General Wellness

STOP BLEACHING YOUR BANANAS!

When all this started, there was a lot of panic and uncertainty about how the SARS-Cov-2 virus spread. As it became clear that it transmitted much more easily than the flu, and through not just coughing or sneezing but even just talking, we became paranoid about every surface we came into contact with. Initial recommendations were to put all your mail, boxes and non-perishable groceries in your garage for a few days and/or swab them down with some kind of bleach or cleaning solution. Even Windex would work! We sanitized our hands whenever there was even a whiff of a possibility of contamination. 

Although the virus can survive on solid surfaces for a period of time, we now know that the likelihood of getting infected through contacting these surfaces is exceptionally low. In fact, all the sanitization, especially when it comes to our hands, is causing more damage and may even increase the risk of other types of skin infections. When we remove all the protective oils and microbes from our skin we dry it out and make it more vulnerable.

I’m guilty of this as well. When you spend your day immersed in and having contact with people who potentially may have Covid, you get paranoid and it is hard to escape it. I’m working on it!

As I mentioned above, we now know that getting sick from shopping and picking up a can of beans is exceptionally slim. What is MUCH more likely is that you will contaminate yourself by continuously touching and adjusting the front of your mask, exactly where the virus is most likely to land. I see it all day long in the office. Patients, staff, people out in the world, constantly touching it. What makes even less sense is that they pull the mask off their face in order to talk. What the heck is the point of that? Not only are you contaminating your hands, but you are exhaling and inhaling more air and potentially getting infected or spreading infection.

STOP TOUCHING THE DARN MASK!!!!!

1. It does NOT spread easily by fomites (surfaces).
2. Soap and water are just as effective as sterilizing liquids and wipes. Simply put, the virus has a protective oily coating which is easily broken down by simple soap and water. And you don’t need hospital grade, sterilizing soaps either. All the chemicals in these soaps are not good for us. Remember that “If it’s ON you, it’s IN you”. Remember that this summer when you put on sunscreen. Some contain such portent carcinogens that you are more likely to get cancer from the sunscreen than from the sun.
3. It spreads through the air when in relatively close contact with someone, with little or no ventilation and for longer periods of time. How close and how long? There is no exact number. Some studies show that the 6 foot distance may not be enough and that 10 minutes in a small space is all it takes.

If you are taking care of, or sharing space with someone who has Covid, or even a common cold for that matter, of course it makes sense to be extra careful and clean surfaces with something more potent, but otherwise, soap and water is fine. Keep the soap as chemical free as possible. It is mostly the mechanical rubbing that makes a difference anyway.

The number of people getting vaccinated is increasing but so is the number of cases of Covid, especially the variant types. Especially now in younger people, including kids. So PLEASE get vaccinated and continue to follow the basic protective practices.

MASK UP. Wear a good one and STOP TOUCHING IT!!!

DISTANCE. 3 feet is not enough.

VENTILATE.

VACCINATE.

GET HEALTHY! This is till a message that has been woefully missing in all of this. 

Stay safe and be well.

AC 🌱 🏃‍♂️ ❤️ 🧘🏻‍♂️

NEW DRUGS. When we get the flu, assuming that it is early enough, the antiviral drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir) can significantly shorten the duration of your illness as well as the severity of symptoms. The drug basically attacks the virus and assuming it can neutralize enough of it, it will help. If you wait even a day, it’s benefits are not seen since too much virus has replicated. It does NOT work against the virus which causes Covid-19. Many different drugs have been tested and created to try to do the same thing for Covid and the only one thus far, Remdesivir, has been shown to be effective. It works by preventing the SARS-Cov-2 virus from replicating. Just like Tamiflu however, if you don’t give it immediately, it’s benefits are not seen since too much virus replicates and is already doing it’s thing.

Many pharmaceutical companies are working on new drugs to treat Covid-19 but some already developed drugs may be of benefit. One such drug is molnupiravir, which was developed by Merck. Although not actively being used for any specific infection, it has been tested on Ebola and HIV. There are ongoing Covid trials with early positive results.

These drugs are not cures and they do not prevent you from getting infected. They just help minimize the duration and severity of symptoms. PREVENTION is still the key and that is why proper behavior and vaccination are still most important.

IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE MEDICATIONS AND VACCINE EFFICACY.

The general recommendations when it comes to meds and vaccination, is not to take anything which can impact on our immune response to the vaccine. This certainly pertains to steroids like prednisone, but also even pertains to NSAIDS like Motrin (ibuprofen) and Aleve. These drugs work by dampening our inflammatory response. In doing so, they diminish the symptoms of inflammation (pain, swelling and redness). These drugs do NOT treat the cause of the inflamation. Pain, redness and swelling are symptoms of a problem. By masking them, you ignore the cause and allow it to continue.

We want our immune system working and reacting as efficiently as possible when you get the shot to get the most benefit and protection.

Studies have shown that people who are on more potent immunosuppressive drugs for things like Rheumatoid Arthritis or organ transplants, have a much poorer response to the Covid vaccines. We don’t know for sure about more common drugs but the general rule of thumb from colleagues I speak with at some academic institutions is to avoid any steroids for 2 weeks before and 1 weeks after vaccination. As far as NSAIDS are concerned, avoid them for 48 hours on either side. NSAIDS have a more immediate and shorter lasting effect so you don’t need to be as rigid.

Tylenol (acetaminophen) does not impact on immune function. But just remember that our symptoms are a sign of a properly functioning immune system. Leave mild fevers (under 102) alone. Some joint and muscle aches will pass. Although Tylenol is OK to take with respect to the vaccine, it is still in the top 10 drugs which cause life threatening anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions) worldwide. Drugs are drugs and they have side effects.

Don’t hope for a cure, preventative miracle or some pharmacological reprieve. There is only prevention and improving your health so you can mitigate the effects if you are unlucky enough to get sick. You also don’t want to be the person who gets really sick or dies from Covid just before vaccination so please continue to do all the important things:

MASK

DISTANCE

WASH

VENTILATE

VACCINATE

GET HEALTHY.

Have a great weekend.

Stay safe and be well.

AC 🌱 🏃‍♂️ ❤️ 🧘🏻‍♂️