ACE inhibitor’s
is it true that taking blood pressure meds hightens your risk to catch this virus?
top of page
Stephen M. Smith, M.D
Your Site for All Things Infectious
Visit the Forum page for Discussions about a post
bottom of page
Stephen M. Smith, M.D
Your Site for All Things Infectious
Visit the Forum page for Discussions about a post
So, high blood pressure has been found statistically to be associated with worse COVID disease. But this gets complicated quickly. The virus uses the ACE-2 receptor to enter cells. Blood pressure meds come in 4 or 5 categories. Two involve ACE - ACE-inhibitors and ACE receptor blockers, and they may actually increase the chance of severe infection. To date, we are not recommending changing meds.
But Diabetes, in my not-so-limited experience is the real risk factor for severe disease.