Good Lifestyle

After six months of COVID-19 study, experts have set up an extensive list of risk factors for highly infectious and potentially fatal virus. Things like age, sex, race, socio-economic group and pre-existing conditions can all come into play with respect to the chances of a person to test positive for, or die of coronaviruses. Researchers are currently demanding another risk factor that can double your chances of doing coronavirus, in the form of an incredibly common and too common drug.

"A strong and independent effect"

According to a study, published on Tuesdaypre-printed form in theAmerican Journal of Gastroenterology, those who take anti-inhibitor drugs from the proton pump - including Prilosec and Nexium - are twice as likely to get the virus than those who do not.

A group of researchers led by Dr. Brennan Spiegel Cedars-Sinai Medical Center reviewed data from an online survey of more than 86,000 people. 53,000 of them reported abdominal pain or discomfort, acid reflux, heartburn or regurgitation and responded to a series of questions related to the drugs they have taken to treat their symptoms.

Of the group, more than 3,300 positive tested for COVID-19. When analyzing the data, the researchers learned that those who took medication to the IPP to remedy their stomach burns were two to four times more likely to test positive for the virus compared to those who have used other drugs or any other. They also found a link between the amount of drugs used. Those who took the medicine twice a day were at a greater risk of infection than those who took them once.

"We found a strong and independent effect on the use of PPIs on the risk of COVID-19, including a dose-response relationship with nearly increased risk to four times higher for twice doses daily", has explained Dr. Spiegel in a Press release.

Makes the stomach more open to pathogens

Dr. Spiegel pointed out that this is not the first time the drug was linked to a higher risk of infections in other infections, including c.diffile. It explains that this is because the drug reduces stomach acid - which is one of the body's tools in the fight against bacteria and harmful viruses. He added that the modification of the intestine, which can make drugs against burns, makes the area more likely by the virus.

"There is a reason why we have acid in our stomach, namely to kill pathogens before entering the digestive tract," said Dr. Spiegel. "Coronaviruses are easily destroyed at a gastric pH less than 3, but survive in a more neutral pH, including the range created by drugs such as omeprazole and oesomeprazole."

Keep in mind that your overall increase in COVID-19 infection risk terms is still weak and that researchers point out that prevention methods, such as handwashing, social distance and mask, have an impact More importantly on your chances of getting the virus. If you take PPIs, you do not immediately stop taking them, but you may want to talk with your doctor other options or possibly reduce your dose. You may also consider taking other acid control drugs, for example, H2 blockers such as Pecid and Zantac, are not revealed to pose an additional risk. "We did not find any relationship with less powerful H2RAS, such as famotidine or cimetidine," said Spiegel.

And to cross this pandemic with your healthiest, do not miss theseThings you should never do during the pandemic coronavirus.