coronavirus disease Archives - Amazing Health Advances

How to Improve Safety and Reduce Anxiety During the Coronavirus Pandemic

AHA Publisher — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 07:00:07 +0000

Leah Zerbe, MS, NASM-CPT, NASM-CES via Dr. Axe – No March Madness. Moreover, no sports games, anywhere, for the unforeseen future. For many, no schooling. No Broadway. Limited travel. The list goes on. Needless to say, the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) has significantly disrupted American life and continues to do for the foreseeable future. Lastly, anxiety levels are on the rise. Will I get the virus? Will my older relatives get it and fall gravely ill? Will the U.S. become like Italy, where only grocery stores and pharmacies are open? How much will loneliness and social isolation become an issue? When will I be able to resume normal, daily life? While we don’t have answers to every one of the questions, we’re going to give the following valuable tips from top health and wellness experts. 8 Steps for More Safety and Less Anxiety Cara Natterson, MD, pediatrician and author of Decoding Boys: New Science Behind the Subtle Art of Raising Sons: 1. Wash your hands for 20 seconds Yes, that’s a long time. But it works — better than 5 or 10, and better than just slathering on some antibacterial liquid. That’s why surgeons stand at scrub sinks and lather up to their elbows for a full 20 seconds (often longer) before cutting into a body. On “Grey’s Anatomy,” you don’t see them squirting on the Purell and walking into the operating room, now do you? 2. Stay home if you are sick There is a huge public service component to virus containment, and this requires that your life not be more important than someone else’s. If you run an errand or downplay your symptoms and go to the office, you have just chosen to expose a much bigger group of people to your germs, which may or may not be coronavirus. So seriously, if you are sick, stay home. Gail Saltz, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the NY Presbyterian Hospital Weill–Cornell School of Medicine and host of the “Personology” podcast from iHeart Media: 3. Stay appropriately informed, but not over informed Other than that, consume information about the virus no more than once a day. Watching and listening and reading headlines will only serve to make you overly anxious. Many headlines are catastrophizing the situation inappropriately and driving fear. Having basic knowledge will reduce anxiety. Anxiety beyond doing what you appropriately can do, like hand washing and social distancing, is not serving a purpose and it’s worth reminding yourself just that. 4. Keep children calm Stay calm when speaking to them, answer questions reasonably, teach them to do appropriate hand-washing or use of hand sanitizer, but don’t frighten them into it. Avoid keeping the news on in the background where they keep hearing it and likewise restrict screen time on news items that will only serve to frighten. Tell them you as a family will stay up on the facts from a reliable source and do what is recommended as a family. 5. Increase the use of relaxation techniques When anxiety goes up, so does the body’s tension level and, in turn, this tension raises your anxiety. To interrupt the cycle, practice relaxation techniques such as muscle relaxation, deep breathing, mindfulness, taking a warm bath, whatever helps you to relax your body. Aerobic exercise is also helpful for decreasing anxiety — for 30 minutes several times per week. 6. Know when this is an anxiety problem, not a COVID-19 problem If you are highly anxious after taking recommended steps to be safer, this is more likely an anxiety problem than a COVID-19 problem and stirring up people around you is not helpful. It is reasonable to ask workplaces to ask for and approve sick people staying home, and you should do the same. But beyond that fear mongering just makes this all worse for everyone, without changing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Increased fear tends to drive poor decision making, and certainly is driving economic consequences. So trying to keep perspective is important. If you do feel overwhelmed with anxiety, and people who already have anxiety particularly about health issues are at higher risk, then do consider seeing a professional. Some therapy can make a big difference in managing anxiety about all kinds of things, including the coronavirus. Tiffany Cruikshank, L.A.c., MAOM, RYT, founder of Yoga Medicine®: 7. Reduce stress If you’re like many people right now, you’re probably also feeling the stress that this outbreak has also created in our lives, whether that be due to canceled travel plans or fear of catching it. Stress can be one of the biggest hindrances to our immunity, especially with the escalating situations surrounding COVID-19. My favorite remedy when I feel stress and anxiety rising is pranayama or breathing techniques. I love this because it’s simple and doesn’t cost anything. But the key here is that it’s best done regularly when you have an ongoing stressful situation. Diaphragmatic breathing is powerful because it stimulates the vagus nerve to mediate the stress response of the nervous system, and this increased diaphragmatic movement also acts as a pump for the lymphatic system to support immune function. To do this one, simply lie on your back with your knees bent, feet on the floor and your hands on your belly. As you inhale, feel your belly expand into your hands and on the exhale feel your belly drop back toward the floor. To magnify the effect, press the belly into the resistance of your hands on the inhale and feel the belly drop and relax on the exhale, keeping the rest of your body relaxed. Repeat for 3–5 minutes daily. 8. Do (gentle) yoga A simple yoga practice can be a great way to support the immune system. Not only can it decrease stress hormones in the body, but these easeful whole-body movements also act as a pump for the lymphatics to support your immune system. The key here is simple movements with ease and deep breath. Simple sun salutations can be a great way to accomplish this, along with this yoga for lymphatic flow sequence. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Axe click here.

