Our short guide to understanding COVID-19:
Key signs of Corona Virus-2 exposure after being admitted to the hospital: (most contracted cases are non-admitted)
Fever: 98.6% of cases in a Zhongnan hospital study in Wuhan had a fever reported on onset (83-98% reported from JAMA study)
Fatigue: 69.6% in Wuhan study (11-44% in JAMA study)
Dry cough: 59.4% in Wuhan study (76-82% in JAMA study)
Loss of smell and taste, digestive issues and constricted breathing are also common.
Key signs of Colds and Allergies:
Less fever, less headaches and less general body aches in colds and allergies
Sometimes fatigue and drowsiness, but rare to have extreme exhaustion.
More stuffy runny nose and sneezing (histamine reactions) in colds and allergies.
Colds and allergies (due to post-nasal drip) you may see sore throat/cough
Colds and allergies you may see chest discomfort, but rarely leading to shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
What’s the difference between CoVid-19 and the Flu ?
They both look alike in the way they attack the body, with the body reacting with a fever (100F +), exhaustion, cough (dry usually for CoVid-19), muscle pain and the potential to lead to pneumonia and bronchitis (critical cases are around 5% for CoVid-19).
The difference is that we don’t have a vaccine for the Corona virus yet. It’s reproduction rate is about twice as fast as the seasonal flu (1 person who has contracted the Corona virus can infect 2-3 people on average);
The mortality rate at this point seems larger (it’s difficult to assess without testing the entire population since many people who contract the virus are asymptomatic, get better at home or don’t get tested at all). The flu each year has about .1% mortality rate (1/1000). So far, for those who do get tested, CoVid-19 is more dangerous for those who are over 70 and have pre-existing hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. In Italy, it’s reported that 99% of those who have died from the disease had at least one other health condition already.
Corona Virus-2 Symptom/Sign Progression:
Day 1: Patients run a fever. They may also experience fatigue, muscle pain, and a dry cough. A small minority may have had diarrhea or nausea one or two days before.
Day 5: Patients may have difficulty breathing, especially if they are older or have a preexisting health condition.
Day 7: This is how long it takes, on average, before patients are admitted to a hospital, the Wuhan University study found.
Day 8: At this point, patients with severe cases develop acute respiratory distress syndrome, an illness that occurs when fluid builds up the lungs. ARDS is often fatal.
Day 10: If patients have worsening symptoms, this is the time in the disease's progression when they're most likely to be admitted to the ICU. These patients probably have more abdominal pain and appetite loss than patients with milder cases. Only a small fraction die: The fatality rate has hovered at about 3%.
Day 17: On average, people who recover from the virus are discharged from the hospital after 2 1/2 weeks.”
How to keep your immunity strong during the cold/flu season.
Wash hands regularly with warm soapy water and use hand sanitation sprays/foams (non-alcoholic ones).
Wash door knobs and light switches regularly and wash pillow cases and exchange toothbrushes regularly
Clean the air by diffusing essential oils or smudging with sage
Exercise at least 30 min / day, but stretch and sweat lightly. Make sure to dry body well before going out and stay warm. Fresh air, forest-bathing and sunshine is good. Just stay out of the wind and rain.
Drink plenty of clean water
Get a lot of deep Sleep and rest
Ingest elderberry infusions / syrups, high dose probiotics, medicinal mushrooms ie. Shiitake, Reishi, Chaga and Cordyceps, herbs such as garlic, ginger, thyme, oregano, cinnamon, turmeric, astragalus root, rhodiola, echinacea flowers and licorice root in tea, chicken soup and fire cider.
Take herbal formulas at the first signs. Talk to a licensed health practitioner for personalized care.
Supplement with vitamin C, zinc, vitamin D3 and omega 3s.
Stay away from sugar and junk food.
Smile more and stress less.
Get acupuncture.
Wear face masks if someone close to you is sick. N95 respirators or better. If you’re sick you can also wear a mask so you don’t sneeze or cough on others.
Stay home if you’re sick so you don’t pass the germs to your friends and unsuspecting strangers
Do acupressure, self-massage and Korean dry-rubbing.
Take deep breaths. Relax.