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COVID-19 Has Become Less Deadly in Italy, Health Expert Says

AHA Publisher — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 07:00:58 +0000

Angela Betsaida B. Laguipo, BSN via News-Medical Net – Italy was one of the hardest-hit countries amid the coronavirus pandemic. Now, health experts say that the novel coronavirus is losing its potency and has become less deadly. An Italian health expert and the head of the San Rafaelle Hospital in Milan, Alberto Zangrillo, said that the virus, which causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), clinically no longer exists in Italy. “The swabs that were performed over the last ten days showed a viral load in quantitative terms that was absolutely infinitesimal compared to the ones carried out a month or two months ago,” he added. He also urged the government to continue easing quarantine and lockdown measures, saying that the warnings that the country will have a second wave is sparking panic among residents. Further, he added that the country is now returning to normal. Matteo Bassetti, the head of San Martino Hospital’s infectious diseases clinic in Genoa, Italy, agreed that the novel coronavirus, called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was not as fatal as it used to be. “The strength the virus had two months ago is not the same strength it has today. It is clear that today the COVID-19 disease is different, ” Bassetti explained. Italy’s Case Toll Italy experienced the wrath of COVID-19 in February to March, wherein the cases skyrocketed, making it one of the hardest-hit nations early in the pandemic. Now, the country has recorded a staggering 233,197confirmed cases and 33,475 deaths. Over the past week, the country’s coronavirus infection continued to decline, with 355 new cases on May 31, compared with 416 the previous day. The death toll was 75, down from 111 on May 30. The coronavirus outbreak in Italy started in February in Lombardy, the wealthy northern Italian province where Milan is located. The government locked down the region to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus and extended it throughout the country two days after. Three weeks into the lockdown, the effects started to appear. Italy has reported declines in new cases and deaths each day. Though the healthcare system was initially overwhelmed, the country has seen a steady decline in the intensive care unit occupancy. Now, the government confirmed plans to allow travel between regions starting June 3. Meanwhile, some local governors opposed the plan of letting Italians from Lombardy move freely since it is still the area with the highest ratio of new cases. Visitors from other European Union member states are no longer required to self-isolate for two weeks. The government has also gradually reopened the country’s economy after weeks of strict physical distancing measures. A month ago, the country opened the hospitality industry, with bars, restaurants, and cafes opening for customers for the first time in weeks. Also, fitness gyms, swimming pools, and sports centers are now open. Meanwhile, cinemas and theaters are set to open later this month. Cautious The government said that despite the decreasing number of infections, it was too soon to say that the fight is over. Sandra Zampa, an undersecretary at the health ministry in Italy, said that it is still unsure that the virus is disappearing. She urged that there is a need for evidence to support the theory and that all Italians should maintain the maximum caution. She emphasized on the importance of social distancing, avoiding large groups, and to frequently wash their hands and wear masks to prevent infection and contain the virus spread. To read the original article click here.

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British Medical Journal Retracts Study That Undermined Hydroxychloroquine Efforts

AHA Publisher — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 07:00:06 +0000