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Loss of Smell Hints at Coronavirus Infection

AHA Publisher — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 07:00:54 +0000

King’s College London via News-Medical Net – The most common signs and symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) include fever, dry cough, and difficulty of breathing. But patients who were infected recall another bizarre symptom tied to the coronavirus infection – loss of smell. Doctors from across the globe are reporting cases of patients with COVID-19 who experienced anosmia, or the loss of their sense of smell and others lose their sense of taste or ageusia. In the latest report based on the data gathered from the COVID Symptom Tracker app suggests that one symptom tied to coronavirus infection is losing one’s sense of taste and smell. The app, which was developed by scientists at King’s College London as part of a Twins UK study, focuses on determining the symptoms most experienced by patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease. App Symptoms Tracker The app was downloaded by about 1.5 million users between Mar. 24 and 29. Based on the analysis of the data gathered by the app, about 26 percent of all users reported one or more symptoms. About 1,702 of the users had the coronavirus test, where 579 people tested positive, and 1,123 had negative results. Among those who tested positive with COVID-19, 59 percent had experienced the loss of smell and taste. In fact, the symptoms can be a predictive factor in diagnosing COVID-19, or in having the person get a test, than self-reported fever. Fever can be caused by a variety of factors, unlike the loss of smell and taste, which were seen in previous coronavirus outbreaks. With all the information gathered by the users, the team developed a model to determine which combination of symptoms could predict positive COVID-19 cases. The team found that the most reliable predictor is the loss of smell and taste. Other symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, fatigue, persistent cough, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain. In some instances, people experience gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea. Further, the team found that nearly 13 percent of about 400,000 people reporting symptoms who had not yet been tested for COVID-19 are more likely to be infected by the virus, which means an extra 50,000 people are likely to have COVID-19 but have not been confirmed yet. The app was developed by King’s College London scientists, in partnership with the Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, a healthcare start-up called ZOE Global LTD, and the NIHR Biomedical Research Center. The app’s aim and purpose are to help researchers understand how the virus spreads, the progression of COVID-19, and how many people have symptoms. Loss of Smell Loss of smell happens with the common colds and other viral infections, especially those affecting the nose and throat. Reports from doctors who handled patients with coronavirus say that the loss of smell may be one of the first symptoms of COVID-19. In fact, doctors have reported that up to 70 percent of patients who tested positive for the coronavirus experience anosmia and ageusia. Some countries affected, such as Iran, China, Italy, Germany, and France have all reported cases of the coronavirus disease where patients reported a temporary loss in their sense of taste or smell. Both symptoms were found in many patients, even in the absence of other symptoms. Public Health England has received reports about anosmia as an early sign of COVID-19 infection. Hence, health officials urged health care personnel always to employ full personal protective equipment (PPE) when dealing with patients, especially if they report anosmia as a symptom. “This primary research is only possible thanks to the 1.8 million citizen scientists logging their symptoms every day. This also gives us an evolving map of the UK of where symptoms are occurring two to three weeks before a strain on the NHS, which is why it’s vital to continue logging your health and symptoms, even when you feel completely healthy, and encourage others to use the app,” Professor Tim Spector, lead researcher, said. Further research is needed to definitively show how our sense of smell is affected by COVID-19. Still, it appears that anosmia may signal an infection. To read the original article click here.

