What are underlying health conditions?

I have a scar on my lungs through having pneumonia years ago, plus I'm asthmatic so quite worried about getting it

When they talk about underlying health conditions it would not mean arthritis. It would mean Rheumatoid arthritis which is totally different, this disease requires sufferers to take powerful disease modifying drugs which destroys your immune system and makes you susceptible to infection. Osteoarthritis is painful but is very different.

I am Asthmatic, but I use a preventer inhaler morning and night so (fingers crossed) I am fine at the moment, we are being sensible, washed hands after postman delivered parcel and after unpacking it ( plastic bag type packaging) .

But if I start to cough I know that it will trigger the Asthma and I go downhill very quickly ( think a couple of hours, rather than days) in normal circumstances I would call 999 if in trouble, not quite sure what I would do now.

Anyway, it’s sunny , I’m in the warm and I have medication, food and spare loo rolls ! nothing else I can do apart from jigsaws, sewing, plenty of books and TV and my trusty iPad. Oh and DH of course.

He's last on the list (even after jigsaws) Oopsadaisy, that made me smile!

I have had asthma all my life and it is potentially serious enough for me to need a long acting reliever as part of the preventative inhaler. Although l am still in my fifties l am aware that l am at risk of complications if l catch it.

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

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.

Hetty

Oops.......

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’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.

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.

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

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.