Steve Warren via CBN News – The British medical journal The Lancet announced Thursday it has retracted a study that claimed that COVID-19 patients who took hydroxychloroquine had a higher mortality rate and increased heart problems compared with those who did not take it, stating that the authors were “unable to complete an independent audit of the data underpinning their analysis.” Axios reports the study which claimed to have data from 96,000 patients on six continents, led several governments to ban the use of the anti-malarial drug for coronavirus patients due to safety concerns. The Lancet issued the following retraction: “Today, three of the authors of the paper, ‘Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19: a multinational registry analysis’, have retracted their study. They were unable to complete an independent audit of the data underpinning their analysis. As a result, they have concluded that they ‘can no longer vouch for the veracity of the primary data sources.’ The Lancet takes issues of scientific integrity extremely seriously, and there are many outstanding questions about Surgisphere and the data that were allegedly included in this study. Today, three of the authors of the paper, ‘Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19: a multinational registry analysis’, have retracted their study. They were unable to complete an independent audit of the data underpinning their analysis. As a result, they have concluded that they ‘can no longer vouch for the veracity of the primary data sources.’ The Lancet takes issues of scientific integrity extremely seriously, and there are many outstanding questions about Surgisphere and the data that were allegedly included in this study.” — The Lancet As CBN News reported, last month, The Lancet published the article about the study. But the medical journal later said it had concerns about the data that was used in the highly publicized article on hydroxychloroquine. Some of those patients were treated with the malaria drug that President Trump announced he was taking. The president also encouraged others to use it. Following the article’s publication, several clinical trials were put on hold. The study, which used data provided by the healthcare data analytics firm Surgisphere, was not a traditional clinical trial in which hydroxychloroquine would have been compared to a placebo or other drug. The Lancet’s editors noted that serious questions about the study were raised, and an independent audit about the data has already been assigned, according to Reuters. Almost 150 doctors signed an open letter to The Lancet last week, calling the article’s conclusions into question and asking to make public the peer-review comments that preceded its publication. “This is not some sideshow or minor issue,” said Dr. Walid Gellad, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s medical school. “We’re in an unprecedented pandemic. We’ve organized these enormous clinical trials to figure out if something works. And this study stopped or paused a couple of those trials, and changed the narrative around a drug that no one knows if it works or not.” Reuters also reported the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) said it was concerned about the quality of the data behind a different study published in May that also used data from Surgisphere and had the same lead author. As CBN News has reported, several former COVID-19 patients, including pastors, a lawmaker, and several celebrities have said the drug proved effective in their treatment. In April, Pastor A.R. Bernard of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, NY, revealed his harrowing bout with COVID-19 and how the drug cocktail with hydroxychloroquine and the antibiotic azithromycin saved his life. Also in April, Michigan Democratic state Rep. Karen Whitsett personally met and thanked Trump for clearing the way for doctors to prescribe hydroxychloroquine, a treatment she says led to her recovery. “It actually saved my life within a couple of hours – made all the difference in the world,” Whitsett said. Pastor Don Wilkerson, the co-founder of Teen Challenge and the brother of the late David Wilkerson from The Cross and the Switchblade fame, told CBN News his doctor prescribed hydroxychloroquine. Wilkerson says he remembers waking up the next morning significantly better. Actress Rita Wilson also said her fever broke after she took hydroxychloroquine. Wilson and her husband, actor Tom Hanks, were two of the first celebrities to reveal they both had come down with COVID-19 while working on a movie project in Australia. Actor Daniel Dae Kim who’s known for his roles on “Lost” and “Hawaii 5-0” claimed hydroxychloroquine was the “secret weapon” that helped in his recovery from the disease. To read the original article click here. For more articles from CBN News click here.

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Should You Use a Self-Swab COVID-19 Test?

AHA Publisher — Sat, 23 May 2020 07:00:24 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Is testing the key to moving forward after the COVID-19 pandemic? And if so, what’s the most efficient way for mass testing? Some people believe a self-swab COVID-19 test is a good option for many. Should you try it? There are many questions and few answers. Here’s the current information on these new testing options, how it’s different from other tests, and why it may make a difference with policies moving forward. Self-Swab COVID-19 Tests Self-swab testing has hit high speed in recent weeks. In fact, there are now 5 companies offering at-home self-swap COVID-19 tests. These companies include: Pixel by LabCorp ($119) Everlywell ($109) Vault ($150) Vitagene ($149) hims & hers ($150) All of these companies are authorized by the FDA to analyze their tests. And, the tests themselves have received FDA-authorization. The Road to Self-Swab COVID-19 Tests Since the start of the pandemic, the FDA has authorized more than 50 diagnostic tests, using more than 350 test developers. Easy, reliable, home sample collection is considered the “holy grail” of mass testing since it is potentially the most efficient way for the public to ensure they are not spreading COVID-19, especially if they work with high-riskpopulations. One of the bottlenecks of testing has been having enough FDA-approved testing facilities and machines (1). There are hopes that at-home testing will expedite the process. How Home Self-Swab COVID-19 Tests Work The self-swabbing kits contain nasal swabs and saline. Individuals receive instructions to use the nasal swab in each nostril to collect the nasal sample, and an insulated package with pre-paid postage to use for mailing it back to the lab. The home collection kits are now available to consumers online in all states. Most of them have a few states in which they are not available, but Vitagene is available in all states (2). Of note, LabCorp will seek reimbursement from insurance or the government upon request and does not require an upfront payment. All of the other 4 companies require an upfront payment. Viral Testing vs. Antibody Testing The aforementioned tests are molecular viral tests. One other company, Scanwell Health, has made an antibody test available, but it is not yet FDA approved. The FDA-authorized self-swab COVID-19 tests test for the viral genetic material of the coronavirus. They can only indicate whether or not COVID-19 is present in the sample, and they do not indicate if other infections are also present. A negative result indicates that no COVID-19 genetic material was found. Of note, it is possible to get a negative result when very small amounts of COVID-19 is present. Experts believe that as long as the self-swabbing directions are followed, these tests can be highly accurate. All 5 companies claim high accuracy for their tests. This molecular viral test is different from an antibody test. The antibody tests require a blood test. They detect antibodies (immunoglobulins, IgG, and IgM) that the body has produced to fight COVID-19. Antibodies are proteins the immune system produces to fight infection. An antibody test is helpful if you believe you recovered from COVID-19 but want a positive test to confirm. Accuracy of Antibody Tests There are issues with the accuracy of antibody testing. First, it can require weeks for the body to produce enough antibodies for testings, so there is a period of time when a person could have or have had COVID-19, but still test negative. Antibody tests, unfortunately, are also known to give false negatives and false positives. Lastly, it’s not known for sure if having antibodies makes a person immune to another bout of COVID-19, which may be contagious again. Testing, COVID-19 Incidence, and COVID-19 Death Rates One of the most difficult things about this novel COVID-19 virus has been making real-time decisions without historical data on the disease. Time will tell if the right decisions were made, and how we can learn from them. Hopefully, scientists will be able to look back at this pandemic and determine true incidence rates, and therefore, true death rates of the disease. They will be able to determine the real threat of it for different groups of people, and whether the actions taken were the right ones. Mass testing may help their efforts now and in the future. Bottom Line Should you get a home test? If you are concerned about your own health, or the health of those you come into contact with, a test is likely beneficial to you. It may also help us move forward as a society as more get tested. The more we know, the better prepared we will be in the future, for a possible second wave of COVID-19 and other novel viral pandemics. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

