Coronavirus 2019: Symptoms, Prevention, and Immune Boosting Recommendations
The new coronavirus (previously referred to as “novel coronavirus” and now called COVID-19) that began to spread late last year (2019) first appeared in Wuhan, China. It is believed to have affected nearly 102,000 people so far worldwide, and as of 3/06/2020 has resulted in 3,461 deaths (56,108 have recovered after diagnosis/illness).
Like it or not, coronavirus is descending upon us. School closing, travel bans, and quarantines are happening in and to the majorly affected countries. There is good news and bad news surrounding coronavirus [SARS-CoV-2], officially called COVID-19, right now. The bad news is that it continues to spread worldwide. Now, 60 countries are affected, with 102,000 total cases. These numbers are growing rapidly and on a daily basis. The other bad news is that it appears to have a mortality rate of somewhere between 2% and 10% depending on age and country.
The good news is that it does not seem to be gaining ground in China as the number of infected individuals seems to be hovering around 80,000 and not growing. Some cities and areas where a strict quarantine was in effect are now starting to see those restrictions loosened. This is a good sign that it may start to fizzle out in China.
More good news is that “Unprecedented, aggressive efforts have been taken to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of this virus.” As of today, there have only been 164 Confirmed & Presumptive Positive cases in the entire United States. An additional 49 people with confirmed Cases of COVID-19 have been repatriated to the United States, with the utmost care taken to ensure that these people do not spread the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is regularly providing official updates. You can find the official current number of cases here.
The purpose of this article is to provide some basic recommendations and information regarding possible prevention and treatment of COVID-19. There are a few things to clarify before we make any recommendations.
First, no preventative or treatment recommendations have been approved by the FDA or have been substantiated by significant scientific research or studies. Therefore, all recommendations should be taken with the understanding that they are recommendations to help strengthen one’s immune system and support the body in eliminating environmental toxins through natural means.
The second thing to clarify is that anyone's best hope against COVID-19 is to strengthen their immune system and avoid possible exposure. This is the reason that quarantines have been put into place and why individuals with a weakened immune system are most susceptible.
What is coronavirus and what symptoms does it cause?
Coronavirus is one of the most common causes of the common cold. What makes this particular strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, deadly, is that it gets down into the base of the lungs and causes the immune system to become overactive. Then, the immune system releases lots of inflammatory products that lead to increased mucus and fluid production in the lungs. This leads to a scenario called acute respiratory distress syndrome in those who are more susceptible. These individuals are most often smokers, or individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cardiovascular disease. It seems to be affecting men twice as often as women. It also seems to be affecting middle-aged to older men.
Symptoms of the virus resemble those of the flu – fever, cough and shortness of breath. Some affected people have few to no symptoms while others become severely ill. According to the CDC, symptoms may appear in as few as two days or up to 14 days after exposure.
“Frequently reported signs and symptoms include fever (83–98%), cough (46%–82%), myalgia or fatigue (11–44%), and shortness of breath (31%) at illness onset. Sore throat has also been reported in some patients early in the clinical course. Less commonly reported symptoms include sputum production, headache, hemoptysis, and diarrhea. Some patients have experienced gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and nausea prior to developing fever and lower respiratory tract signs and symptoms. The fever course among patients with [SARS-CoV-2] infection is not fully understood; it may be prolonged and intermittent.”
If you think you’ve been exposed to someone who has been in China recently and is sick, contact your physician immediately.
What to do if you have symptoms.
First, realize that COVID-19 is nearly impossible to distinguish symptomatically from the common cold or influenza virus since symptoms are the same. If within 14 days of symptom onset, you have traveled to infected areas or had contact with someone who has, then you may have contracted the virus. Otherwise, treat it as the common cold or flu.
If you have a medical appointment, call the office to tell them that you have flu symptoms or may have COVID-19. This allows the office and providers to take steps to keep other patients from getting exposed.
Treatment is primarily supportive, and your provider will discuss specific signs and symptoms in which you would need to seek medical attention. These include difficulty breathing, being unable to keep food/liquids down, and fevers that are not coming down appropriately. As with colds and influenza, not everyone needs to be seen, and staying home reduces spread.
For optimal benefit, start treatment dosing of supplements as soon as you develop symptoms.
How TO strengthen our immune system?
The goals that we target to strengthen our immune system are as follows:
Enhance barrier integrity: improve the lining of our respiratory tract, gut, blood-brain barrier, and skin.
Increase production of antimicrobial peptides: small amino acid linked chains that fight against infections.
