had it and the danger is passed (or if we get the vaccine, but that won't be until next year). That means no social events, although there's nothing stopping anyone going outside for walks etc. The fresh air will not infect you and things will be better in the summer when we can sit outside with other people. The alternative is to risk catching it especially during the next few months when the infection rate is rising. That is the choice we all have to make.

Chestnut thank you for that information? I actually asked because I had bacterial bronchitis a few months ago and would like to explore other options instead of going straight to antibiotics.

I am in my late 60's and I have COPD / Brocheactasis and other health issues.

My husband and I have practically isolated ourselves now for 3 weeks after taking government advice, which to be fair is just common sense. As adults surely we can ' read the runes' by what we read/see and hear.

I have hated it. I see my granddaughter when she comes here from school for her Grandad to take her home. We ' elbow bump' and have resisted hugging for over a week because we understand we need to take heed of the warnings.

Pussycat, the advice is that epilepsy on it's own is not one of the medical conditions in an at risk category as it does not compromise the immune system. I have Epilepsy and that is not an issue I'm concerned about but I do have severe asthma so a little worried on that front but not panicking yet!

This information is in today's Daily Mail. - 'ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers may change the shape of someone's cells in a way that makes it easier for the coronavirus to infect them and cause a more severe illness.' - Common medications for high blood pressure and diabetes. Hell's bells, that's a lot of the folk on this site.

Underlying conditions are any medical condition you have. It doesn't condemn you to death but as with any other infection you might get from a cold to flu, or even food poisoning the less well you start the more serious the illness is likely to be for you

Usual rules apply.

Seefah - an antibiotic only kills bacteria and this is a virus which is much smaller. That is why no antibiotic works on colds and 'flu or any viral infection including coronavirus.

Gwenisgreat1* Please would you share how you make your natural antibiotic ? That would be very kind.

Hetty

Oops.......

Heart problems - murmers, valve problems, angina, ardening of the arteries, high blood pressure
Respiratory - Asthma, COPD, Cyctic Fibrosis, Allergies
Compromised Immune - Lupus, Cancer treatment, Crohns, Collitis, Fibromyalgia
MS.
All sorts - doesn't just effect the elderly.

If you do t have them, do t worry about it.