Your questions, answered "I'm wondering when risk factors are discussed, and conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, for example, are mentioned, is a person still considered high risk for covid-19 if those conditions are controlled with medication?" — Wendy in New York If you have an underlying health condition, it's important that you talk with your health-care providers about your risk of developing severe covid-19. They know your medical history well, and they can help you decide what steps you should take to protect yourself. Controlling your underlying condition with medication doesn't take you out of the high-risk category, unfortunately. But taking medications as prescribed by your health-care provider for the conditions you mentioned can help lower your risk and make it easier for your body to fight covid-19 if you do get infected. When it comes to high blood pressure, the American Heart Association says patients taking common blood pressure medications — such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) — should continue to do so. There were some concerns early in the pandemic that these medications could make people more vulnerable to the coronavirus, but they're in fact safe. "These medications don't increase your risk of contracting COVID-19," the American Heart Association says. "They are vital to maintaining your blood pressure levels to reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and worsening heart disease." The British Heart Foundation echoes that advice: "What is clear is that stopping your medication could be dangerous and could make your condition worse. It's really important that you continue to take them as prescribed, unless you're told differently by your doctor." There's also evidence that cholesterol-lowering drugs may be associated with lower covid-19 mortality among people with high blood pressure and heart disease. Researchers found last year that patients who were taking these drugs before being hospitalized were less likely to die of covid-19. "People prescribed cholesterol and/or blood pressure medicine are encouraged to continue taking these medications during the age of covid-19," the American Heart Association said of the findings. For diabetes, health experts similarly recommend that you keep your condition under control through diet and medication. "Your risk of getting very sick from covid-19 is likely to be lower if your diabetes is well-managed," the American Diabetes Association says. The Mayo Clinic adds: "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." Some cancer medications and immunosuppressant drugs for organ transplant patients can make you more vulnerable to the coronavirus. Again, consult with your doctor if you have any concerns or questions about what to do. | 
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