Promote phagocytosis: a process when white blood cells, such as macrophages, are better able to recognize and consume infected cells, microbes and/or viral capsids.
Decrease inflammation and restore redox balance: lots of oxygen free radicals lead to immune imbalance and increased inflammatory products.
Activate intracellular defense pathways: a process that allows cells that take on bacteria to kill them before they can replicate or cause damage (Nrf2 and SIRT1 activation.)
The recommendations that we give in our immune-boosting/activating treatment kit are focused on vitamin and nutraceutical support targeted at achieving these immune support goals.
Preventative measures:
There are some preventative measures that can be accomplished without taking any supplements. These actions will help to boost the immune system and protect against exposure.
Wash your hands. It is super simple but incredibly important to not transmit the virus to others.
Minimize exposure to crowded areas. We do not recommend that you spend a lot of time traveling or frequenting densely crowded areas where one can be exposed to the coronavirus. Its transmission is through respiratory droplets. Therefore, in order to get infected by COVID-19, one must be exposed to these droplets.
When coughing or sneezing, use a tissue or cough or sneeze into your elbow. This will help to minimize the distribution of respiratory droplets.
Wear a mask if you are experiencing upper respiratory symptoms. Although there is no evidence to support that wearing a regular surgical mask will protect you from getting or spreading COVID-19, it will send a message to people to keep their distance from you. It also shows that you care about others in your community and environment and want to minimize passing on your infection to them.
Eat an anti-inflammatory diet, rich in beta-carotene and vitamin C but low in processed carbohydrates and processed meats. Do not underestimate the power of a healthy diet loaded with fruits and vegetables to help you remain healthy. Studies have demonstrated that vitamin C alleviates and prevents illnesses caused by viruses and bacteria. Other research has found that consuming larger amounts of vitamin C as soon as you begin to feel ill has an even greater impact on shortening the duration of the cold. 6 - 8 grams per day shortened the cold by 17% - 19%. So, as soon as you begin to feel ill, be sure to consume plenty of vitamin C.
Consider stocking up your food pantry and freezer. In the unlikely event that your community is quarantined, it would be wise to have a few weeks of food and water stored in your home. Dry goods like rice, pasta, beans, oats, and the like, should be your foundation. A basic overall list should include major food groups and macronutrients, including: protein sources like canned fish and beans; canned and frozen vegetables and fruits, as well as tomatoes or sauce; whole grains including bread, rice, quinoa, and whole wheat (or chickpea) pasta; and healthy fats like olive oil, nuts, and nut butters.
Get adequate sleep. Nothing impairs your immune system more than being sleep deprived. Make sure to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
Manage stress. Chronic stress can lead to a diminished immune system with an impaired response. Restorative exercise, and daily meditation can bring balance to a weakened and impaired stress response. Adaptogenic herbs (like Ashwaganhda) can be helpful in the recovery of the body’s innate stress response.
Immune Boosting Recommendations:
The following vitamins, botanicals, mushroom extracts, and probiotics have been shown in vitro, and in animal and some human studies to enhance the immune system in one or more of the ways mentioned under the section “How do we strengthen our immune system?”
These are the products we are recommending to our patients in our clinic. They may be purchased online through our discount dispensary. Please note that if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is important to check with your provider before adding or increasing the amounts of any vitamin, supplement, or immune-boosting product.
Immune Boosting Prevention & Treatment Kit:
Essentials:
Vitamin D3 - 4-5000 IU’s per day. Metagenics D3 5000 or D3 10000 + K
Vitamin C - 1000 mg per day. Metagenics UltraPotent C 1000 or LipoSpheric C 1000mg Packets
Probiotics with Saccharomyces Boulardii - 1 capsule per day. UltraFlora Acute Care or UltraFlora Spectrum from Metagenics or OrthoBiotic from OrthoMolecular
Also Consider:
Echinacea, ElderBerry, Andrographis, Astragalus, Mushroom extracts and Beta Glucan. Consider Immnitone Plus from Designs for Health, Andrographis Plus or ImmunoCore from Metagenics. Andrographis should not be taken if pregnant or breastfeeding.
N-acetyl Cysteine (NAC) - 600 mg, 2 capsules twice daily. By Integrative Therapeutics. It helps with clearing mucus from lungs and glutathione production.
For Children: ElderBerry, Mushroom extracts, and Beta Glucan 1 dropperful per day in ImmunoBerry by Designs for Health, Probiotics 1 tablet per day in MetaKids Probiotics by Metagenics and Vitamin C 1 tab per day UltraPotent C Chewable by Metagenics.