COVID-19 has the entire world concerned about whether they can survive if they contract the virus. The elderly and those with compromised immune systems are at the highest risk. What many don’t realize is that those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol are also in this high-risk category. Addiction and your physical health put you there. The longer you have indulged, the greater your risk. What this means is that if you catch this virus, you are at great risk of dying. Let’s see what is going on here. 

Addiction and Your Physical Health

Addiction affects your physical health in many ways. The most obvious is how the chemicals interact in your body. Your liver is the place that stores vitamins and protein before they are used by the rest of your body. This is one of the most important organs in regard to staying healthy. It works with your immune system to help keep your body free of undesirable things like infections.

• Alcohol destroys your liver and has been connected to pneumonia cases.
• Marijuana suppresses your immune system, making it unable to fight. It also damages the respiratory system.
• Cocaine damages the mucous membranes and affects the respiratory system.
• Opiates work directly on white blood cells, the main infection-fighting cells in the body.

These are just an example of the way addiction affects physical health. Considering that the COVID-19 and many other viruses attack the lungs, having weakened lungs to start with can be dangerous. When you consider that many people who drink and use drugs are also smokers, Your chances of beating this becomes even lower. This direct effect of the drugs is amplified by the lifestyle led by many people dealing with addiction.

Lifestyle and Your Physical Health

When the addiction becomes a part of life, you stop taking care of yourself. Addiction and your physical health are greatly impacted by this lack of personal care. Most likely, you don’t eat enough or even healthy. When was the last time you had a full night’s sleep that wasn’t a result of drugs? Your body does the majority of its healing during certain stages of deep sleep. This does not often happen on a regular basis when addiction is involved. It is also unlikely that you have visited a doctor in a long time and may be fighting underlying disorders such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or more. 

Steps You Can Take to Remain Safer

Where COVID-19 is concerned, your greatest chance of survival is to avoid coming into contact with it. Now is the time to heed the self-isolation orders and stay away from other people. Attempt to get your sleep schedule regulated and start eating regular healthy meals with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and protein. Introducing even a light exercise program into each day will help strengthen your body and mind. Now is a great time to reflect on where you are in life and think about where you want to be. In all likelihood, neither an early death or a lifetime of addiction is the destination you are seeking.

Now is the Time

Addiction and your physical health put you at risk of much more than COVID-19. You risk losing not only your life but also everything that keeps you going, such as family. This doesn’t have to be the case. There are rehab centers waiting for you to reach out and ask for help. They would love nothing more than to help you face your addiction and move past it toward a better life. Now, with the risk so high, it may be the perfect time to make that important choice. If you are ready to take the step to the steps to beat addiction, contact Bayview Recovery today by calling 855.478.3650.