Originally Posted by john_pifer
I think the point that bbhero is making is that this thing is getting people who aren't in good health. Folks who have smoked for years and years, drink heavily, bad diet, usually 40 or more pounds overweight, maybe diabetic, hard-partying lifestyle...
Unfortunately it's also getting those whose bodies are weakened due to pre-existing disease - cancer, auto-immune, etc.
Also, it's highly suspected that women tend to fare better than men. My speculation is that estrogen helps keep the heart and arteries and lungs from stiffening up and getting hardened. Ever notice how your wife/daughters/sisters can almost always bend over and touch their toes without bending their knees, and you can't? That's the estrogen, keeping their tendons, cartilage, and joints limber. Same reason women have softer skin and hair, also. Their bodies being steeped in estrogen keeps everything soft. Unfortunately there are negatives to it as well - osteoporosis, varicose veins, cellulite, to name a few.
Point is, keep yourself healthy. It's a great time to quit smoking and cut back on heavy drinking, start eating more healthy, and start exercising. Especially cardio - stuff that strengthens your heart, lungs, circulatory system. It's the folks who have a strong cardiovascular system and lungs who will fare the best through this. And, none of that is ever bad advice, Kung Flu or no Kung Flu.
While I applaud the "keep yourself healthy" point, John, it's specious to suggest that it's getting only those who are not healthy, or young, or female.
People who are in perfect health and in their 20s and 30s have died from this. That's a fact. All age groups, all health conditions, are being affected.
Risk appears to be increased with age, being male, being overweight, and with pre-existing conditions, but don't fall for the false narrative that this is an old, or male, or unhealthy lifestyle disease.
It is a threat to everyone.
With that, since we've started talking about COVID-19, I'm going to lock the thread, and go fire up "John Deere Green" on the blutooth in the shop.
cheers,
Astro