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Tips from a Microbiologist on Keeping the House Clean During COVID-19

AHA Publisher — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 07:00:05 +0000

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) via Newswise – UNLV microbiologist Brian Hedlund on the science of germs, where they like to lurk, and how to effectively get rid of them. The barrage of coronavirus-related news stories can be dizzying. Even for the seemingly well-informed, it’s become increasingly difficult to sift through it all to discern truly helpful tips to keep our homes and families safe and to regain a little bit of control in our lives. Take cleaning, for example. Just as we’re getting the social distancing thing down by staying safe at home, we’re beginning to take a long, hard look at our house cleaning habits. After all, the kitchen has suddenly transformed from a place to (occasionally) cook a meal into the family restaurant, workspace, and school – sometimes all at the same time. So what do we need to know about the germs lurking where we live, and how do we keep them at bay? Brian Hedlund is a UNLV microbiologist who studies how tiny organisms thrive in harsh environments. He’s also well-versed in the science of germs: how they work, where they like to hang out, and, importantly for us, how to effectively get rid of them. We caught up with Hedlund, who shared some background on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and a few simple recommendations on how we can all do our part to keep our living spaces clean. COVID-19 has forced us all to take a closer look at what we touch and how we clean. How do germs “work” and how does COVID-19 stack up? There are roughly 1,000 bacteria per square centimeter of human skin, and several orders of magnitude more on certain areas of the body like the armpits and the groin area. These microbes are released into the environment as skin sheds or as we physically touch our surroundings. More importantly for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, microbes are also released in aerosols from sneezing and coughing or from mucous secretions. Whether we are careful or not, we are constantly picking up microorganisms from the external environment. Once they are deposited onto a surface, the survival of microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses, is highly dependent on the biology of the organisms and the physical and chemical environment they find themselves in. Many human-associated bacteria are free-living and can survive or even grow separately from humans. However, others are entirely host-dependent and must be transferred to a new host in order to grow, as is the case for SARS-CoV-2. The data are still coming in about how long SARS-CoV-2 can survive outside of a human host, but the best evidence suggests at least a few days. Are certain surface types more susceptible to piling up potentially harmful germs? It’s important to look first at high-touch surfaces and how many people are in contact with those surfaces – think of tables and counters, doorknobs and handles, phones, remotes, keyboards, steering wheels, and light switches. The number of high-touch surfaces is greater than people tend to think it is. That said, the physical and chemical conditions of the surface are important as well. Microbes, including SARS-CoV-2, can adhere more securely and generally survive better on textured surfaces where they can be protected by dirt, oils, and other materials. Some of that material can also provide nourishment for growth of some bacteria. Most heavy metals have antimicrobial properties, but other metals, such as iron, can provide energy for microorganisms and can lead to the proliferation and survival of certain bacteria. Water is necessary for microbial activity and growth, so moist places are particularly conducive to microorganisms. Generally, dark or shaded surfaces are better for microbial growth and survival than those receiving direct sunlight since UV light is damaging to DNA and other macromolecules. Any advice on how often people should clean high-touch and other surfaces? Coronaviruses are surrounded by a lipid membrane and have a single-stranded RNA genome. This is important because the lipid membrane is very sensitive to soap and the RNA genome is very sensitive to UV light. In general, these are very sensitive microorganisms that don’t survive a long time without a host. People should generally be most concerned with surfaces that receive public contact and/or those that are conducive to microbial growth. If you are in public and touch surfaces that people might have sneezed or coughed on, or even just touched, then it would be a good idea to disinfect anything you touch after that, including cell phones, keys, glasses, and anything you touch frequently because they could serve as