Healthy people why are you so scared of catching covid 19?

[wakeupitsabeautifulmorning]

Serious question. I’m interested in why healthy people with no underlying problems are so unhappy about starting to get back to normal. I’m not talking about shielded people who need to stay shielded. But everyone else.

Do any of you unfortunate sufferers fall into any of the highlighted ‘at higher risk’ groups? That is: male, BAME, obese or over 70? Do any of you smoke?

Green - smoking is not considered a risk factor any more is it? It even seems to protect to some extent.

male No
BAME No
obese No
over 70 No
Do any of you smoke? Yes

Bizarrely smoking seems to be a protective factor against contracting covid. My hypothesis (no stem background, behavioural psychologist) is that it’s what you do alongside smoking that is protective- hand washing, time spent outside and gum chewing, which diverts the virus away from the respiratory to the digestive system

Not often you hear smoking in a positive light. I would have presumed your lungs wouldn’t be as healthy once you contract the virus, surely?

@Greenpop21 female, healthy BMI range, active, under 40, no health issues, no medication. I don't even usually get colds!

So scary. My boss, a headteacher, is constantly reassuring us, her staff that as some of us are young(under 50) female, BMI in healthy range and no underlying issues, that we can teach keyworker children with no risk. It’s very hard when you are surrounded by those who play this down so much. Sounds absolutely awful and I’m sorry for you all.

@Greenpop21 I think the current understanding is, us smokers are significantly less likely to contract it, but if we do get it, are more likely to be v ill due to our already damaged lungs.

Would love to hear from someone who knows for sure though!

etinox

Your theory gave me a good laugh, thank you.

So what if you smoke inside, don’t chew gum or wash your hands? I know smokers who do none of those thing?

Sorry @etinox I just realised that was your own theory.

There's a possibility that covid isn't really a respiratory illness at all-it just gets in that way. It may be a virus that can take over a particular kind of cell that isn't just in the lungs. Which would explain a lot and make it a different animal really.

I am 40 no health conditions very fit normally don't smoke or drink. Bmi of 23.

Imperial College has today released a study of over 16,000 UK patients. 45% had no underlying medical conditions.

It isn't just those with underlying medical conditions going into hospital with this.

33% of the study, so 5,000 odd, died.

Mittens it's tough keeping the children up beat. I could hide the worst from mine as I'm a single mum so they were with their dad. It's been so hard being on my own without even a hug. I'm trying to stay up beat

" 45% had no underlying medical conditions."

How many of those were elderly?

I have no medical background but it feels like it attacks the body in any way it can. I've read of kidney problems along with lungs. I have two friends that have had it as bad as me. Perhaps it's a bad strain. It's wildly unpredictable. I had it for two weeks and then had one of many false dawns of feeling better. Did a small amount of gardening very light stuff and within hours had paramedics out. It was so quick the change from feeling good to terrible. I've noticed if you over do it on the recovery you pay for it.

I know a couple of young, healthy, very fit people who have ended up pretty much bedbound for weeks, at times convinved they were about to die with this virus. Even I'd someone could guarantee me 100% that I'd survive, I do NOT fancy suffering like that! I'm a single parent and bedbound is just not an option if I can avoid it. Plus I'm terrified I'd kill my parents, who do have serious health issues. Or my kids would pass it on to their stepmother, who is also very vulnerable to it.

@Gwenhwyfar

I don't know. You would have to look at the study to see if they break it down.

But it does mean that it isn't just chronically sick people that are dying.

• or are seriously ill

Posted twice as it was deleted. My two friends that have been really sick are both athletic rugby player and a hiker

This one does not seem to break down by who is over weight
www.imperial.ac.uk/mrc-global-infectious-disease-analysis/covid-19/report-17-clinical/

www.medrxiv.org/

This is the study I was referring to.

www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.23.20076042v1

Hopefully this link works

Because the virus does not choose apparently healthy people. What sort of question is this?

Are you sufferers in London? I don’t know anyone who has had symptoms. I’m in East Midlands.