Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, you’ve probably heard the word “immunocompromised” more than ever before. Immunocompromised people have a weakened immune system, which means they have a reduced ability to fight diseases or other infections. Do you have a serious condition and are worried about getting through the next few months of the pandemic? Fortunately, most countries are beginning their vaccine roll-outs, and hopefully, within a few months, the world can get more back to how it was before the pandemic.
However, if there’s reason to worry about your health, you’ll want to stay as safe as possible. Read on to discover how to protect yourself from COVID.
How to Know If You Have a Weakened Immune System
Many treatments and conditions can immunocompromise a person. Some of these include:
- Cancer
- AIDS
- Genetic Immune Deficiencies
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Pregnancy
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Old age
- And more
You can also be immunocompromised if you take certain medicines or treatments, such as radiation therapy, organ and stem cell transplant, or if you’re a smoker. Speak with your doctor right away if you have any of these conditions or think you might have a weakened immune system.
How to Stay Safe
People with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms because their bodies are not strong enough to fight the virus. If you’re immunocompromised, it’s critical to protect yourself against COVID at all times. The medical community is still learning about the complexities of the virus, and there is no found cure at this point. While some people seem to recover quickly from COVID, others develop long-term symptoms, and for some, the virus is fatal. Always wear at least one facial mask when you leave the house and wash your hands multiple times a day.
Stay Home
One of the most effective ways to shield yourself and help reduce the virus’s spread is to drastically limit your interactions with other people as much as possible. If possible, utilize a grocery delivery service and avoid shopping in public spaces. Staying inside without engaging with others is challenging work. Maintain social contact with loved ones with Facetime or Zoom.
Testing
Getting a COVID test is the only way to know if you have the virus. Did you know that Covid testing at home is a service you can receive? Find a home healthcare provider that offers PCR Molecular Testing right in the comfort of your home. You won’t have to put yourself at risk by lining up for a test in a public space, and you’ll get high-quality private service. If you ever feel worried about your health, a COVID test will put your mind at ease and prevent you from potentially spreading the virus to others.
Double Your Masks
Recently, health experts agree that wearing more than one facial covering at a time is incredibly beneficial in the fight against COVID. If you can’t order delivery for your next grocery store haul, consider wearing two or three masks when you hit the shops. The CDC recently published a new study suggesting that layering a cloth covering over a surgical mask may improve the fit of masks and give additional protection from COVID-19’s potentially infectious particles.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Your diet won’t prevent you from contracting COVID-19, but it can strengthen your immune system. You want to keep as healthy and robust as possible, and eating nutritious foods can help with that. Depending on your current health condition, consider adding more garlic, greens, and citrus fruits to your diet. Cut back your alcohol consumption and drink more green tea, ginger tea, and matcha. You might also want to start taking vitamin supplements, such as vitamin C, probiotics, and iron.
Always talk to your doctor before you consume any supplement, and remember that nothing will prevent your chances of getting the virus. Having a healthy lifestyle and eating well will merely strengthen your immune system and help you feel your best throughout this challenging time.
Stay Active
Staying physically active is another crucial component to keeping a healthy lifestyle. If you’re able to go for walks, make it a habit to take short walks throughout the week. Getting outside and moving your body is not only beneficial for your body, but also constructive for your mental and emotional health.
Life has felt more like a science-fiction novel than reality over the last year, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by everything. Not to mention the isolation – not seeing friends and family is challenging. Walking outside will feel amazing, as will moving your body and getting that heart pumping.
When you have a weakened immune system, you must take extra precautions against COVID-19. You must reduce your chances of contracting the virus at all times. Stay home as much as possible, wash your hands, wear a mask, and get tested for COVID in the privacy of home. If everyone continues to do these things, we might enjoy life as once knew it again.
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