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‘Cardiac Arrests up 800 Percent’: 600+ Doctors Warn Lockdowns Doing Much More Damage Than COVID

AHA Publisher — Fri, 22 May 2020 07:00:54 +0000

Paul Strand via CBN News – A new grassroots organization of doctors is telling the nation it needs a second opinion about the way to handle this pandemic medically and mentally. During a media call, several of these doctors spoke of horrible medical results for people because of excessive panic over the coronavirus. They also told of harm done to ill or injured people because the medical world has been largely cut off to them while almost all resources have been redirected to deal exclusively with COVID-19. Dr. Simone Gold is an emergency room physician documenting these harms as she’s contacted fellow medical professionals across the country and helped form this new group A Doctor A Day. For Fear of the Virus, ‘They’re Actually Hurting Themselves’ “People are not getting their health care,” Gold shared. “We’re so worried about the fact that patients believe that they are going to get sick if they show up for medical tests. But they’re actually hurting themselves.” They’re avoiding hospitals even during emergencies. “There are all these patients out there not showing up to emergency departments,” Gold stated, saying where she works, “The volume in the emergency department is incredibly low. Maybe 60 percent of what it usually is. And this is across the nation. Everybody’s had the same experience, excluding the New York metropolitan area.” “Actually, it’s quite empty,” she reported, saying of her own hospital, “I got a letter just this last week that we are firing 50 percent of our technicians.” Layoffs have been widespread in hospitals across the country since the pandemic hit. They’re Telling Trump Real World Examples of People Hurt More than 600 of these physicians involved with A Doctor A Day have sent a letter to President Trump, asking his coronavirus task force to keep in mind the full implications of a shutdown. In that letter, they warn millions of Americans are endangered by much of the medical world being cut off from them or by them cutting themselves off from it. The letter says, “These include 150,000 Americans per month who would have had a new cancer detected through a routine screening that hasn’t happened, millions who have missed routine dental care to fix problems strongly linked to heart disease/death, and preventable cases of stroke, heart attack, and child abuse. Suicide hotline phone calls have increased 600%.” The letter includes actual cases from the doctors’ own practices: “Patient A.F. has chronic but previously stable health conditions. Her elective hip replacement was delayed, which caused her to become sedentary, resulting in a pulmonary embolism in April.” “Patient R.T. is an elderly nursing home patient, who had a small stroke in early March but was expected to make a nearly complete recovery. Since the shutdown, he has had no physical or speech therapy, and no visitors. He has lost weight, and is deteriorating rather than making progress.” Flattening the Curve Made Sense, but Not Much Has Since In the media call, Gold spoke of the goal America was originally given when everyone was told they must “flatten the curve.” That goal was making sure hospitals weren’t overwhelmed by potentially millions of people dangerously ill from the coronavirus. She agreed with that goal when it was first voiced, saying, “I always was concerned if we’d have enough ventilators and ICU staff. That was always what I knew to be the potential problem. So I was encouraged when people said that we were going to try to slow things down for that particular reason. That makes medical sense. Everything that has followed since that does not make scientific sense and is flat-out detrimental to society.” “I cannot say strongly enough that the healthcare system not only is not overwhelmed, it is underwhelmed,” Gold insisted. “I can tell you of scores of nurses who’ve been laid off and scores of technicians who’ve been laid off. And in my specialty, emergency physicians have cut their hours by 35 percent. I’ve never seen anything like this in my career. My point is: the curve has been flattened.” “The reality is that we are way past the time where being locked down makes any scientific or medical sense,” said Dr. Jeff Barke, a primary care physician in Newport Beach, California. Herd Immunity Seriously Hampered He talked up the idea of herd immunity and addressed what he sees as the danger and illogic of keeping children and young people locked up. “We are taking the healthiest folks – the youngest, the strongest: our children – and we are in effect protecting the healthiest herd from being exposed and allowing them to get herd immunity,” Barke argued. “We’re seeing over and over, especially with the statistics on children, that children are almost completely spared from the ravages of this virus.” Santa Monica pediatrician Robert Hamilton added to the point, saying, “COVID-19 has actually been a relatively benign infection for children. In one study of about 150,000 people, only 1.7 percent of them were in the age category between zero and 18 years of age.” He pointed out those few young people infected were for the most part asymptomatic, meaning the small number who were sickened were, as he put it, “a tiny minority of a tiny minority.” Pediatrician Assures Children Won’t ‘Infect All of Us & Kill Us All’ But the fact that most children will by asymptomatic has caused the fear that if schools open up again and most of the students get infected, they’ll unknowingly carry the virus to the people who could be hurt or even killed by it. Or, as Hamilton paraphrased those who worry about such a thing, “’Oh my gosh, children are the ones who are going to infect all of us and kill us all!’” Hamilton said of that, “There was a recent study following a child who turned positive in the French Alps. He was exposed to over a hundred people. None of them turned positive.” The pediatrician also cited a study done in Iceland that shows basically the same results. He suggested these studies say of infected children, “They are not what I call ‘the bubonic plague rodents’ that we sometimes look at them as.’ Children are not actually the cause of the problem…they’re not the super-spreaders that people sometimes think.” So he argues for schools opening sooner rather than later. Care Put Off Can Cause Many Medical Crises This new group A Doctor A Day is also pointing out how halting most so-called “non-essential” surgeries and treatments during the pandemic can cause multiple medical crises. Gold explained, “There are problems pushing off what’s called ‘an elective surgery.’ That’s a very gray area. Things go from ‘elective’ to ‘urgent’ rapidly.” Dr. Steven Giannotta echoed what Gold said, speaking of the crucial surgeries done by him and his associates at a hospital at the University of Southern California: surgeries for cancer, brain aneurysms, brain tumors, heart and liver transplants, and stroke care. “When the lockdown came, we dutifully reduced our capacity to approximately 30 percent of normal,” Giannotta reported. “All of those patients who were in the pipeline to have their cancer treated or their brain aneurysm treated or their spinal condition treated were all put on hold.” And that put many of those patients at increased risk. On the flip side, the care Giannotta was not willing to see cut back involves stroke victims. But many of those people just aren’t showing up to get examined and get care. “Which means people are sitting at home with potential symptoms of stroke and are, for whatever reason, refusing to access the healthcare system,” Giannotta explained. Media’s Made Being COVID Positive Feel More Dangerous Than It Is He put much of the blame for that on news coverage, saying, “We’ve allowed the media to try to stigmatize COVID positivity.” Many people are already afraid they’ll get the virus at a medical office or in a hospital, and Giannotta charged media link getting the COVID virus to death: “They’ve stigmatized now our healthcare system and people are afraid to access the healthcare system for fear of becoming COVID positive, as if that is the worst possible outcome.” But he pointed out the odds for most people dying from COVID-19 are actually statistically very low, “Whereas all of our patients with care for their brain tumors being delayed and along with our stroke victims, who are unfortunately suffering strokes because they won’t access the healthcare system, are being very severely impacted by these lockdown tactics.” They’re Hurting Their Heart for Fear of the Virus Hurting Them Speaking of heart conditions, Gold added, “Why are we not concerned patients are not showing up at their cardiologist’s when it’s well-known if you don’t go to the cardiologist’s regularly, your heart disease will worsen? Why are we not concerned about the stroke patients that are having strokes at home, not getting treated or dying?” “Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States,” cardiologist Gabe Vorobiof at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles pointed out. Speaking of those suffering from heart conditions, he reported they’re not keeping their doctors’ appointments or going to hospitals because “there are a huge number of patients that are simply terrified of what the media is putting out and they’re terrified of contracting this infection.” The results of that are deadly. “In-home cardiac arrests in the New York area are up 800 percent,” Vorobiof shared. “The majority of those cardiac arrest patients were not revived.” In other words, they died. “Ambulatory cardiology practices have seen about a 60 percent decline in patient volumes since late March. We’ve seen across-the-board reductions in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarctions (heart attacks),” Vorobiof reported, saying the same is true of those suffering strokes. “We’ve also seen reduction of patient visits for valve disease and transcatheter valve replacement. Procedures are way down.” Lockdowns & Pandemic-Panic Making Many Mental Problems Worse Gold introduced psychiatrist Dr. Mark McDonald, saying, “He’s had patients commit suicide because of depression and picking up drug use again.” McDonald runs a practice in West Los Angeles for children, adolescents, and other young people. He said during the lockdown, “I have had probably a 50 percent decline in patient visits due to patients being scared of coming to the office. These are children, adolescents, and young adults. They’re worried that if they get the coronavirus infection, they’ll die. And that’s what they’re hearing in the media and that’s what their parents are telling them.” He added, “And this is not isolated. I’ve had many patients call me recently in a state of panic. They don’t know what to do. They’re drinking again. They’re thinking of jumping off a bridge. They’re really suffering and there’s very little I can do. I have nowhere to send them because there are no resources available. Often they won’t even come into the office.” ‘A Pandemic of Hysteria’ “This, in my view, is a pandemic of hysteria and emotional overwhelm,” McDonald stated. “It’s not a medical pandemic. But the downstream consequences medically are very, very severe.” “There’s an emotional and social toll that this is taking on children, being in lockdown for this period of time,” said pediatrician Hamilton, backing up McDonald. “Issues of depression, suicide threats, that sense of futility, despair, fear, paranoia really, are taking ahold in our younger people, particularly older kids, junior high and high school ages.” Psychiatrist McDonald added, “I’ve had to increase my frequency and dosage of benzodiazepines, which is the valium and Xanax family of drugs, which are highly addictive, in order to treat overwhelming increases of panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, and generalized anxiety.” He added, “I hate using these drugs; I’m very conservative in my prescribing them. But I don’t have any choice because patients have no other resources. A lot of my patients have had substance abuse issues. They have nowhere to go. All of the AA meetings, 12-Step programs, outpatient and inpatient substance abuse programs — they’re done....

