Covid-19

Surviving CoVID-19

Summer 2020

 

This virus has come upon us either as man made or a natural outbreak. It has delivered a significant blow to capitalism and our daily lives. It has also disproportionately impacted Black, Latino, Asian, and Pacific Islander communities in the US.

 

Current Response in US

Humans are naturally socially close. As a matter of public health and state law, all adults and children should wear masks covering our nose and mouth to slow the spread of the virus.

 

Though in true capitalist fashion, we are contriving social distancing and paranoiac cleaning as a response to Covid-19. Killing all bacterial/viral life is just the pathway to allowing resistant organisms to evolve for which we will have to seek new killing chemicals.

 

We have to dig deeper for a holistic solution to this disease.

 

Taking Another Approach

We should ask what is it about the life that we have chosen to live which has allowed us to be more susceptible to the CoVID virus. The immune system is our primary defense, allowing for survival against the onslaught of diseases.  When the immune system is impaired, our chances of survival decrease.

 

Let us look at the known factors that affect our immune status and areas for which we have full control over. Key Metrics:

  1. Our state of hydration
  2. Our access to and body nutrient levels of vitamin A, D and C
  3. Our body’s nutrient levels of key macro and micro mineral, for example potassium, magnesium, zinc, and selenium levels

 

All the above are aggravated by lifestyle, diet, and disease states, namely diabetes and hypertension, and their treatments, and socio-economic status. Weak metrics increase our morbidity and mortality rates.

 

Where do we start when looking at the Corona virus?

First whether it is manufactured or just has evolved into its current version, Corona’s closest natural relative has been shown to reside/have evolved in bats. Bats, we know, are mammals who live in a low vitamin D environment. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that persons with the lowest D levels should be at greater risk.

 

Vitamin D Deficiency: 42% of the U.S. population is Vitamin D deficient. Compare this to 99% of the African-American population with deficiency or insufficiency and we have a basis for a disproportional epidemiological impact.

The desired goal is a Vitamin D level of 50 nanograms per milliliter.

 

The low Vitamin D affect on the immune system is exacerbated by nutritional deficiencies, brought on by disease states such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.  These chronic diseases encourage further diminution of critical supporting elements of the immune system. It should be no surprise that the populations that bear these disease burdens would be at greatest risk for morbidity and mortality from CoVID-19.

What All People and Especially At-risk Communities should do.

 

Prior to a vaccine arriving, we should all do the following:

 

  1. Hydrate adequately – reduce coffee, cola and sweet tea intake. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water.
  2. Boost nutrient levels of vitamins A, D, and C
  3. Increase micro and macro minerals.
  4. Wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose when coughing/sneezing.
  5. Wear a mask covering your nose and mouth.

 

See the IC Care graphic on Covid-19 and Flu Offense and Defense