Coronavirus: DEFINED
SARS-COV-2 is the virus; COVID-19 is the disease that comes from the virus.
CO-Corona
Vi-Virus
D-Disease
19-2019 (year first identified)
Coronavirus is an umbrella term for a group of viruses that, though varying in degree of intensity, all have one thing in common: their effect is primarily on the respiratory tract. Just as the Flu has multiple strains (H1N1: Swine Flu; H5N1 Avian Flu, etc), Coronavirus does too. We come in contact with Coronavirus all year in its most common form: The Common Cold. MERs and SARs are two of the most well-known and more severe Coronaviruses. This particular Coronavirus is being termed: Covid-19.
Why is Covid-19 so scary? It is and it isn't.
COVID-19's main feature is pneumonia – of particular concern to those who are more susceptible to it and those who have a history of suffering from it. The more run-ins you have with Pneumonia, the more likely you are to build up scar tissue, making future recovery more difficult. The threat is very real for the elderly, for those who suffer from chronic health conditions and who are more susceptible to lung infections.
New viruses and virus strains pose major health threats because when your body is exposed to a brand new virus it has never seen before, it tends to hyper-react. Your immune system kicks in with an appropriate response level to the typical cold and flu you see every year because it recognizes it from previous exposures and knows what it takes to kill it off; a little raise of the temperature to induce sweating and increasing mucous to expel it from your body often does the trick. With new viruses, it can over-react because it does not know what it will take to kill it off and can even end up attacking you by mistake. This over-reaction can be life threatening because of excessive increases in mucous or in temperature, to name a couple of things.
New information shows that healthy people that recover can develop scar tissue on their lungs, making it easier to become infected a second time and which can remain. Some patients in China were shown to recover and then become sick again due to weak and damaged lung tissue. Direct damage can also be done to the heart, kidneys and liver.
Those at Greatest Risk: 50 and over
Those who are young, elderly, chronically ill, immuno-compromised and those with chronic lung issues (azthma, bronchitis, history of pneumonia, COPD, etc), Cancer, Chronic Kidney disease and/or failure, Heart disease and/or failure, Liver disease, Inflammatory bowel disease, Diabetes and Hypertension are most at risk for serious complications. As reported, most people suffer only mild symptoms and recover quickly. However, it is very deadly to some.
How is it Spread?
Every time we exhale, every time we talk, every time we laugh, cough or sneeze we expel respiratory droplets. The longer we exhale, talk or laugh in the same space, the more our droplets fill the air. Droplets vary in size from small to large. The larger droplets will typically fly out of our throats, mouths and noses and fall directly to a nearby surface or floor where they tend to stay until picked up by shoes or air-producing movements which can then stir them back up into the air. When they land on surfaces, we can pick them up with our hands and transfer the germs to our mouths, noses and eyes when we touch our face. Preliminary reports on Covid-19 show it can live on surfaces for up to 9 days. The smaller droplets tend to hang around in the air...and they can do so for hours depending on how well ventilated the air is. They float around and land on other peoples' clothing, hair, skin and even in their mouths and noses. Consider this clip from the movie Outbreak (which I do not own) for further demonstration:
Symptoms: SIMILAR TO COLD AND FLU; Very swift onset.
It seems to happen in stages going back and forth from having a fever to not having one then having one again...each time leaving you drained. Fever, cough, and shortness of breath are the most common symptoms. Consistent reports do show it attacks the lungs predominantly and even healthy individuals with no history of smoking or other issues can experience pneumonia. It does not appear to be symptomatic in terms of the nose and head as much as the lungs. Severity ranges from barely noticeable to fatal. Other symptoms have been reported that relate to other organ systems such as diarrhea, indigestion, liver swelling, kidney malfunction and cardiac arrest.
Symptoms do not tend to show for 2 weeks, which is a longer incubation period than normal, but initial reports indicate the possibility of a much longer incubation period noting the case of a woman who contracted the virus in Wuhan, China and did not display symptoms until 42 days later. Symptoms will come on suddenly and strong, and often start with a sore throat and a dry cough. States are determining that Covid-19 has likely been circulating for weeks before symptoms emerge. This is likely due to the fact that most people will experience mild or no recognizable symptoms thus exposing the general public more. Competing symptoms due to allergies and the flu and common cold have added an extra level of uncertainty.
