Masters of Health Magazine April 2021 | Page 45

From Most to

Least vulnerable

                          by Dr. Eric Plasker, DC

Currently, there is a great deal of distress and fear about COVID-19, the flu, and other infectious diseases affecting the most vulnerable people. Who are these most vulnerable people and what choices can you make for yourself and your family to become least vulnerable?

 

Who Are the Most Vulnerable People?

 

Various medical institutions in the US and other western countries label, seniors to be the most vulnerable people who are hit the hardest by COVID, the flu, and all types of infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of dying due to Covid-19 is  630 times higher  in people over the age of 85, as compared to young adults.

 

Why are some elderly people considered to be the most at-risk population for infection and serious complications due to COVID-19, or any other virus? The reason is not just because of their age. What makes the elderly most vulnerable is that many of them are living lifestyles that include all of the additional factors listed below.

 

Underlying Health Conditions

 

People with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other conditions, are more vulnerable. Their immune systems are already stressed and challenged, which makes them less able to ward off infections.

 

Polypharmacy

Polypharmacy is a term used for people who take multiple medications. This can alter blood and brain chemistry causing immunosuppression, which hinders the

body’s innate ability to fight infections.

 

Marlo Sollitto, author of Polypharmacy in the Elderly, states that “Being on too many medications can lead to potentially dangerous drug interactions and exposure to many side effects at once. Keep in mind that this applies not to just prescriptions, but also over-the-counter medications… The average adult takes four or more prescription drugs each day.”

 

Obesity

 

According to the National Institute of Health, obesity and overweight together are the second leading cause of preventable death in the US, close behind tobacco usage. An estimated 300,000 deaths per year are due to the obesity epidemic.

 

Poor Posture

 

Poor posture can increase stress on your body, reduce lung capacity, strain muscles, cause fatigue, and contribute to many other factors that affect your immune system.  

A recent Harvard study showed that people who sat with good posture showed a 25% decrease in Cortisol, the stress hormone.

 

Sedentary

 

On average, Americans sit for about 11 hours per day. Sedentary lifestyles are a contributing factor to every lifestyle disease and a risk factor including cardiovascular disease.