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March 2020: Addressing COVID-19

Background: CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) corona-virus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in more than 100 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).

As of today March 10th, Colorado has 15 reported confirmed cases and 1 indeterminate case pending. Nationally there have been 647 confirmed cases and 25 confirmed deaths. For those of you outside of Colorado seeking info on confirmed cases, please check out https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

For general questions about COVID-19 in Colorado: • Call CO-HELP at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911

How does it spread? • The virus is mostly spread from person-to-person, and especially between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). • Respiratory droplets are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes and the droplets can land in the mouth, nose or eyes of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. • It may also be possible to contract COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. • Temperature seems to have an effect on how long the surfaces can hold onto the virus. The WHO believes the virus can survive for a few hours to several days depending on the surface contaminated. Nonporous surfaces, such as doorknobs, phones, coins hold the virus longer than nonporous surfaces such as fabrics and paper money and temperatures of 68 degrees or more will reduce the ability of the virus to survive. • The Median incubation period is 5.1 days but can last for up to 14 days, which is why you are reading about a 14 day quarantine period as recommended by the CDC. You could be walking around without symptoms or even mild symptoms without realizing you are carrying the disease, however people are thought to be the most contagious when they are the most symptomatic. • For comparison, the estimated incubation period for COVID-19 is similar to that of SARS-CoV, an outbreak centered in southern China and Hong Kong from 2002–2004. MERS-CoV, a coronavirus that has caused hundreds of cases in the Middle East has a fatality rate of 35%, higher than the estimated rate of 2% to 3.4% for COVID-19.

At Risk Population for more serious illness: • Older adults (50 years of age and above) • People who have serious chronic medical conditions like:

  • Heart disease

  • Diabetes

  • Asthma and pulmonary (lung) disease

  • Immunodeficiency syndromes

Prevention:

  • The single most important piece of advice health experts can give to help us stay safe from COVID-19 is this one: Wash your hands for 20 seconds or at a minimum use a hand sanitizer that is at least a 60% alcohol- base. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d914EnpU4Fo&feature=youtu.be

  • Why is hand washing so important?

  • The first thing that's happening when washing hands is that you're physically removing things from your hands, while at the same time, for certain agents, the soap will be busting open that agent, breaking it apart.

  • Coronavirus and other viruses are encased in a lipid envelope, basically a layer of fat. Soap can break that fat apart and make the virus unable to infect you. The second thing soap does is mechanical. It makes skin slippery so that with enough rubbing, we can pry germs off and rinse them away.

  • Avoid touching “high touch surfaces” which includes but not limited to; counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, elevators, crosswalk buttons, gasoline dispensers, grocery carts, toilets, keyboards, tablets etc. (AND DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR PHONES AND OTHER DEVICES YOU TOUCH OFTEN! ). Please use your knuckles, gloves or clothing (remember virus can stay on clothing so wash when home) to protect yourself.

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth- this is challenging because we often do this unconsciously up to 23x per hour!

  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw in the trash or use an elbow.

  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a household disinfectant spray or wipes.

  • Avoid close contact (6 feet) with people who are sick and avoid large crowds

  • Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a face mask.

  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.

  • Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of face masks is also crucial for healthcare workers and those people who are caring for someone who is sick.

  • Stay home when you are sick and for 24 hours after all symptoms resolve

  • Have 2 weeks of supplies available in case you get ill and need to quarantine yourself

  • Have a 60-90 day supply of your daily medications available (you must send me a "refill" request in the portal for how much you need and where to send to send if you need this from me)

  • Avoid all non-essential travel including plane trips, and especially avoid embarking on cruise ships.

  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html

Symptoms:

  • Fever

  • Sneezing

  • Coughing

  • Shortness of breath

  • Vomiting

  • There have been some reported symptoms of additional Nausea, Vomiting and Diarrhea with COVID-19, but they still consider this a respiratory infection first.

  • Most infections and viruses can be managed at home with over the counter supportive measures and it is best to stay at home to protect others.

If you have these more serious symptoms please seek immediate medical attention by calling 911 and notify the dispatch personnel that you have or are being evaluated for COVID-19.

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

  • New confusion or inability to arouse

  • Bluish lips or face

If you feel you need additional supportive care but are not in an emergency and/ or want tested at BIH, please call the office for an appointment and alert us of your situation ahead of time and please wear a face mask, put on fresh clothes and wash your hands before coming into the clinic, as these steps will help our office staff, clinicians and other patients.

Protection with Lifestyle changes and Nutritional therapy: Despite our best efforts, let’s be honest, the risk of contamination is high due to our close contact with humans in communal living. Therefore, my recommendation is to boost your immune system so that if/when you come in contact with this or any virus for that matter, your immune system has a fighting chance to clear the virus without serious consequences.

Some obvious points for supporting your immune function:

  • Don’t stress! I know this is challenging when every news article is fear provoking, but seriously, stress will suppress your immune system (as I’ve discussed before in my Newsletters).

  • Get a good night’s sleep and prioritize self-care!

  • Get off the sugar!

