Page 16 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, July 3, 2020 Malden Catholic honors Class of 2020 with a Grand Celebration Rolling Rally avvya yavvy enniiooro ior vy ion r coronavirus? Hypertensive Helen Dear Helen, If you have high blood pressure, you defi nitely need to take extra care to protect yourself during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Research shows that people with hypertension are more susceptible to getting COVID-19, are more likely to develop severe symptoms if they do get sick, and are more likely to die from the infection, especially if they’re older. High Risk Links A weaker immune system is the key reason people with high blood pressure and other health problems are at higher risk for coronavirus. Long-term health conditions and aging weaken the immune system so it’s less able to fi ght off the virus. Nearly two-thirds of Americans over 60 have high blood pressure. Another concern that has been circulating, but was put to rest last month, were theories that the medications that are commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure – ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) – could make patients more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, and more susceptible to severe illness if they did become infected. But new research published in The New England Journal of Medicine last month found no risk linked to these medications. COVID Complications While pneumonia is the most common complication of the virus, it can also damage the cardiovascular system. That’s why people with high blood pressure, heart disease, and heart failure are at risk. High blood pressure damages arteries and reduces the fl ow of blood to your heart. That means your heart has to work harder to pump enough blood. Over time, this extra work can weaken your heart to the point where it can’t pump as much oxygen-rich blood to your body. Coronavirus can also damage the heart directly, which can be especially risky if your heart is already weakened by the eff ects of high blood pressure. The virus may cause infl ammation of the heart muscle, which makes it harder for the heart to pump. If you also have plaque buildup in your arteries, the virus may make those plaques more likely to break apart and cause a heart attack. Studies have shown that people with heart disease who get a respiratory illness like the fl u or earlier types of coronavirus are at higher risk for a heart attack. What to Do? While everyone needs to take precautions to prevent coronavirus, people with high blood pressure and other health conditions need to be extra careful. The best way to avoid getting sick is to stay home as much as you can. If you have to go out, wear a mask and keep at least 6 feet away from other people. And every time you come home, wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. Also, clean and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces like cell phones, countertops and doorknobs. The CDC also recommends that you have enough medicine on hand to treat high blood pressure and other health conditions. And stock up on over-the-counter medicines to treat a fever and other symptoms if you get sick. While a coronavirus vaccine isn’t available yet, you should stay up to date on your other important vaccines. The pneumococcal vaccines – Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23 – will prevent you from catching pneumonia on top of coronavirus. Also get a fl u shot in September or early October. Its symptoms are easy to confuse with coronavirus, which could make it harder for doctors to diagnose you if you do get sick. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. iori by Jim Miller Why High Blood Pressure is Even More Dangerous in the COVID-19 Era Dear Savvy Senior, Are people with high blood pressure at increased risk of getting O n Saturday, June 20, Malden Catholic High School (MC) held a carnival-style Rolling Rally event for the Class of 2020. Life-size cutouts of each MC senior lined the athletic fi eld fence and greeted the cars fi lled with seniors and the family members along with a bubble machine, confetti cannons, a live DJ and cheers from over 50 members of the faculty and staff . Each senior exited a car to take a socially distanced photograph with Headmaster John Thornburg and Principal Brother Thomas Puccio. Students also received a gift box fi lled with the academic and athletic awards they had earned over the year, honorary distinction cords, a graduation cap, an engraved commemorative silver-framed photo of the school, a Lancer Nation T-shirt and a fl ower for their mother. According to Headmaster Thornburg, “This was a spectacular way to honor the achievements of our seniors. It is just one of many ways in which we have been delighted to celebrate our students’ four years at Malden Catholic, and we look forward to the full graduation ceremony on August 1.” MC plans to host a traditional graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 on Saturday, August 1, 2020, on the football fi eld. This event will follow all state and health requirements in place at that time to ensure the health and safety of all involved. About Malden Catholic High School Since 1932, MC has shaped emerging leaders in our community – claiming a Nobel Laureate, a Senator, two ambassadors and countless community and business heads among its alumni. Annually, graduates attend some of the nation’s most renown universities, including Harvard, Georgetown, Brown, Cornell, Tufts, Georgia Tech, Boston College and Amherst College. Foundational to student success is MC’s co-divisional model, which off ers the best of both worlds: single-gender academics during the day and integrated social and extracurricular opportunities after school. MC is known in the community for its rigorous academics, SFX Scholars Program and award-winning Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program with electives, such as Robotics and Engineering Design. MC’s curriculum is designed to improve individual growth, mindset, leadership principles, and success outcomes along with integrating the Xaverian values of trust, humility, compassion, simplicity and zeal – https://www.maldencatholic.org/.
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