Fear: a leading comorbidity
By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Sep 13, 2021
We all know that most Covid deaths involve “comorbidities,” with obesity and diabetes and high blood pressure among the most frequent culprits. But here’s something that I didn’t know, until an alert reader brought it to my attention. From a CDC study, released in July:
Hypertension and disorders of lipid metabolism were the most frequent, whereas obesity, diabetes with complication, and anxiety disorders were the strongest risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness. [emphasis added]
The Catholic Church can’t do too much to address problems like obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. But the Church can help people who are dealing with excessive anxiety. Someone should write a book about how the Church can spread hope, not fear, in a pandemic.
Oh, wait. Someone already did.
Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org. See full bio.
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Posted by: nix898049 -
Sep. 23, 2021 5:28 PM ET USA
Yes,you did! And much appreciated it is.
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Posted by: altoidnews7416 -
Sep. 13, 2021 3:57 PM ET USA
Well played, but the Church is ahead of you with that book. It's called the Bible. It just has to be dusted off and used by the Church to help heal the masses.
