Issue link: https://www.ahpindiestylist.com/i/1250436
N ot a m e m b e r ? J o i n at a s so c iate d h a i rp rofe s sio n a ls .c o m 41 kills) of a given pathogen (disease-causing organism). Overcrowding, a lack of ICU capacity, and overstretched medical staff drive up the mortality rate just as much as the effects of the virus itself. It may yet be that more people die because of late—or no— access to health care, and this is something that is still undecided. Given the reality in different countries around the world, this is an area that will need considerable reexamination once the current crisis is over. For the time being, it is clear that common sense must be adhered to; elderly people and all those with chronic conditions are more vulnerable to pathogens in general. TRUE OR FALSE? We just need to boost our immune systems by taking lots of vitamin C and other supplements, and/or use essential oils/crystals/herbal remedies and our body will fight off the virus This may be an opportunity to debunk one of the most widespread misconceptions about our health: it is not possible to "boost" the immune system in the sense of guzzling oranges and vitamin supplements or using external applications of oils or anything else to increase the number of microscopic "soldiers" in our bloodstream in an otherwise healthy human. Hot water, hairdryers, and mammoth doses of vitamins are not going to kill the virus either. 19 Before that gets misinterpreted, let me be clear: it is certainly possible to weaken our body's responses to pathogens through bad habits, poor diet, high stress, or immunosuppression caused by certain lifesaving treatments (corticosteroids, chemotherapy, etc.). And an overactive immune system is not something anyone wants. An overactive immune system leads to autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and so on, though it is not possible to simply "cause" these by taking supplements. The good news is that someone in good health, whose lab tests are all in the "normal" zone, and who generally eats, sleeps, exercises, and avoids bad habits (such as smoking) simply needs to carry on as they are. It is neither necessary nor possible to "bank" immune defenses by swallowing additional vitamin C, for example, because the body cannot store the vitamin, so it simply keeps what it needs and disposes of the rest (possibly causing an upset tummy in the process). Delivered intravenously, there is research suggesting that it can be very beneficial in the context of cancer treatment. However, attempts to self- administer vitamin C intravenously without close medical supervision and dosage control can be deadly, especially for certain groups of patients, and are currently limited to either experimental or carefully controlled uses. 20 The same goes for herbal remedies that may support organ function or detoxification, but can be lethal in high quantities. Vitamins, essential oils, herbs, and other such materials may alleviate some symptoms of some illnesses, and, used appropriately, they can do a lot to help us balance our health after illness, support wellbeing, and de-stress. But overdosing can be toxic, so they should never be used without the close guidance of a qualified professional, and none of these remedies can actually kill a virus. In up to 80 percent of infected people, their immune system may indeed be able to do that on its own if they experience a mild expression of COVID-19, but some patients will need additional treatment and support. 21 In addition, reports on what happens in critical cases of COVID-19 suggest that one of the most dangerous phases is what is known as a "cytokine storm." This is when our own immune system overreacts to the invading virus and overcompensates by producing extreme inflammation that stops the lungs from being able to continue with normal gaseous exchange that occurs with normal breathing. This is where ventilators and drugs are needed to reduce inflammation by immunosuppression (stopping the immune overreaction) and to ensure that oxygen reaches the bloodstream through the lungs. Reports currently suggest that the timing of each stage of this treatment may be critically important to reducing the worst effects of COVID-19-induced pneumonia, and front-line physicians are still attempting to reach a consensus on those steps. 22 Unfortunately, quick-fix ways to fight the virus using homemade remedies are very popular online, with the vast majority being utter fantasy. This is another one of those cases where attempting to regain control over our lives can easily lead to buying into, or actively sharing, misinformation and possibly doing more harm than good. TRUE OR FALSE? COVID-19 can be transmitted through all bodily fluids so we should not donate blood This was a recent query I received, which demonstrated the degree of conflicting information currently available. One example from a reliable source that demonstrates the degree of confusion comes from the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota. 23 The source cites a number of articles published in reputable scientific journals, which conclude that it remains unclear whether the virus is transmitted via aerosolization (dispersal through the air). These conclusions derive from two research letters published in the Journal of the American Medical Association ( JAMA) and Emerging Infectious Diseases respectively. 24 For example, the JA MA article states that samples of body secretions (various respiratory specimens from the nose, mouth, and lungs, as well as feces, blood, and urine) were taken from patients at different times during their illness, and these are compared against basic demographic and pathological data, though not all clinical information was available, and not all secretions were collected from all patients. One percent of patients did have positive viral test results in their blood, but there is no information on what their stage of disease was, or any other clinical data. The authors clearly state that this is not enough information to form clear conclusions, but that further, more systematic research is necessary. The CIDRAP source summarizes the article information accurately. However, this is the kind of information that a less sophisticated reader may seize on as "evidence" for transmission via blood, and through an oversimplified, carelessly worded article, begin to spread misinformation. This is precisely the kind of example where great care is needed to understand the relative value of the source—and why we must choose our words with care.