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Scientists Develop Corona-Busting Disinfectant That Remains Active Longer

AHA Publisher — Wed, 20 May 2020 07:00:50 +0000

ISRAEL21c Staff via Israel21c – Unlike chlorine bleach and similar surface disinfecting products, the new substances target the virus infection mechanism and remain active longer. Chemical engineers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology say they have developed smart disinfectants that destroy the coronavirus infection mechanism and remain active over time. Asst. Prof. Shady Farah, head of the research group, has received a European Institute of Innovation and Technology grant under its Health COVID-19 Rapid Response program to accelerate the development process and market launch. “We are currently producing potential substances and testing them. We plan to select the optimal substance and begin mass production in the next few months,” said Farah. The hope is that these products could replace household bleach and other chorine-based solutions whose disinfecting ability diminishes rapidly through evaporation and light exposure. The novel coronavirus causing the current epidemic can survive on various surfaces for as long as 17 days. This increases the probability of infection from touching contaminated surfaces. Farah’s research group develops polymers for medical use and smart drug delivery. When the Covid-19 epidemic broke out, the group began developing antiviral polymers that act on the virus in two ways: by altering and damaging its structure so that its infection capability is impaired; and by attacking and destroying the virus’s envelope. “We are … adding a new family of disinfectants that release the active substance in a controlled manner. In this way, they remain effective for long periods of time,” Farah said. He added that although this development was accelerated due to the current coronavirus crisis, the new disinfectants will also be effective against other microorganisms. Other Israeli surface disinfectants recently formulated for virus protection include Bio-Fence, containing active chlorine stabilized by an innovative polymer, based on core technology developed at the Israel Institute of Biological Research; and a technology from Bar-Ilan University chemists that turns tap water into a powerful, environmentally friendly disinfectant on demand. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Israel21c click here.

