If You Are At Higher Risk

Overview

Being at higher risk is not a disease. It means your body may have a harder time fighting an infection or recovering from an illness. This can be because of your age, a long-term health condition, a treatment that weakens your immune system, pregnancy, or other reasons. Knowing you are at higher risk helps you plan ahead and get advice early.

Yes. Many people are at higher risk at some point in life, especially older adults and people with long-term health conditions.

It can affect older adults, people with heart, lung, kidney, liver, or immune system conditions, people having cancer treatment or organ transplants, pregnant people, and people taking medicines that lower their immune response. Ask your clinician if you are unsure about your own risk.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Symptoms depend on the illness. Common signs to watch for include fever or chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, and tiredness.
• Shortness of breath, chest discomfort, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea can also happen with some infections.
• New confusion, unusual weakness, or feeling much worse than you would expect are important warning signs.

Symptoms in children

• Poor feeding or drinking, fewer wet nappies, or dry mouth.
• Unusual sleepiness, floppiness, or being hard to wake.
• Fast or hard breathing, persistent fever, vomiting everything, or a rash that does not fade when pressed.

Symptoms in older adults

• New confusion or memory changes.
• Falls, sudden weakness, or not wanting to get out of bed.
• Not eating or drinking, dehydration, or a lower body temperature instead of a fever.
• A long-term health condition getting worse.

Causes

Main causes

• Health conditions that affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, blood, or immune system.
• Treatments that lower the immune system, such as some cancer treatments or transplant medicines.
• Older age, pregnancy, diabetes, or being very frail.
• Some infections are more dangerous for people whose bodies cannot fight them as well.

Risk factors

• Being older, especially over 65, or living in a care home.
• Having a long-term condition such as heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease, or diabetes.
• Having a weakened immune system or taking medicine that lowers immunity.
• Being pregnant, smoking, or not being up to date with recommended vaccines.
• Close contact with someone who is ill during an outbreak.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• You have new shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, fainting, or signs of dehydration.
• You cannot keep fluids down or your long-term condition is getting worse.
• You are at higher risk and symptoms are getting worse or not improving.
• Call your local emergency number for severe symptoms, or contact your clinician the same day for urgent but non-emergency concerns.

Book a routine appointment if:

• To review your risk and make a personal health plan.
• To check whether you are up to date with recommended vaccines.
• To review long-term conditions and medicines.
• Before travel or during local outbreaks, if you are unsure what to do.

Diagnosis

A clinician will ask about your health, medicines, symptoms, and daily life, and examine you. They may check your temperature, blood pressure, breathing, and oxygen level. Being at higher risk is not diagnosed with one test; it is assessed from your overall health and history.

Tests that may be done

• A physical check, including breathing and oxygen level.
• A swab or sample test if an infection is suspected.
• Blood tests or imaging such as a chest X-ray if needed.
• Monitoring at home or in hospital if your symptoms are serious.

What to expect at your appointment

Not everyone needs tests. Your clinician will explain what they are checking and why. Ask questions if you do not understand the plan, and make sure you know when to seek help again.

Treatment

Treatment depends on what is making you ill. The goal is to support your body, treat the cause if possible, and prevent serious problems. Because you are at higher risk, your clinician may want to speak with you early, even if symptoms seem mild.

Self-care at home

• Rest, drink enough fluids, and eat small meals if you can.
• Keep a list of your health conditions, medicines, and allergies.
• Write down who to call and when to seek help.
• Monitor your symptoms and use a thermometer or oxygen monitor only if your clinician advises it.
• Avoid close contact with others when you are ill, cover coughs, wash hands often, and keep rooms ventilated.

Medical treatments

Your clinician may recommend monitoring, prescription medicine if appropriate, or a review of your long-term conditions. They may also advise you to start treatment early if you become ill. Always ask your clinician or pharmacist before taking any new medicine, including over-the-counter products, and do not stop or change long-term medicines without advice.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is not a treatment for being at higher risk. If you need an operation, tell your care team about your risks so they can plan safe care.

Living with this condition

Make a simple health plan before you get ill. Keep it somewhere easy to find. It can include your conditions, medicines, allergies, vaccine record, who to call, and when to seek help. Keep some basic supplies at home, such as fluids and a thermometer.

Lifestyle tips

• Stay up to date with recommended vaccines.
• Keep regular appointments for long-term conditions.
• Avoid smoking and limit alcohol.
• Sleep well, stay active as able, and manage stress.
• Wash hands often and avoid close contact with people who are clearly ill during outbreaks.

Diet and exercise

Eat regular balanced meals, drink enough fluids, and move your body in a way that suits your health. Ask your clinician what activity is safe for you if you have a long-term condition.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Feeling worried or isolated is common when you are at higher risk. Talk to someone you trust, keep routines, and ask your clinician for support if low mood or anxiety is affecting daily life. If you feel overwhelmed or have thoughts of harming yourself, contact your local emergency number or a local crisis service right away.

Prevention

You cannot always prevent illness, but you can lower your risk. Vaccination, hand washing, staying away from people who are ill during outbreaks, and early advice all help.

Vaccines

Keep up to date with vaccines recommended for your age, health, job, travel, and season. Ask your clinician or pharmacist what you need.

Screening programmes

Regular checkups can help find and manage health problems early. Ask your clinician which checks are right for you.

Complications

If left untreated

• More severe illness or a longer recovery.
• Dehydration, pneumonia, or worsening heart, lung, kidney, or liver problems.
• A severe whole-body reaction to infection, sometimes called sepsis.
• Hospital care or complications from a long-term condition.

Long-term outlook

Most people at higher risk can lower their chances of severe illness with vaccination, planning, and early contact with a clinician. If you do get ill, early support often helps. Being at higher risk is a reason to plan, not a reason to lose hope.

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