Everyone is concerned and asking about the Corona virus outbreak. I’ve put together some helpful information.
Basics from the CDC:
Much is unknown about how 2019-nCoV, a new coronavirus, spreads. Current knowledge is largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats.
How it spreads
Most often, spread from person-to-person happens among close contacts (about 6 feet). Person-to-person spread is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread.
It’s currently unclear if a person can get 2019-nCoV by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.
When are the infected contagious?
Typically, with most respiratory viruses, people are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest). With 2019-nCoV, however, there have been reports of spread from an infected patient with no symptoms to a close contact.
Symptoms:
For confirmed 2019-nCoV infections,reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
Where is it?
(above map accurate as of 1/30/20)
What can you do personally to protect yourself?
The CDC reports that in confirmed cases the course of the coronal virus infection varies widely: “reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying. “
Why do those infected with the corona virus have such varied outcomes, with symptoms ranging from little to none to severe respiratory illness and death? What makes one persons corona virus infection so different from the next?
The 80/20 Rule
Such differences from one individual to the next used to be explained explained away as attributable to our genes. But over the past several decades medical research has shown that gene expression depends to a great extent on factors such as diet, nutrition and exposure to toxins. These external influences on gene experession are so great that it is estimated that only 20% of most illnesss is a function of pure genetic expression. The other 80% of disease expression is now thought to be a function of diet, lifestyle, psychology, social connectivity and no doubt other factors that we’ve yet to understand.
Building A Defensive Barruer Against Viral Infection
Two simple things that you can do to help increase your body’s resistance to viral infections as a whole are supplementing with Vitamin D3 and probiotics.
- Two simple things that you can do to help increase your body’s resistance to viral infections as a whole are supplementing with Vitamin D3 and probiotics.An optimal vitamin D level is 60 ng/ml 25OHD3 and 25OHD2. In a northern climate like Minnesota in the winter time, you should take 5000 IU of vitamin D3 daily to achieve this level. Recommended Vitamin D
- A good probiotic (healthy bacteria for the gut) will also help to protect against and reduce the severity of vital infections (ref). Make sure that your probiotic is a high quality product, since there are lots of junk products on the market. Recommended Probiotic
Learn More:
Learn more about protecting yourself against the Corona virus in this short (3 minute) video by Dr. Pat Luse (7 Systems Plan).
If you have any questions about supplementing with Vitamin D3 or probiotics please feel free to call me at (952) 934-0525.
Dr. Harlan Mittag, DC