Underlying conditions, being a man, and genetics variations could all make your illness worse.
The coronavirus is a tricky bug that will take us some time to fully understand. It enters our body through our eyes, nose or mouth and attacks our immune system, often causing a fever when the body works to fight off the infection. We know that people of all ages can be susceptible to infection and even death, when it comes to COVID-19, but that older patients and certain people with underlying health conditions seem to suffer more than others in the face of the virus.
Part of this is because, in severe cases, a patient’s immune system overreacts. In addition to fighting off the viral cells, it can start to attack the cells of the patient’s lungs. When this happens, the lungs can be obstructed with dying cells and pneumonial fluid, leading to acute respiratory syndrome, which makes it hard for the patient to breathe.
Related: People Who Live at Higher Altitudes Have Altered Genetics
As the Mayo Clinic describes, too much fluid in a person’s lungs stops the lungs from filling with enough air, and this means that a reduced amount of oxygen then reaches the patient’s organs. Without enough oxygen in their system, patients can experience organ failure, and, sadly, die.
In up to over 97% of COVID-19 cases, patients survive. But for some, the virus is a particularly potent poison.
What causes some cases of the coronavirus to be more deadly than others?
In China, COVID-19 deaths were highest in people who had diabetes, chronic lung diseases, and heart disease. Those terms can cover some broad territory. According to Dr. Trish Perl speaking with Global News in Canada, when we refer to people with heart disease this can include those who are suffering from heart failure, as well as clogged and stiffened arteries.
Doctors are not sure why diabetics have such a hard time fighting off the coronavirus, but they seem to.
People with pre-existing lung problems such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also, obviously, fare poorly in the face of COVID-19.
What else can present a larger hurdle to cross with the coronavirus? Simply being a man can mean that you face a greater risk, and perhaps having certain genes, as well.
Related: Coronavirus: Symptoms by Age Group
Historically, women seem to display a greater tolerance for viruses. Both the SARS and MERS crises resulted in more women surviving than men. Part of this has been attributed to the fact that, worldwide, men tend to smoke more often and for longer periods of time compared with women, and so when a respiratory illness pops up, they have a harder time fighting it off.
Another factor that scientists think could be coming into play when looking at gender differences is the role of estrogen. Estrogen has been found to have a protective effect against disease. When female mice had their ovaries removed and were exposed to the SARS virus in a study done at the University of Iowa, these mice experienced higher death rates.
Finally, genetics may also play a role. Scientists have yet to look into the matter in depth, but Dr. Anthony Fauci stated to CNN that it could be that a variation in the ACE2 gene in people of any age is what is causing some healthy, younger people to die of the coronavirus. This gene is an enzyme that attaches itself to the outer surface of cells in our lungs and our heart. Variations in it could possibly make it easier or harder for a virus like the coronavirus to get into a person’s lungs.
Since just about none of us know if we this genetic variation, it is paramount that we use common sense. Practice social distancing, stay home, and wash your hands, at all ages.
