COVID-19 As scary as it sounds?

Every few years a new bug emerges and the media goes crazy. Nothing new, the media has used fear tactics to gather attention for decades, but we can fight fear with facts and feel empowered understanding this new or novel coronavirus.

Yes, there are going to be people who die from this virus, just like many people die from the influenza virus every year. The CDC estimated 34,200 deaths in the 2018-2019 flu season, but as always these are usually from immune-compromised individuals with other complications. To put this into perspective, although 34,200 sounds like a lot of deaths, it was out of the 35.5 million people who caught the flu. That’s a very small percentage and way less risky than say, driving a car. Of course we all drive cars everyday even though the risk of dying is way higher, because the benefit outweighs the risk. 

You shouldn’t be afraid to go to a community event or visit Chinatown because the benefit of living your life greatly outweighs the risk of catching and then the smaller risk of dying from this novel coronavirus.

So the new kid on the block this year is a coronavirus. There are many types of coronavirus, named because the structure looks like a crown. The coronavirus causes other illnesses; mildly it can cause the common cold, a novel coronavirus caused SARS in China and another caused MERS in the Middle East. Now we have a novel coronavirus, which means nobody has seen this version, that can cause a respiratory illness called COVID-19.

The novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV is transmitted through respiratory droplets that must enter your body. Once enough droplets   land and start multiplying, they can cause an infection. This is why it’s so important to wash your hands correctly for 20seconds with soap and water before touching your face. One study found that we could reduce the spread of infection though air travel by 70% if people just washed their hands effectively. Even if you’ve been exposed within 6ft of sick people, you can still use a neti pot or shower to flush out your nasal passageway before the virus has a chance to multiply.

Already, 80% of coronavirus cases have recovered from mild infections safely, with zero cases in children ages 0-9years or pregnant women. So, we know it’s not only possible to heal with a healthy immune system, but most likely the end result. Dr. Elisa Song, a trusted pediatrician of mine, says your best bet is to prime your immune system now. Then you can go about your daily life as usual with the hopefully added attention to washing your hands with soap before touching your face. A rule I wish we didn’t need a scary virus to teach us.

How to Prepare Your Immune System for a Viral Outbreak

1. Avoid anti-bacterials that kill bacteria, but have no effect on viruses. An antiviral can prevent a virus from replicating itself, but an anti-bacterial will kill off your natural bacteria in your immune system.  This is why anti-bacterial hand sanitizers are not as effective as washing your hands with soap. Killing off your natural bacteria leaves you with no defense for a viral invasion. Natural anti-virals: raw garlic, shiitake mushroom, echinacea, oregano, thyme, astragalus, and licorice root. Please check with your practitioner if these are appropriate for you.‍
2. De-stress. A body under chronic stress can’t recover from an illness and will leave your immune system running on empty Children function best on 10 hours of sleep and adults perform best after 8 hours. If you sleep less, try to practice meditation or lie with your eyes closed so your body can rest from the constant stimulation of our daily lives. Stress depletes your stores of Vit C which is why eating whole fresh fruits and vegetables rich in Vit C daily is so important. Sugar also causes stress in the body and depletes your immune system, so remove sugar to de-stress the body.‍
3. Sunshine, fresh air, and Vit D are essential for your immune system and very difficult to get via vitamins only. Aim for 15min daily outside in the sun without sunscreen on some portion of your skin. Breathing in fresh air from a 20-30min walk daily can detox the body from the air conditioning, building toxins, and artificial toxins that degrade your immune system. ‍
4. Digestion is key from eating the food that contains the nutrients your immune system needs to absorbing them properly, and finally eliminating the waste daily that can harm your natural defense system in the large intestine. If you take antacids the stomach will not make enough acid to break down proteins, including viruses, so they are inactivated. Try to relax around mealtime and wait to hear your stomach growl before eating.‍
5. Stay home. Finally, the best way to stop the unnecessary spread of germs is to stay home when you are sick. Americans are notorious for going to work sick and that’s a great way to transfer germs, have them mutate, and spread the infections. When you are sneezing, coughing, and your mucus is trying to rid your own body of the germs, try not to be in a public space sharing your germs with your community. When you are sick with any infection, your body is at a greater risk of catching other infections so stay home, wash your hands frequently with soap, and sleep! A proper immune system is your most powerful tool to avoid all of these new outbreaks. Nourish your body and trust that it knows what to do to keep you healthy and safe. If you have any questions, call your doctor before rushing in and exposing you or your child to the office germs. Your doctor may be able to reassure you that your fever is natural for 5-7 days and your immune system just needs love, support, and sleep.

This is a very difficult time for many of us, but maybe the most unsettling for those with mental health issues. If you feel like you need more support, check out this guide about guarding mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

‍

-----

Learn more about immune system resiliency HERE!