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Behind the Mask with a WVU Doctor: What to Wear and Whether Face Coverings Should Be Mandated

AHA Publisher — Mon, 18 May 2020 07:00:17 +0000

West Virginia University via Newswise – “To mask or to not mask” is no longer the primary question dominating the COVID-19 public discourse. As states reopen amid the pandemic, the question now is, “Should face coverings be required in public?” Mandates vary by state. In West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice has strongly encouraged people to wear masks in public. In neighboring Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan has ordered face coverings to be worn inside retail stores and on public transportation. Dr. Robert Gerbo, director of Occupational Medicine at West Virginia University, addressed that debate and unmasked his expertise on when and how to cover up. Most recently, Gerbo has been involved in research exploring alternative masks for the N95. Should Face Coverings in Public Be Mandatory? So I’m going to put you on the spot. Do you think wearing face coverings in public should be mandatory? The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) does not say it should be mandatory but does recommend it. At this point, I’d rather convince people that it’s a good idea to wear a face covering in public than mandate it by law. I highly recommend wearing a face covering in public places. When Is it Appropriate to Wear a Face Covering? My recommendations mirror the CDC’s – you should use a face covering when going out into public or when the ability to physically distance yourself from others is going to be a challenge. For example, going to the grocery store or the pharmacy. But it doesn’t replace good handwashing and the use of hand sanitizer. This is in addition to remaining at home and away from others if you can. What Are the Most Effective Types of Face Coverings to Wear in Public? Typically, a cotton face mask with more than one layer. A tightly-woven, cotton fabric with two or more layers should work. Some people talk about surgical masks and N95s, but with the supply chain and low stock, it’s recommended those be reserved for healthcare providers and first responders. Those folks are at the greatest risk. Social distancing can’t be maintained when examining and caring for a patient. How Effective Are Surgical Masks at Protecting Those Who Wear Them from Contracting COVID-19? What a lot of people don’t realize is that the benefit of a surgical mask is not for the person wearing it. It’s for the patient, so that they are protected from the germs of the healthcare provider. A surgical mask does not provide adequate protection against aerosolized germs for the person wearing it. Do Masks Breed Bacteria You’re Breathing in and Can it Be Harmful? After a while, any face (or body) covering will harbor bacteria that is potentially, but not usually, harmful. That’s a benefit of a cotton face covering; it is easily laundered, dried and reused. Disposable face coverings, like surgical masks, cannot withstand going through the washing machine and dryer. Since you’re the head of Occupational Medicine (which centers on preventing and managing occupational injury and illness) at WVU, what emerging trends or patterns have you noticed regarding COVID-19 in work environments? Reports of outbreaks in some meat and poultry processing facilities come to mind. On the job it’s about maintaining physical distance between co-workers, engineering controls like good ventilation and clear plastic or plexiglass shields, wearing a face mask, good handwashing practices and the use of hand sanitizers, and frequently reminding workers about theses preventive measures. Most importantly, if you’re sick, stay at home. I also think it’s going to be a bit of time before we start gathering in large groups like at sports stadiums and concert halls. Any Other Insights? I wear my mask every time I go to the grocery store. I wear my mask when I walk the halls here at the Health Sciences Center, even though there currently aren’t as many people. I practice what I preach. I’ve had some very nice people provide me with homemade masks. Some depict superheroes. One has a John Deere tractor theme. I appreciate their thoughtfulness and how they added a special flair to the masks. You know what else? Face coverings remind us not to touch our faces and are a visible reminder to folks to keep the distance and not get complacent. To read the original article click here.

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Obesity Puts Younger People at Risk for Severe COVID-19

