Coronavirus 2019, COVID-19

/ Simply Natural Medicine/

UPDATED 4/23/20


What is COVID-19?

  • It’s a virus - other viruses you may remember are the Bird flu, seasonal flu, Polio, Measles, Ebola, & Spanish flu.

  • Formal name: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

    • Meaning - We’ve seen coronavirus’ before. We’ve had cases of SARS before. This is just a new version with new symptoms.

  • Pandemic status: This just means that it is RAPIDLY spreading. That’s it. It does not mean it is extremely lethal or more dangerous than other illnesses.

Transmission.

  • Currently, it is mostly by respiratory droplets and saliva - cover your mouth! Stay 6 feet away when able.

  • Some research on fecal-oral transmission - wash you hands!

  • Limited research showing the virus living on a surface for up to 72 hours - disinfect surfaces!

Symptoms.

  • Fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath.

  • It is more common to have mild symptoms than for it to progress to pneumonia and other life threatening complications.

Brownwood / Brown County Health Department.

Brownwood / Brown County Health Department.

Testing

  • Nasal swab - 1-2 week turn around time to get results. This is a PCR test, meaning it is highly accurate if the virus is present. The issue this test is facing is the coronavirus may not be present in the areas that are able to be swabbed. For example, if the virus is in the lower respiratory tract or in the lungs, a test of the nasopharynx may come back negative.

    • Availability of testing is still limited, but there are less restrictions for who can be tested at this point. Testing is determined by the physician assessing the symptoms and using their best clinical judgment if the test in necessary. Old standards of limiting testing to those who are at high risk or high risk for complications is still being used.

      • Public Health strongly discourages testing of asymptomatic individuals since such low risk testing will delay results for more urgent situations.

      • HIGH RISK: Those who are SYMPTOMATIC and fit one or more of the below:

        • recent travel, diabetes, chronic heart and/or lung disease, <50 years old.

        • BUT! Remember, everyone is an individual. Picture Jake. Jake could have high blood pressure, recently returned from Italy, have well managed asthma, is currently asymptomatic, and lives in a low risk environment - this person is may NOT be high risk.

    • To be tested, you will need to go to a facility that has the appropriate protective gear for the healthcare providers to be in contact with the virus. In Oregon, this is Oregon State Public Health Lab (OSPHL). Other facilities are limited right now due to the shortage - if you are symptomatic, reach out to your healthcare provider for additional information.

  • Antibody testing- 2-3 day turn around time to get the results. The FDA approved* test through Quest Diagnostics is now available as of 4/22/20. Other lab companies have come out with tests as well, but the accuracy and efficacy of all test’s is undetermined. WHO is currently not recommending antibody testing.

    • Concerns with antibody testing

      • False positives due to cross-reactivity with other coronaviruses.

      • False negatives might occur in patients who have yet to mount an antibody response (antibodies may take days to weeks to be positive).

      • It is unknown if having antibodies confers immunity to COVID19.

      • Not all patients produce antibodies.

      • There is the chance a person with positive antibodies could continue to shed the virus for several weeks.

    • *The Abbott and EUROIMMUN tests are marketed under FDA's Policy for Diagnostic Tests for Coronavirus Disease-2019. Abbott plans to submit for FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and EUROIMMUN is currently seeking EUA.

Prevention.

  • Standard

    • Wash your hands, clothes, body, common surfaces, etc. Use hand sanitizer if needed.

    • Cover ALL coughs, sneezes, etc. If you have allergies or a chronic cough, still cover it! Only use masks if you are symptomatic or around a symptomatic individual.

    • Avoid touching your face.

    • Social distancing. Stay home if you can & avoid large groups for a bit. The less contact we have with everyone else, the less we will spread it.

  • Continue your health care appointments. Keep up with your current treatment plan and follow your doctors recommendations for you personally. “Non-essential” visits are considered annual exams, screening appointments (mammograms, colonoscopies), elective procedures, etc. Any appointment in regards to a specific diagnosis, new health concern, or monitoring a chronic condition, is considered essential. Continuing your plan for acupuncture, body work, counseling, etc. - these continue to be essential. Keep yourself healthy.

