Unclear really, there's lore on how in the dark ages guardians such as the drifter would be getting revived after starving to death and still be starving upon revival. I think at some point it mentions the same with gaurdians exposed to immense radiation levels
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The radiation bit seemed to be more about being revived in a radioactive zone would only get your sick again and die again. That’s why it told her to get away, so she wouldn’t die in a hot spot. If the case was you came back radioactive, she would of been boned forever, yeah?