The past few months have been an incredible experience for our planet and its population. We need to do two primary actions: STAY HOME – WASH HANDS!
“Pandemic” is an adjective in the pathological sense to describe a disease prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world. Fortunately they do not occur often although when they do they are devastating on a level that is hard to comprehend.
At the moment, there is no known cure so in this newsletter my focus will be on the idiom “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”or for those who are totally metric “28.35 grams of prevention are worth 453.59 grams of cure!”
The two proven techniques that have helped to flatten the curve.
The two proven techniques that have helped to flatten the curve in the areas complying with the advice are physical distancing and thorough hand washing. Self isolation will make the physical distancing easier in most cases and exercising caution when we must go out in public should be common sense – if only it were common!
Although I’m hesitant to admit it, my age does place me in the higher risk category, so I must be extra vigilant and apply my professional skills to tip the odds in my favour. Quarantine is not a new experience for me. Circa 1950 my dad, a marine engineer with Canada Steamship Lines was ship-keeping in the Midland, Ontario harbour and we were living on the ship with him. Mid-winter our ship was in the process of being moved across the harbour to the grain elevator for unloading when my sister broke out with chicken pox (varicella). We were immediately quarantined – in the middle of the harbour. At that time the quarantine for infectious diseases had been reduced to two weeks so it was an adventure for a six-year-old.
An opinion piece in the New York Times on April 20th caught my attention. Written by Dr. Richard Levitan, who has been treating COVID -19 patients in the ER at Bellevue hospital in New York city. His thirty year back ground in emergency respiratory procedures gave him a specific skill set that led him to a very astute observation, concurred by an associate. The precursor to full blown COVID-19 is silent pneumonia that insidiously destroys the individual’s lung function. This creates a state of oxygen deprivation known ashypoxia (low blood oxygen) that can lead to fainting.
Normal blood oxygen saturation (BOS) levels at sea level range from 94 to 100 percent. Patients with Covid pneumonia were presenting with readings as low as 50% and by the time they were experiencing “normal” pneumonia symptoms, it was often too late to save them, even with intubation. Dr. Levitan recommended a simple self-help technique. Invest in a pulse oximeter to monitor your personal oxygen levels and if your BOS readings go below 80 percent, get checked out by your doctor before going to the ER. Mine are 97% at the moment.
Read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/opinion/coronavirus-testing-pneumonia.html?referringSource=articleShare
What’s a Pulse Oximeter, and Do I Really Need One at Home?
In my clinical practice I have treated emphysema and ICU patients and there are acupuncture points that can be used to immediately raise the BOS. Unfortunately, due to our regulatory College directive via the Ministry of Health, I’m unable to practice currently. However, if you contact me via “The Doctor is In!” on my website, I will send you the information on how to stimulate those points with acupressure.
How do I know if I have COVID-19?
A major problem is that you may not know!
The common symptoms are fever, tiredness and dry cough. Some people may experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and diarrhea. On average it takes 5 – 6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days, hence the quarantine time for people entering the country. One of the major problems with this virus is that people may be asymptomatic (symptom free carriers) that may be totally unaware that they are infecting others – hence the effectiveness of social distancing.
Seniors and anyone with a compromised immune system are more susceptible to infection although we now know that younger people can also contract the disease. Unfortunately the death rate is so high in some areas that the statistics are skewed. Front line health workers do not have the time to truly analyze the actual cause of death and I strongly suspect that there are quite a few deaths attributed to the virus that were associated ailments.
We can learn from history.
The 1918-1920 Spanish Flu had a highly morbid resurgence in the fall after we thought we were passed the problem. If we attempt to relax restrictions too quickly, we will see a resurgence of cases of the COVID-19. All viruses mutate as a means of survival, and there are early signs that COVID-19 is following that pattern. By the time scientists develop a vaccine or other anecdote for this version, it may not be effective due to the mutational characteristics. Be patient and be safe.
Be proactive in your defence.
In addition to the stay home and hand washing approach, it is important to eat well but not too much, supplement wisely, get adequate sleep, use antiseptic essential oils in your diffuser such as tea tree oil and eucalyptus, meditate or use other relaxation techniques, go for walks in the fresh air when its safe, practice therapeutic breathing and exercise – Tai Qi and/or Yoga are excellent choices.
Be aware of the fraudsters who are unscrupulously attempting to take advantage of the fear caused by the pandemic. Choose your information sources from reputable sources and follow the advice of the Government medical professionals. Search Canada.ca for solid information.
Stay well and I hope to be able to see you soon in clinic.
Good health, Dr. Bill