AHA Publisher — Wed, 13 May 2020 07:00:44 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – While young age seems to be somewhat protective for severe COVID-19, one factor may significantly change the risk and outcome for young people. Studies are finding that obesity puts younger people at risk for severe COVID-19. In fact, studies are linking obesity and severe COVID-19, and obesity and younger patients around the world. Here are the details of the studies and what they mean for us moving forward. Obesity Puts Younger People at Risk for Severe COVID-19 – A Snap Shot Analysis from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine A recent analysis from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine suggests that young, obese individuals are a high-risk group for severe COVID-19. The investigators studied 265 patients from late March to early April who were admitted to hospitals due to COVID-19. They found that obesity was one of the biggest risk factors for severe OCOD-19 specifically in these younger patients. Their takeaway? While many young people feel immune to severe COVID-19 disease, it’s important for them to realize that obesity is a strong risk-factor, putting them at high risk similar to elderly patients (1). Other Research Other scientists are finding similar results. First, a large British study showed that obesity was a significant factor associated with in-hospital death of COVID-19. Next, a study from New York found that among those under 60, people who were obese were two times as likely to need hospitalization for COVID-19. They were also significantly more likely to require intensive care (2). Yet another New York hospital has found that a high BMI, over 40 kg/m2, has the second strongest link to hospitalization for COVID-19. It’s second only to advanced age. In fact, obesity increased hospitalization by more than sixfold. A fourth study followed 48 children and young adults who were admitted to pediatric ICUs in the United States and Canada during March and April for COVID-19. These patients ranged in age from newborns to 21 years old. More than 80% of these patients had underlying conditions such as obesity, diabetes, immune suppression, seizures, or chronic lung disease. Twenty percent experienced failure of multiple organs due to COVID-19, and nearly 40 percent required a ventilator. Risk factors such as obesity and diabetes are putting our young people at risk for severe COVID-19 (3). Lastly, a new French study showed that obesity was a strong risk factor for patient admission to its hospitals and intensive care, and severity increased with increasing BMI. What’s the Implication? These findings point out a huge challenge. Nearly 20% 40% of adults in the US are obese with a BMI greater than 30 (4). What’s more, many obese patients also have compromised lungs, immune systems, and compounding diagnoses such as diabetes. While advanced age continues to be the greatest risk factor, obesity is a significant one in the United States. Message Moving Forward The prevention of obesity and weight loss for those who are already obese are important prevention measures during and before a pandemic. Obesity can increase the risk of viral disease and complications, and its prevention should be at the forefront of healthcare for overall healthy societies and risk during pandemics. At this time, younger people should be acutely aware of the risks and do what they can to make their bodies as healthy as possible. It’s also crucial for them to realize that they are not immune, especially if obese. What Can Be Done to Reduce Risk of Severe COVID-19 Due to Obesity? The Keto Zone offers an efficient and effective weight loss plan. While losing weight, those in the Keto Zone gain health throughout their bodies. Not only is this valuable for health and wellness, but for immune function and prevention. If you’re ready to enter the Keto Zone and improve your weight and/or health, you can: Join the FREE Keto Zone 21-Day-Challenge Start with Dr. Colbert’s Keto Zone Diet Book Get Your Own Keto Zone Starter Kit (includes Dr. Colbert’s Keto Zone Diet Book) Bottom Line Obesity puts young people at risk for severe COVID-19. However, there is hope. Everyone can make progress towards a healthy weight and better immune function. With the Keto Zone diet program, you can lose weight, improve health, and decrease this risk factor. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

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Antimicrobial Washable Facemasks Enter US Market

AHA Publisher — Tue, 12 May 2020 07:00:46 +0000

Abigail Klein Leichman via Israel21c – Sonovia’s reusable cotton-poly SonoMask are infused with metal-oxide nanoparticles that kill germs and last through 100 washings. Reusable antimicrobial SonoMasks from Israeli startup Sonovia Tech have entered the US market in four sizes. The cotton-polyester facemasks are infused with metal-oxide nanoparticles that kill germs and last through 100 washings. “Our pioneering reusable SonoMask has been designed not only to offer advanced PPE but also to conserve the environment and spread resources effectively,” says Sonovia research scientist Jason Migdal. He points out that many countries now require wearing masks in public. “Our SonoMask launched commercially at the beginning of March, after large quantities were donated to hospitals in Israel and Germany, and to nonprofit charity organizations in Israel, France, Germany, South Africa and Australia,” Migdal says. Now making 20,000 masks per day at a factory in northern Israel, Sonovia is seeking to sell in bulk quantities to medical institutions and retailers globally. Client bases have already emerged in Florida and New York, says Migdal. “We are also in talks to supply Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City and hospitals in South Carolina and Texas once we have completed Emergency Usage Authorization for FDA approval for medical personnel specifically.” The company is working with several international labs to affirm the treated textile’s active antiviral capability. It has already been shown that the SonoMask blocks 98% of 5-micron particles – the size of droplets that the World Health Organization believes transmit Covid-19 contagion. Sonovia is doing an enhanced filtration test of 3 microns to meet French standards for occupational use. To better service American customers, Sonovia has set up a facility in Connecticut for domestic shipping. The price is $45 for one mask, with discounts for multiple units; see the website for details. “We now provide the SonoMask in sizes S, M, L and XL. For occupational workers such as dentists working in areas of high risk of contamination, future models of the SonoMask will come with the option to insert a very fine 0.2-micron filter to protect against high-velocity aerosols,” Migdal tells ISRAEL21c. With evidence emerging that pets and wild animals can become infected with Covid-19, Sonovia is designing a mask for dogs and cats as it awaits further scientific data on this phenomenon. Migdal says Sonovia will soon be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and its propriety fabric will be featured in a conceptual sculpture to be displayed in a New York art gallery. “By the end of 2020 we plan to form strategic partnerships that would allow large-scale commercialization. Then we can diversify our technological application from just facemasks to all PPE.” To read the original article click here. For more articles from Israel21c click here.

