If you follow the news lately, you may begin to think that we are in the midst of a pandemic poised to wipe out three-quarters of the world population.
However, while the Coronavirus of 2019 (COVID-19) is a potentially deadly and apparently very infectious disease and not something you want to catch, fear and panic are counterproductive and unwarranted.
In this post, we explain what the coronavirus is, attempt to alleviate any fear or panic you may feel, and provide some practical guidance to build resilience and prevent infection.
What Is the Coronavirus?
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
These viruses are zoonotic, meaning they’re transmitted between animals and people. SARS was first transferred from civet cats to humans, and MERS was first transferred from dromedary camels to humans. Common symptoms of coronaviruses include the following (listed from less to more severe):
- Respiratory symptoms (runny nose, sneezing, coughing)
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Pneumonia
- Kidney failure
- Death
In a large majority of cases, symptoms are relatively mild and pass within days or weeks at the most.
Putting the Coronavirus in Perspective (last updated: Friday, June 18, 2021)
A careful examination of the statistics from the World Health Organization puts the Coronavirus in the following perspective:
- Out of 177,108,695 confirmed cases, 3,840,223 resulted in death for a fatality rate of 2.17%.
- Fatalities are more common among those with serious preexisting health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, hypertension, and cancer.
- Out of the 177,108,695 cases, approximately 80% were considered mild, 14% severe, and 5% critical.
- People aged 30 to 79 years accounted for 90% of all cases, 20 to 29 years, 8% of cases, and from birth to 19 years, 2% of cases.
- The fatality rates for similar infectious diseases are higher — 9.6% for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS, which was contained in 2003) and 34.4% for the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS, which has yet to be contained).
Here in the United States, as of June 18, 2021, and according to the COVID-19 Dashboard provided by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University, there have been 33,515,433 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 50 states (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands) — 601,181 of which have resulted in the patient dying.
Preventing Exposure/Infection
Avoiding exposure may not be possible, but you can take some practical steps to limit possible exposure and reduce your odds of becoming infected, such as:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
- Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness, such as coughing or sneezing.
- Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and caution others to do the same.
- Keep your hands away from your face.
- Avoid touching any surfaces that others who may be infected have touched.
Masks are not very effective in preventing the spread of the virus. Their most valuable benefit is that they discourage the wearer from touching his or her own face.
Building Resilience (Resistance)
Even if you are exposed to the virus, infection is not certain. The idea that if you come into contact with a virus, you will become ill is a fallacy; it has no scientific basis. However, those with compromised or weakened immune systems are more likely to be infected.
An ounce of resilience is worth a pound of cure. (Resilience helps to prevent infection and reduce the severity and duration of symptoms if you become infected.) To support your immune system, we recommend the following precautions:
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of filtered water and avoid beverages that tend to dehydrate, such as coffee, alcohol, and carbonated beverages.
- Take 1,000 to 2,000 mg of vitamin C daily.
- Take 30 mg of zinc daily.
- Take herbal preparations that contain echinacea or other herbs that strengthen immune function. These have been around long before Tamiflu (a prescription anti-viral medication), and they work well against viruses.
- Eat plenty of green vegetables.
- Avoid excessive consumption of sugar and simple carbohydrates, such as bread, potatoes, chips, crackers, and pasta.
- Reduce your stress levels. If you are feeling run down, take a personal day.
Don’t assume that just because you take vitamin C or vitamin D or a multivitamin that the levels of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in your body are sufficient or optimum for healthy immune system function.
Many people are totally unaware that they have nutritional deficiencies. We know because we run blood and urine tests routinely on people who are taking vitamin supplements.
Maintaining healthy levels has to do with supplement quality, absorption, correct dosing, and a number of other factors. We encourage you to have your nutrient levels tested prior to taking any supplements to ensure a healthy balance.
The BioDesign Wellness Center Resilience Protocol
At BioDesign Wellness Center, we have designed a resilience protocol for our clients to take during the flu and now Coronavirus 19 season. The protocol involves taking high doses of vitamin C, zinc, an herbal antiviral preparation, and homeopathic flu support.
These items are available for immediate pick up at our office. Our resilience protocol will not eradicate or kill the virus. It may not prevent infection, but it is likely to lessen the likelihood of infection and reduce the severity and duration of symptoms if you become infected, which is the real objective of treatment.
Remember that most people will have mild to severe reactions, not critical ones. Keeping yourself in the mild range if you happen to become infected is a good strategy. We believe that building resilience can prevent infection, but beyond common sense, we cannot justify that belief.
For example, we all agree that being sufficient in vitamin C is better than being deficient, but we cannot point to any evidence showing that certain levels of vitamin C and zinc, and echinacea will reduce your chances of infection by a certain percentage.
Note: If you’re a BioDesign Wellness Center client and are concerned about your nutrient levels, please contact us to have them tested. If you’re not a client, we are accepting new patients. We would be happy to test your levels as part of your initial evaluation and to make specific recommendations on how to build resilience. However, we are not a primary care facility, so if you suspect that you have a cold, flu, or coronavirus and are seeking treatment, please contact your primary care doctor or an immediate care facility.
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Disclaimer: The information in this blog post about the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect current medical thinking or practices. No information contained in this post should be construed as medical advice from the medical staff at BioDesign Wellness Center, Inc., nor is this post intended to be a substitute for medical counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this post without seeking the appropriate medical advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a licensed medical professional in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.