In the early days of the pandemic, doctors noticed something about the people who were severely ill from COVID-19: Many were obese.
Another issue is chronic inflammation, which often comes with obesity. Inflammation is a natural way our bodies fight harmful intruders like viruses. But long-lasting inflammation isn't healthy and could undermine your body's defences when a real threat arises.
And even if people who are obese aren't diagnosed with diabetes or heart disease, Mozaffarian notes their health may not be optimal. Scientists are also exploring whether there's something specific about the coronavirus itself that makes the obese more susceptible to getting very sick. Complications in care can arise once hospitalised, too. To help with breathing, for example, doctors have been putting patients hospitalised with COVID-19 on their stomachs. But that can be difficult for the obese, making it more likely they're put on ventilators."They need a machine to help just do the work," said Dr David Kass of Baltimore's Johns Hopkins University, who has co-authored a study on obesity and severe COVID-19 illness.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
CSL deals could see COVID-19 vaccine release by early next yearThe Australian government will fund CSL to help get its facilities ready to make the University of Oxford's coronavirus vaccine onshore if successful, after the company inked deals to make more than 80 million vaccine doses | MsEmmaK
Read more »
Geelong oil refinery on the brink of closure amid COVID-19 restrictionsThe refinery supplies more than 50 percent of all fuel used in Victoria.
Read more »
Is your runny nose more likely to be hay fever or COVID-19?Both hay fever and COVID-19 have respiratory symptoms. So how best can you tell these two conditions apart?
Read more »
NSW records nine new COVID-19 infections, three more cases at Sydney hospitalHealth authorities in NSW have confirmed nine new coronavirus infections in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday, including three cases at a Sydney hospital.
Read more »
Two new COVID-19 cases in QueenslandBREAKING: Queensland has recorded two new COVID-19 cases overnight, with the state now having 25 active cases.
Read more »
Union slams proposal to test for COVID-19 in pharmaciesSome pharmaceutical unions believe testing in pharmacies will put the elderly, employees and the general public at risk. Do you think COVID-19 testing should be allowed in pharmacies? 9News
Read more »