Treatment

  • Most important thing to know - this is VERY new! Researchers are working around the clock to figure out how to fight this off. Therefore, sometimes they will be spot on, and sometimes they will be wrong. So, here’s what we know now, and here’s what has been historically helpful for virus treatment.

  • Specific to COVID-19

    • #1 TREATMENT: Stay home and isolate. Treat you symptoms as if they are COVID-19.

    • There currently are no medications to treat COVID-19. Research is underway, but so far, there has been no strong, reliable results. Patients should follow their healthcare provider’s advice for managing symptoms.

    • Current medications being tested include treating with antimalarial drugs, diuretics, antivirals. All of which have not shown repeatable positive data in improving outcomes of patients with COVID19.

  • General immune support

    • Wet socks treatment! Great for stimulating the immune system and moving lymph to help your body clear infections.

    • Shower hydrotherapy. End your warm shower with a blast of ice cold water for 30-60 seconds. Don’t warm up at the end! Just turn off the shower after the cold. This will help move lymph too.

    • Skin Brushing. The old school, but still really good, treatment to move lymph.

    • Eat your veggies! Right now, you body needs some extra antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to support your immune cell formation.

    • CUT THE SUGAR. Sugar weakens your immune system and requires your body to work harder - give your body a break and fuel it with some good ol’ veggies and fruits!

    • Drink lots of water & poop! We all know matter cannot be created or destroyed - so the only way to get things out of your system is through breathing, urinating, bowel movements, and sweating. Detox!

    • Sleep. Your body needs time to repair - sleep is the best time for this. Melatonin can be used to help with sleep. It is great for including a sleepy state and has great antioxidant properties. Aim for 7-9 hours per night.

    • Steam inhalations. Breathing deep with antimicrobial herbs can be great to support your lung function.

    • Vitamin C is a great antiviral and data is showing its positive effects on COVID-19. Oranges, broccoli, cantaloupe, cauliflower, kale, kiwi, papaya, sweet peppers, sweet potato, strawberries, and tomatoes are all great Vitamin C sources.

    • Fresh air. Go for a walk outside, open the windows, use an air purifier. Give your lungs some love and a break!

    • Exercise. Get things moving in your body - 30 minutes of conscious movement per day can help you sweat it out and can really boost your mental state!

  • Others

    • Socialize! Have a FaceTime movie date with your friend in another state, call your parents, spark up conversation on Instagram with a friend from the past, check out reddit threads. Get out there virtually and rekindle or make some new friends!

Supporting your Community

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  • Buy gift cards from local businesses.

  • Order take out for dinner.

  • Donate your personal protective equipment to a local medical facility (gloves, masks).

  • Write a review on google, yelp, or social media.

  • Check in on your neighbors - share your surplus!

  • Check on your friends with mental health issues - social distancing can be really hard for some.

  • Offer help to local businesses - can you give 1 hour of your time to help them when employees can’t be there?

  • Be positive. In person, online, everywhere. Positivity is as contagious as COVID-19… please don’t fact check me on this one! ;)

Seeing your healthcare provider

  • I am committing to staying available to my current and future patients. I am taking many precautions to keep my workplace both safe for myself and for my patients. Schedule here. New patients call 503-701-8766 or email.

  • Telemedicine is now widely available! All insurances I accept now have telemedicine availability - see my insurance list here.

  • If your provider is closed and you are looking for some bridging care during this time - please reach out and we can get you scheduled!

  • If you are symptomatic, have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed, or traveled to a high risk area in the last 14 days - please refrain from in person office visits and contact your healthcare provider prior to determine what is appropriate for your care.

Smile :)

  • How do you make a tissue Dance? Put a lil boogie in it.

  • What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta!

  • Why did the hipster drown? He went ice skating before it was cool!

  • What do you call it when Batman skips church?! Christian Bale.

  • Where did the terminator find toilet paper? Aisle B, back.


Coronavirus resources