Having high blood pressure increases your risk of COVID-19.

People with untreated high blood pressure may be at increased risk of COVID-19.

People with untreated high blood pressure may be at increased risk of COVID-19.The British Heart Foundation and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that people with high blood pressure are at an increased risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19.

Amid the current pandemic, researchers are continuing to find the optimal treatment for COVID-19. So far, experts have learnt that certain health conditions put individuals at a higher risk of getting severe COVID-19 symptoms. While most people are likely to experience mild symptoms, some people require hospitalization.

High blood pressure or hypertension, which makes the heart work harder to pump blood, is a severe condition that can sometimes lead to stroke or heart disease. MayoClinic reports the latest data that highlights people with untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure can get severe COVID-19 symptoms.

WebMD explains the link between hypertension and high risk from COVID-19 - some people with high blood pressure may have a weaker immune system and therefore are more susceptible to fall severely ill.

Further, certain drugs, including ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) that treat hypertension, can put a patient in the high-risk category.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.