Origin: UNKNOWN
Theories have been numerous and wide-ranging from snake, to bat, to Meat market and lab-leak. Understanding the origin is essential to developing the best method to fighting and preventing the virus. For example: if the origin was found to be a particular animal, samples could be obtained from that animal and a vaccine developed quickly.
Mortality Rate: RELATIVELY LOW
Still much is unknown and uncertain due to lack of transparency on patient population numbers from the origin source country of China as well as under-diagnosing due to self-resolving and non-reporting and by simply not knowing; but based on what has been reported, so far the mortality rate is slightly higher than the typical influenza mortality rate. Coronavirus so far (As of 3/15/2020) global numbers indicate a 3.5% mortality rate, whereas the typical influenza season sees an average rate of 1-2% with an all-time high of 3%. As of today, 3/15/2020, Global confirmed cases is 156,000, and Global confirmed deaths is 5,800. These numbers should not detract from the pain experienced by those who have lost someone to the virus or from the suffering experienced by those who have contracted it. These numbers are meant to give you a better understanding of the severity level right now. These numbers are also not considered to be accurate since there have likely been even more people infected but not confirmed due to a lack of recognizable symptoms. One could almost contend that the greater threat right now is to our economy and how it is responding to the fear of the unknown.
Masks: Do they work?
N95 masks are common in the medical office for those who come in with a sniffle or a cough. They are often handed out to patients, and you may even see them worn by medical staff. They only do so much, but they can reduce the amount of air-born particulate you inhale and expel. Respirators with a P100 rating, which tend to be more pricey, are more effective at offering protection and can often be reusable. Those in authority are informing the general public not to purchase masks due to supply and demand and stating they will not protect you. It is true they will not guarantee protection and can only limit your exposure, but they are not a bad thing to have; they can help. But supply and demand is something to consider. You need to take care of you and your family, but they are needed in the health care field for the workers and the people on the front-lines who are exposing themselves. So, take that in to account and consider stocking up on them when things calm down. You may not be able to find or afford them right now anyway.
Should I keep my plans to go on that cruise?
That is entirely up to you. Large public gathering places like conventions, fairs, cruises, planes and concerts are one ginormous petri-dish. As common sense as personal hygiene to combat the spread of germs is, unfortunately there is a large part of the population that does not pay attention or care. So, do so at your own risk, but be sure to assess your situation as it pertains to you. If you, or a loved one at home, have a chronic lung condition, heart issues, or chronic kidney disease, you may wish to reconsider your plans and limit your exposure to large groups of people as much as you can. Most states are declaring States of Emergency and are setting rules for gatherings. In the State of Ohio, (as of 3/15/2020) the city of Columbus is under a soft quarantine in order to prevent the spread to keep hospitals from being overwhelmed. Remember, you could not only pick up the virus, but you can expose others to it as well. You need to protect yourself, your loved ones and everyone else around you.
Things to Keep in Mind
* Take information with a grain of salt, understanding that though we may see things in "real time", not everything being reported is accurate or complete and is subject to change as the virus evolves and as new research sheds light on it.
* The media is really driving the narrative: We do need to know and be informed and be prepared, but hyper-focusing on the virus is having a negative effect on the economy and on the availability of supplies. THAT SAID: I recommend stocking up just in case. It may not be “bad” on the influenza scale yet, but it can always mutate and get worse and we could see more issues as it spreads. Governor Mike Dewine of Ohio made the very vague announcement that we could see life interrupted and things get difficult for a little while. So the best thing you can do is prepare yourself and your family to be able to stay indoors for an extended period of time and store up food, electrolyte balancing fluids, hygienic supplies, symptom relievers and immune supporting supplements just in case.
RECOMMENDATIONS
These are my own humble recommendations...things that I know help me and offer comfort when I am sick as well as therapeutics that help when my breathing is difficult. You will want to consider times you have had a cold or difficulty breathing or perhaps when you have had pneumonia and stock things that were helpful to you.
No matter what you are sick with, hydration is essential to getting better. It helps to thin out mucous for easier expulsion, helps your bodily functions to be able to divert energy to your immune response without being overworked and is just overall-good for your health.
Start doing things NOW whether you are in a high infection area or not.
Practice good hygiene and encourage others to do the same!
-Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, rubbing them vigorously under water with soap.
-Completely cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough with your arm, elbow, shirt...anything but your hands unless you are going to get up and wash them right away.
