Transcript of the video: COVID-19 Information: As of 3/12/2020
Good afternoon everyone,
My name is Mary Gilbertson. I am a licensed registered nurse and nutritionist in the state of CT.
I feel compelled as a health care practitioner in your state, to provide a public service announcement concerning the recent activity surrounding COVID-19 coronavirus, so as to allay some fears and panic induced by the media reporting, and react to activity and facility closures in our area This broadcast is for informational purposes only and is being used to educate the public on COVID-19 activity.
First some background:
The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).
Here are the most current US statistics:
Total cases: 1, 215
Total deaths: 36
Jurisdictions reporting cases: 43 (42 states and District of Columbia)
Travel-related: 125
Close contact: 102
Under investigation: 988
What are the symptoms most frequently experienced?
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed disease.
· The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, (although it is thought that it may have originally started from spread between bats and humans in the Wuhan region, China).
· Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
· Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
· These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Per the CDC we know the following:
· about 80 percent of the people who get infected recover without any specific medical intervention.
· Different from the flu, children and young people fight off this virus extremely well.
· However if you are an individual who has an underlying condition such as — chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancers, or anything that could compromise your immune system, then you have a much higher chance of having a complication.
· Therefore, those most compromised are the elderly with co-morbid health conditions.
How to practice safe hygiene measures:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue., or cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow, NOT your hands.
Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily using a regular household detergent and water.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
How to prevent and Treat Using a Holistic Perspective:
· In his book, Emerging Diseases and Ecosystem Instability: New Threats to Public Health, Paul Epstein writes, “The current period of unprecedented ecological change, the growing economic and social crises are contributing to the overall recurrence of old epidemics and the emergence of new ones. Important factors in this rapid evolution are the vulnerabilities of ecosystems and climatic destabilization”.
My friend and colleague Dr Petra Wiechel from the Swiss Mountain Clinic, a region in Ticino, Switzerland near the Northern border of Italy, describes the mechanisms by which COVID-19 enters the body and causes disease...she states“Viruses look for a specific receptor in the organism and dock at this cell receptor (door opener), so that they can enter the cell (where they reproduce). Coronaviruses, like MERS or SARS, use only the ACE-2 receptor of the cell surface. This opens their door. ACE-2 is the enzyme that should inactivate angiotensin 2, which raises blood pressure. An important metabolic pathway in blood pressure regulation. However, if the virus blocks the breakdown of angiotensin 2, then the pressure inside the lungs increases and a pulmonary edema develops (the lungs fill with fluid) resulting in a shock lung.
How do we protect ourselves?
· Vitamin D:The #1 action to help stave off COVID-19 is maintaining optimized Vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is involved in over 100, 000 immune reactions. About 70 % of patients worldwide have Vitamin D deficiency.
· The usual dosage is 1000 IU per day per 25 pounds of body weight. For a 132-pound woman that would mean 5,000 IU per day.
· According to the current vitamin D level, Values of 60-100 nmol/l should be aimed for. Take 100 mg vitamin K 2 with your vitamin D supplement for better absorption and tissue bioavailability.
· Take high doses of Vitamin C:Shanghai Medical Association recommends high-dose vitamin C for treatment of coronavirus.
· The Shanghai Medical Association (SMA) in China has published a consensus on the comprehensive treatment of coronavirus disease. Based on the study of more than 300 clinical patients and developed by 30 experts in the treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia, it recommends high-dose vitamin C for even light infection with the virus.
· The dose recommended in the consensus is 50 to 100 mg per kilogram of bodyweight per day. For severe and critically ill patients, up to 200 mg per kilogram of bodyweight per day is advised, injected intravenously. Described as the 'Shanghai Plan', the SMA says its consensus has attracted widespread attention. To put this in perspective a 150-pound woman weighing 68.18 kg x 50 mg- 3,409 mg of Vitamin C at the lower limits and 68.18 kg x 100= 6, 818 mg of Vitamin C at the upper limits. These are doses that are extremely high and should only be done under medical supervision. Also, these high doses of vitamin C acids can aggravate the stomach and so are done through IV infusion.
· Home doses of Vitamin C that are beneficial to strengthen the immune system are doses of 2,000 mg /day.
· Also, via the medical literature, using the anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties of glycyrrhizin acid (found in licorice extract), ½ tsp Licorice extract 2-3 times per day.
· Drink plenty of clean, filtered water (1/2 your body weight) in oz per day to aid the immune system.
· Switch off your Wi-fi at night: Dr. Petra, from the Swiss Mountain Clinic states “wehave carried out scientific studies in our clinic and measured the activity of leukocytes (white blood cells) before and after WIFI exposure. Leukocytes have the task of carrying out the immune defense in our body.After blood samples were exposed to WIFI radiation for only 1 hour, it resulted in extremely measurable oxidative stress (IMD Institute for Diagnostic Medicine), and their functional efficiency was lost. This significantly reduced the immune response.
So to recap:
· Good, frequent handwashing.
· Hand sanitizers containing > 60 % alcohol
· Couging or sneezing into a Kleenex or the crux of your arm, NOT your hands.
· Staying home if you have symptoms of fever, cough, or SOB.
· Optimizing your immune system by:
· Vitamin D- at least 2,000 IU per day
· Vitamin C -2,000 mg /day
· Deglycerized licorice- ½ tsp 2-3 times per day
· Staying well hydrated
· And switching off your Wi-Fi at night.
For questions and more information go to: CDC.gov and coronavirus.gov.
I will also be posting this information on my website @ www.marygilbertsonwellness.com
I hope you have found this information helpful. Thank you and Be Well.