Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, occurs when the force of your blood pushes the walls of your blood vessels is too high.
Over time, this could lead to severe health complications and increase the risk of heart disease.
It’s a condition that has become quite prevalent in society today, but now has more serious repercussions in light of the Covid-19 outbreak.
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According to Bloomberg, a top Chinese doctor sent to combat the coronavirus in Wuhan said that patients with hypertension appear to have a higher risk of dying from the Covid-19 virus.
The doctor, who has been treating the critically ill since mid-Jan, noted that nearly half of the initial 170 casualties had hypertension.
Du Bin, director of the intensive care unit at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that this was a “very high ratio.”
Perhaps this explains why older people and heart disease sufferers are more at risk of dying from Covid-19.
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According to the Singapore Heart Foundation, 53.4% of the elderly aged 60-69 has hypertension. Prevalence of hypertension also increases significantly from age 40 onwards.
Although no official research has been carried out to support this hypothesis, Chinese doctors working in Wuhan have noted that the condition of patients with hypertension are more likely to deteriorate.
As such, Mr Du says that they are keeping an eye on old people and those with high blood pressure.
It appears that the Singapore government also shares the same sentiments.
In a report by Channel NewsAsia (CNA), the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Tuesday (10 Mar) that all senior-centric activities conducted by government agencies will be suspended.
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Activities include those held at community clubs, residents’ committees, senior activity centres,, active aging hubs, CREST centres, Health Promotion Board and ActiveSG sport centres.
According to MOH,
Seniors are a particularly vulnerable group
The suspension will take effect from 11-24 Mar.
While there is no official research to support this theory yet, it’s better to err on the side of caution. We should pre-emptive measures now, and not only after casualties have been confirmed.
There’s still much to learn about Covid-19, so let’s just be prepared for whatever curve ball the coronavirus might throw at us.
Featured image adapted from Harvard University.
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