Risk Factors, Addiction, and Your Physical Health
When it comes to addiction and your physical health, you should always be concerned. However, we have reached a critical moment with COVID-19 when your addiction is putting you at a higher risk than ever before. If you are struggling with addiction or abusing substances right now, you should know how these behaviors affect you and why seeking help today at a substance abuse treatment center is your best option.
How does Addiction Increase the Risk of COVID-19
COVID-19 is a newly discovered, or novel coronavirus causing severe upper respiratory infections. It is only one of many coronaviruses, but it is distinct in that it has only recently become easily transmitted through human to human contact. Therefore, as of yet, our bodies have not built up any immunity, and no vaccine nor cure exists.
One of the most significant attributes of the virus is that it can be in a person’s system for 14 days without causing symptoms. A person that appears healthy and feels fine can carry the virus and pass it on unknowingly to others. Currently, the CDC and other health organizations across the globe are working to collect information on the virus and containment. What we do know is that the virus puts older people, those with damaged lungs or asthma, and those with compromised immune systems, particularly at risk.
What Does This Mean for Addiction and Your Physical Health?
Drugs of Choice
Undoubtedly, we all know that addiction and your physical health are unavoidably intertwined. However, we may not know the specifics of how our drug of choice affects our bodies. In regards to the threat of coronavirus, many people that are currently using or in recovery may not realize the potential effect that use has on the lungs. Drugs, known to damage the respiratory system, are cocaine, DXM, GHB, heroin, inhalants, ketamine, marijuana and tobacco smoking, PCP, and prescription opioids. If you have been using any of the drugs listed above, weakened lung function may be putting you at a greater danger of contracting COVID-19 and having more severe symptoms.
Infectious Disease and IV Drugs
Certainly, risky behaviors like sharing needles and unprotected sex can lead to infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis. Someone battling addiction, either active or in recovery, sharing needles or partaking in unsafe sex, is at risk. They could have one of these immune-compromising diseases without yet having been diagnosed. If you haven’t discussed your addiction and your physical health with a physician, you should. Likely, several people with compromised immune systems may not even know they have it. In this case, they are at a higher risk during an outbreak like COVID-19.
Addiction and Your Physical Health
The connection between addiction and infection still needs more investigation. Not until recently have studies thoroughly investigated the impact of addictions on immunity. The immune system is a complex network of organs, white blood cells, antibodies, lymph nodes/glands, and bone marrow that all work together to protect the body from infections.
In various ways, most substances abused will affect your body’s natural ability to protect itself in some way. To protect yourself from the current pandemic, you should try to boost your immune system. Although the best course of action for someone with a substance use disorder is to seek treatment. Address your addiction and your physical health is sure to improve.
Help for Addiction and Your Physical Health
It would appear that there really is no better time than now to seek help. A reputable addiction treatment center can help you get your life back and improve your health. If you are ready to free yourself of the chains of addiction, contact Sunstone Recovery today at 855.833.9199. The path to recovery is open for you.