-Stay home when you are sick
-You are still contagious as long as 7 days after the last day of your symptoms - offer to wear a mask at work to protect your coworkers.
-Wipe your desk down daily, and consider cleaning your steering wheel
-Do not spit on the ground in public
Adopt healthy practices at home:
-Remove your shoes at the front door...especially if you have animals or little ones that crawl on the floor
-Wipe frequently touched surfaces such as door knobs, counter tops and drawer handles with anti-bacterial/antiviral cleaners often.
-Do not put your purse on the table or counter
-Work on adopting a healthier diet. 80% of the Immune system is located in the gut; so eating highly processed, sugary and salty foods tend to cause high levels of inflammation, making it harder for your immune system to work efficiently.
Steam inhalers or humidifiers – many people have found some relief when inhaling steam as it tends to break up mucous and thin it out making it easier to cough up and expel. Some people even report pain relief during breathing.
Expectorants and suppressents – a big part of healing is resting so your body can divert energy to getting better, but with something like this, expelling mucous is key to try to ward off infection and pneumonia if possible. Ask your doctor about recommended expectorants and suppressants in relation to your specific health issues.
Natural remedies I have used: Emergen-C for immune boosting, Elderberry for immune boosting, Elderberry cough syrup for help thinning out mucous and for soothing, honey/lemon tea for soothing, Oregano oil for antibacterial/antiviral properties, garlic for antibacterial/antiviral properties. IF YOU HAVE NOT EVER TRIED ANY OF THESE, TALK TO A DOCTOR FIRST, SOME CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS CAN BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY CERTAIN SUPPLEMENTS
Comfort foods: Soups, crackers, ginger ale, in lieu of Gatorade I stock coconut water for electrolyte balancing. Make your favorite homemade soup now, over the weekend, and freeze it for when you are not feeling well.
STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK! DO NOT GO INTO WORK AND DO NOT GO TO THE DOCTORS OFFICE...CALL YOUR DOCTORS OFFICE FOR ADVICE AND NEXT STEPS.
3/15/2020 Questions that I have so far been unable to obtain answers to, due to the lack of information/testing performed. I called my state Coronavirus Hotline and have reached out to the CDC for answers on pathophysiology and epidemiology of the virus, but there is no available information yet. I will keep checking and hope to update with answers ASAP.
Is the Disease process for Covid-19 different from other Coronaviruses? Most viruses invade a cell, taking it over, and then force it to replicate the virus essentially turning the cell into a virus manufacturing warehouse. As I understand, Covid-19 invades a cell, replicates itself within the cell which then explodes, therefore it kills the cell. Is this true? Is this specific to Covid-19 or to all Coronavirus?
Why is there a two week differential between exposure and symptom onset when most viruses have only a 3 day lag between exposure and symptoms. There has been no testing to date to determine the reason, but is likely just a slow incubation period.
I have heard it attacks certain proteins found in specific organs in body (i.e. Heart, Lungs, Kidneys, Intestines and male sex organs) is that true? Have there been any deaths related to the Kidneys?
Have there been many cases of Covid-19 being a problem for Infants whose immune systems are under-developed?
Inter-Species Transmission: Unconfirmed
There have been many reports of cats and dogs also contracting Coronavirus. For a virus to be passable from human to animal, there must be genetic similarities. At the present time, it appears that there is enough similarity that humans and animals are sharing the virus, but this information has not been confirmed. If this proves to be true, it is somewhat concerning as the likelihood of viral mutation increases slightly due to sharing the virus back and forth which can have an effect on symptoms, duration of illness and severity.
What is the difference between Italy and the United States? Why is the infection/death rate so rapid over there?
What is the effect of humidity on Covid-19's spread? In 2019, John Hopkins put out a report about the efficacy of increased humidity on decreasing viral spread in hospitals. I am wondering if the same is true for Covid-19.
Climate for growth: UNKNOWN
Most severe viruses tend to like colder weather and die-down during warmer months, but Covid-19 seems happy no matter the temperature. So early guesses of Covid-19 dying off during the Spring and Summer are likely not accurate. It may turn out to be a year-round virus.
What is the length of life on surfaces?
Personally: Due to all of the mixed signals from the media – unsure of how serious the situation is. Are we over-reacting by quaranteening and shutting things down?