intermediates for transfer to your own respiratory mucosa. This is especially important during the current pandemic or for people who are immunocompromised or otherwise prone to respiratory infections. We now spend all of our time at home. Does staying home affect what and how often we need to clean? Absolutely! If you’re home alone or with a limited number of people, then the risks are obviously reduced. However, SARS-CoV-2 infections are often asymptomatic and/or have long incubation periods, and this virus is very infectious. So, extra caution is warranted even in ideal situations. I’m generally not as concerned about microorganisms in our own private spaces. Sure, we can all reduce microbial burden of high-touch areas, but the vast majority of microorganisms within our own private spaces are safe, as long as we’re in good health and pay attention to any problems with our our natural defense systems – skin, mucosal membranes, eyes, etc. It’s very important not to neglect problems with skin and mucosal surfaces and to make sure you’re in good overall health by eating and sleeping well and managing mental health and stress. Of much greater concern, especially now, is limiting the transmission of microbes from other people. We all need to carefully think about the surfaces that could possibly transmit microorganisms from public spaces, and be sure to take the proper precautions when we get home. I know people hear this everywhere, but it’s very important to observe social distancing and practice good hand-face hygiene at this time. If you’re in public (e.g. grocery store) and practicing social distancing, then your hands and anything that your hands touch become critical. So, think about what you touch with your hands. Your steering wheel, car keys, cell phone, door knobs, etc. These are the surfaces we all need to be aware of Should we be concerned about germs on our mail or other packages delivered to our homes? While I don’t think this is a major route of infection, we generally don’t know the provenance of packages that arrive in the mail, and we’re still working to better understand SARS-CoV-2. Because of this, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to treat packages with some caution. The outside packaging could certainly have come into contact with microorganisms, and I’d advise at minimum washing your hands after opening a package and to treat the packaging itself with care by wiping down the package or the surfaces it comes in contact with. Since we don’t think SARS-CoV-2 survives very long away from a host, the internal contents are probably generally safe, but again hand washing is always a good idea for high-risk individuals. Even at home, hand washing is important. Does the type of soap matter? Soap works by dissolving lipid membranes that surround coronaviruses and many other microorganisms. What’s most important right now is to be aware of what you’re touching – particularly outside your home – and to wash your hands with any soap available before touching your face. Temperature is also important. Warmer water disperses soap better than colder water, which makes it more effective. It’s also important to scrub your hands carefully. You now know the drill about singing “Happy Birthday” or “I Will Survive” for a fun way to ensure you’re washing long enough. Beyond that, soaps that are most effective at dissolving grease would likely be most effective at killing coronaviruses. These are typically ionic detergents. That means that they have a salt listed in the ingredients – typically sodium or potassium. Some mild soaps might not be ionic, and I think they would be less effective. There’s also a necessary balance between washing too much and washing too little, and using harsh detergents or weaker detergents containing moisturizers. Washing too often with harsh detergents that don’t contain moisturizers can dehydrate the skin and increase chances of skin infections. Alcohol is a strong disinfectant, for example, but be careful because it can dehydrate skin. For those who have to venture out at this time, what’s your advice to steer clear of harmful germs? An important thing to remember with many pathogenic, or disease-causing microorganisms is that they need to be delivered to the correct locations in order to cause disease. For SARS-CoV-2, this is the respiratory mucosa, although it is also thought that this and other viruses can proliferate in other locations, such as the eye, and then transfer to the respiratory mucosa. For this and other respiratory pathogens like influenza, avoiding airborne droplets, either directly or indirectly, is critical. For now, we need to practice social distancing, always practice good hand-face hygiene, and, for the health of others, cough and sneeze into your elbow. To read the original article click here.

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