  • https://blog.bioticsresearch.com/does-sugar-weaken-the-immune-system

  • Eat Nutrient Rich foods with Vitamin D, A, E, C and Zinc and consume 6-8 servings vegetables in every color of the rainbow daily

  • Stay hydrated with filtered water

  • Acupuncture

  • Sauna therapy

Some not so obvious yet, critical immune boosters that BIH STRONGLY RECOMMENDS:

First and foremost, Vitamin C IV Therapy! When you hear there is nothing you can do about viral replication, this is simply wrong. IV Vitamin C is not only preventative but it can stop viral replication. Don’t take it from me, the Shanghai Government’s official recommendation is that the COVID-19 should be treated with high dose Vitamin C! China's recommended doses range from 4,000-16,000mg but BIH IV clinic offers anywhere from 4500mg-25,000mg per IV! You can even go up to 50,000mg-75,000mg if you have a proven negative G6PD enzyme test. (These results can even be found on 23andMe gene tests, which will suffice as medical documentation for high dose Vitamin C IV's.) https://worldhealth.net/news/official-statement-china-recommended-treatment-covid-19/

Our unique H202 IV is also very protective against viral replication! Dr. Oliver used intravenous H202 for treating Influenza Pneumonia following the WWI Influenza epidemic with excellent success! (I discussed H202 in the July 1st 2018 Newsletter)

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE AN ACTIVE PATIENT OF BIH TO COME IN FOR IV THERAPY, SO FEEL FREE TO SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY! SPREAD THE LOVE BUT NOT THOSE BUGS!!!!

Other nutrient support:

  • Vitamin C orally (as much as you can tolerate orally without loose stool) but at least 1000mg daily

  • Vitamin A (not if you are a smoker) – this is fat soluble so you can become “toxic” so keeping dose under 100,000 iu during these acute months is wise

  • Vitamin D3 -most adults need at least 5,000 iu daily but testing for your level is best ( I can order or you can order directly as a patient if you pay cash at most labs. I would aim for 80-100 levels during this critical time (WE DO VITAMIN D 100,000 IU INJECTIONS AT THE BIH SHOT BAR TOO!) https://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2013/246737

  • Vitamin E at least 200 iu daily https://www.intechopen.com/books/vitamin-e-in-health-and-disease/vitamin-e-and-influenza-virus-infection

  • Antiviral supplements such as Viracid or Viragraphis

  • https://www.orthomolecularproducts.com/viracid/viracid/525060/

  • https://www.xymogen.com/assets/imageDisplay.ashx?productID=238&attachmentTypeID=1

  • Protecting your gut is critical in immune function as previously discussed in my Newsletters.

  • I suggest Immunoglobulin support using SBI Protect- 2 scoops daily

  • https://www.orthomolecularproducts.com/file.aspx?DocumentId=2250

  • if you don’t eat beef, you can do Colostrum as Whey “IGG 2000 CWP by Xymogen 1 TBS daily

  • https://www.xymogen.com/assets/imageDisplay.ashx?productID=81&attachmentTypeID=1

  • Probiotics at high doses such as Probiomax 350DF or ProbioMax Complete by Xymogen

  • https://www.xymogen.com/assets/imageDisplay.ashx?productID=984&attachmentTypeID=1

  • ImmunotiX by Xymogen, which are Whole Glucan Particles from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast)

  • https://www.xymogen.com/assets/imageDisplay.ashx?productID=88&attachmentTypeID=1

  • Del-Immune (already discussed in the Newsletter from Feb 2020 and is also posted on our website blog)

  • Mushrooms, such as Cordyceps, Reishi and Lions Mane are protective

Why do Anti-oxidants work for the COVID-19? Because of the role they play in lung protection, a critical component of this virus!

Lung damage is due to viral replication in the columnar ciliary epithelium of bronchi and bronchioles and inflammatory bursts induce an increase in reactive oxygen species generation which cause extensive damage in cellular membranes of the small vessels. The oxidative stress in influenza virus-infected organism provokes free-radical oxidation of unsaturated lipid chains in the cell membranes. Therefore anti-oxidant protection like Vitamin C, E, D, A (above) and Glutathione are critical during this time.

We carry all of the products mentioned and can even ship the for you, however if you would like to order any Xymogen products, you can order from Wholescripts with my professional code 1455 for a direct delivery https://www.xymogen.com/wholescripts.html

How BIH will prevent the spread Per our usual standards:

  • We are routinely cleaning all of our rooms, treatment tables, doorknobs, bathroom code keypads, phones, pens, and hard surfaces.

  • We will be diffusing Thieves in the IV room

  • We are now requiring every person who enters the building to sanitize their hand and if any evidence of viral symptoms, patients are required to wear a N95Mask.

  • We do have some masks but, if you have one at home and are feeling symptomatic, please bring to the office.

  • If you are sick and don’t need medical attention, please stay home and with appropriate notice you will not be charged a cancellation fee.

BIH now has an ability to test for the COVID-19 in an appt with Carrie, however there are limited nasopharyngeal culture supplies due to a nationwide shortage, therefor if available, she will perform an nasal culture and mail the sample on ice overnight to a lab for testing to Washington with results posting in 48-72 hours. Insurance cannot be billed if out of WA state, therefore their cash price for the test is $250 plus the office visit charge.

The Colorado State Lab in Lowry will also have drive thru testing starting Wednesday, 3/11/2020 however, a lab order from a medical provider is needed. Labcorp is also adding more tests however, their results will take 3-4 days.

https://www.cpr.org/2020/03/10/colorado-coronavirus-update-gov-polis-announcement/

“May you all stay healthy, feel youthful and energetic!” – Carrie

Resources:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12808470

  • https://www.nationaljewish.org/patients-visitors/patient-info/important-updates/coronavirus-information-and-resources/overview

  • https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/926373?src=WNL_trdalrt_200309_MSCPEDIT&uac=140967BK&impID=2304995&faf=1

  • https://www.delimmune.com/faqs/

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