COVID-19: Is it hype or an emerging pandemic?
The news headlines has us on the edge of our seats.
Creating Worry or Nervousness...
Maybe creating false urgency?
Let's cut through the hype!
Here are some facts that might help ease your mind...
How would you know if you have it?
It looks like a classic flu or respiratory illnesses for this season — fever, aches, a dry cough and shortness of breath. Honestly you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a regular cold/flu and a COVID infection.
Check in with your PCP or advice nurse if you have symptoms and are concerned.
There are 2 significant phases to this respiratory illness- the first is the "influenza like phase" and the second is the pneumonia phase. COVID sets off a fast inflammatory reaction in the lungs that leads to a fluid buildup and our immune system damaging us unintentionally in the effort to kill the virus.
Note that people ARE recovering from the infection. Just because you've been exposed doesn't mean you are going to die. There are layers of treatment options given to lower the immune reaction and return the body to health.
Is this going to keep spreading?
We're right at the tail end of cold/flu season in California so naturally the viruses and bacteria are more likely to die in transit through airborne transmission. This is because of lower humidity, increased temps and us being outside instead of indoors. But the key is to stay warm!
There more you get outside in nature and avoid being in close proximity to others for long periods of time, the better. Balance your time indoor and outdoors.
Do what makes sense! Cover your mouth, wash hands, open windows at home and allow airflow. Clean surfaces of your home and office with bleach/ alcohol. This includes cell phones, door handles, phones at work and items that are touched by multiple people.
Who is susceptible?
The vast majority of the epidemiology who have been most affected are either elderly and/or have underlying pre-existing conditions with weakened immunity. The communities affected in Italy are older, unlike the 1918 Influenza pandemic which was much more virulent and impacted folks younger than 18. It's important to know the clinical characteristics from a recent study just released.
If you are a smoker/vaping (even cannabis), your lung immunity is more highly compromised. Consider cutting back on the number of cigarettes you smoke per day.
Lower your susceptibility! Just because you are exposed to someone who is coughing doesn't mean you've been infected.
In my next post , I'll cover what specifically you can do naturally to lower your susceptibility... stay tuned!