Articles
COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?
Lung problems
Heart disease, diabetes and obesity
Older age
Lung problems, including asthma
Heart disease
Diabetes and obesity
Cancer and certain blood disorders
Weakened immune system
Chronic kidney or liver disease
Down syndrome
Protect yourself; prevent unnecessary risk
Content
What raises the risk of severe or critical COVID-19 illness?
Age raises the risk of serious COVID-19
Aging plus disease raises the risk of serious COVID-19
Asthma, COPD, other lung diseases raise risk of severe COVID-19
Cancer raises the risk of severe COVID-19
Other conditions that raise the risk of severe COVID-19
A COVID-19 vaccine can lower your risk of serious illness
How else can you lower the risk of severe COVID-19?
Heart disease, diabetes and obesity
Older age
Lung problems, including asthma
Heart disease
Diabetes and obesity
Cancer and certain blood disorders
Weakened immune system
Chronic kidney or liver disease
Down syndrome
Protect yourself; prevent unnecessary risk
Content
What raises the risk of severe or critical COVID-19 illness?
Age raises the risk of serious COVID-19
Aging plus disease raises the risk of serious COVID-19
Asthma, COPD, other lung diseases raise risk of severe COVID-19
Cancer raises the risk of severe COVID-19
Other conditions that raise the risk of severe COVID-19
A COVID-19 vaccine can lower your risk of serious illness
How else can you lower the risk of severe COVID-19?
Diabetes and obesity
Type 1 or type 2 diabetes can increase your risk of serious COVID-19 symptoms. Having a higher body mass index that�s considered overweight, obese or severely obese also increases this risk.
Diabetes and obesity both reduce the efficiency of a person's immune system. Diabetes increases the risk of infections in general. This risk can be reduced by keeping blood sugar levels controlled and continuing your diabetes medications and insulin. If you are overweight or obese, aim to lose weight by eating a healthy diet and getting regular physical activity.