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This “At Home” Remedy Knocks Out Viruses Safely and Effectively

AHA Publisher — Mon, 11 May 2020 07:00:03 +0000

Sara Middleton via NaturalHealth365 – Would you like to learn how to neutralize the threat of viruses? Well, let me ask you a question: how many of you have hydrogen peroxide in your medicine cabinet right now? This substance has been a staple at home remedy for decades for everything from whitening teeth to cleaning the kitchen and bathroom. But, wait, I’ve got some really exciting news for you. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recognizes hydrogen peroxide as an effective killer of yeast, fungi, bacteria, mold, and yes – viruses, including the rhinovirus (responsible for the common cold). And, now, there’s anecdotal evidence to suggest that hydrogen peroxide can be an effective remedy for COVID-19. Given that the media “shies away from” (censors) alternative health news, we won’t be surprised if most people don’t hear about this. But, reports of hundreds of successful cases simply seems too promising for us to ignore. Hydrogen Peroxide Is Already Well-Known as a Natural Antiviral Agent – Here’s How it Works It may help to understand how hydrogen peroxide fights viral infections by first remembering a key point about this type of infection in the first place: Viral illnesses are caused not by living organisms, but instead by pieces of genetic material that invade healthy cells – meaning the host organism’s own cells end up doing the hard work for the virus and replicate the invasive genetic material as part of the cells’ own DNA. Technically speaking: viruses can’t be “killed” simply because viruses aren’t alive in the first place. So, what needs to be destroyed in the fight against a viral illness are the cells which become infected. Household disinfectants, by the way, do not “kill” viruses either, but rather deactivates and destroys them by disrupting their protein encasing and/or its genetic sequence. Of course, it’s also worthwhile in the fight against COVID-19, or any other viral infection for that matter, to strengthen the body’s immune system so that a person is less likely to get sick in the first place! The thing is, hydrogen peroxide – which contains two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms (H2O2), one more oxygen atom than a normal molecule of water (H2O) – normally isn’t harmful to healthy cells. Why? Healthy cells have enough antioxidizing power to quash this extra oxygen atom, which by way of normal chemical reactions can become “oxidizing” (associated with cellular aging and damage) if and when an electron attaches to it. But cells infected by viruses lose this basic defensive power and therefore are liable to being destroyed by hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is super cheap and naturally occurring. In fact, your body actually makes hydrogen peroxide as part of its natural defense mechanism! In the body, dangerous oxidized oxygen atoms are converted into hydrogen peroxide by an enzyme called superoxide dismutase, and then further broken down into oxygen and water by another enzyme called catalase… Anecdotal Evidence Shows Hydrogen Peroxide Administered Via a Nebulizer Destroys COVID-19 Hydrogen peroxide therapy administered intravenously has been around for a few decades now, and used for the same means (largely, to fight viral infections). More recently, some doctors have been prescribing hydroxgen peroxide to their COVID-19 patients using an even easier delivery system: a nebulizer. A nebulizer is a medical device that converts liquid medicine into fine vapor or mist. This allows patients to inhale the substance into their lungs. It’s often used for respiratory conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Here’s what’s hopeful about COVID-19: By prescribing a solution of nebulized hydrogen peroxide (typically titrated with water or normal saline), doctors are finding that the beneficial effects of the antiviral compound are not limited to their patients’ lungs, but to their whole bodies. And this potential systemic impact has huge implications for patients fighting COVID-19, since evidence now shows that the viral disease affects multiple organs and cells in the body, including those within the heart, liver, and kidneys. Check out this video interview with David Brownstein, MD and a patient of his who was recently diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and tested positive for COVID-19. By the way, here’s Dr. Brownstein suggestions on how to nebulize. It’s never our recommendation to start a new supplement or remedy without a doctor’s supervision. And if you already have a nebulizer at home, it is not recommended to self-administer this treatment. But, if you are interested in hydrogen peroxide as a potential antiviral treatment, we encourage you to find a licensed doctor near you who can help you get started. This article has been modified. To read the original article click here.

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