Does Having Lipedema or Lymphedema Make You More Susceptible to Catching Covid-19?

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Find out if this common fat deposition disorder and its lymphatic disorder counterpart put you at heightened risk for contracting the novel coronavirus and what you can do TODAY to mitigate your chances of contracting it.

If you’re a lipedema and/or lymphedema patient, your susceptibility to contracting the elusive Covid-19 currently plaguing the planet can be confusing with mixed information. We’re here to help shed some light on a seemingly dark time while we all collectively battle this on-going health crisis.

Covid-19:  What We Know…for Sure

With the novel coronavirus continuing to sweep the globe with wave after wave after wave and subsequent economic lockdowns, the unprecedented pandemic continues to baffle and bewilder even the most prominent of health officials among us. While the ever-evolving, ominous virus prompts more questions than offers answers, there are a few things our health officials and the CDC (Center for Disease Control) can categorically agree on – who’s most at risk and what we can do NOW to help slow its rapid spread. There are a few things that can be done to try and contain it whilst awaiting a cure or therapy or .  Statistics show the virus adversely affects a rather small portion of the population, primarily those 65 years and older, as well as those who suffer from co-morbidities or underlying health conditions, such as:

• Cancer
• Cancer treatments, including chemotherapy
• Medications that compromise immunity
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Lung disease
• Heart disease

The aforementioned remains the only constants in the on-going global fight to contain Covid-19 while feverishly awaiting a cure or an approved, safe vaccine therapy.  So, what does this all mean to someone affected by lipedema or lymphedema?  Let’s take a closer look.

Covid-19 and Lipedema/Lymphedema

Lipedema is categorized as an acute disproportionate accumulation of adipose tissue build-up that adversely affects the lower extremities of mainly females.  Lymphedema, on the other hand, occurs when the foot or ankle swells due to an acute dysfunction of optimal flow of lymphatic fluid through the legs or arms revolving around the body’s lymphatic system, resulting in an aesthetically asymmetrical structure of the legs (usually one leg or ankle is affected, while lipedema affects both legs).

While lipedema doesn’t always progress into lymphedema – and there are definitive differences between the two disorders – questions still arise as to whether either disorder puts sufferers at greater risk of contracting Covid-19.  In the event a lipedema patient DOES develop lymphedema, their susceptibility to Covid-19 may increase due to complications surrounding the lymphatic system, like infection.  While being a lipedema sufferer doesn’t make you any more or less at risk than a healthy person with no underlying health conditions, the same cannot be said for lymphedema sufferers, as they’re advised to err on the side of caution.

Unchartered Waters:  Navigating the Unknown

As we’re continuing to learn more and more about the novel coronavirus, its peculiar symptoms and long-term impact on the health of those who’ve contracted it, and how to contain its rampage on the population while effective therapies are being produced, there are a few things that can help keep us all protected – lipedema/lymphedema notwithstanding.  We must continue to be vigilant in following the health and safety guidelines set by the CDC, including:

• Frequent handwashing/healthy hygiene
• Practice social distancing
• When social distancing is not possible, wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose
• Continue to eat healthy, de-stress, and exercise to help boost your body’s natural immune response

Conclusion

Unless a lipedema patient incurs an unforeseen infection or progresses to lymphedema, rest assured there is currently no increased susceptibility to contracting Covid-19. The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly instilled unexpected levels of panic and pandemonium across the globe and continues to generate fear and confusion amongst the masses.  It’s the unsettling feeling of not having control that is so redolent of this new, audacious disease, which can be daunting, despairing, and downright depressing all at once.  However, there is hope on the horizon with a safe and effective vaccine in the very near future.  And, let us remember we’re all in this together.  As we tirelessly try to combat this enigmatic enemy, may we be reminded to extend a little grace to others and ourselves, while continuing to practice self-care, self-love, and all the safety measures we’ve grown heavily accustomed to over the past nine months.

Stay safe and be well.

To learn more, please contact our Beverly Hills, California office to schedule a consultation with any of our highly trained specialists.