Column #237

The abundance of scary news about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) virus has really panicked a lot of people into taking cautionary steps toward lowering their risk of infection. In spite of all the precautions, more than likely COVID-19 will continue to spread for awhile with every single case being reported. But since it’s getting late in the virus season, COVID-19 may not end up being as bad as the flu bug that hits our country every year as winter sets in. According to a February 21, 2020, “U.S. News & World Report” article, the domestic 2019-2020 influenza season had infected 26 million people (out of a population of 327 million) with flu symptoms, roughly 250,000 were hospitalized, and 14,000 died.^{1 2}

Currently COVID-19 infections and deaths in the USA are way lower than what’s normal for the flu virus. We hope it stays that way and the approaching warmer weather works to everyone’s advantage. But for now we must remain very vigilant which means taking care of ourselves as explained in my column titled “Coronavirus Immunity.” In it I explain how to improve personal immunity. It’s of paramount importance for not only resisting COVID-19 but for reducing the risk of nearly all chronic diseases and even the flu.³

Additional precautions include frequent hand washing and not touching our noses and mouths followed by touching other people or things. As much as possible we need to avoid close contact with others and anything they recently touched. Avoid crowds and keep your distance from folks who are coughing, sneezing, or complaining about feeling ill. In this respect online shopping has its greatest advantage. It avoids crowds, close contact with others, and the prospect of touching things that may have been handled by infected individuals.^{4 5}

COVID-19 does not live forever when outside of a host. “On copper and steel it’s pretty typical, it’s pretty much about two hours,” CDC Director Dr. Robert Reified told U.S. lawmakers. “But I will say on other surfaces—cardboard or plastic—it’s longer, and so we are looking at this.” The benefit in online shopping is that it usually takes a day or more for boxes to be delivered. Therefore, the contents in a box are more than likely free of COVID-19.⁶

When boxes are delivered, their exterior can be disinfected before handling just in case the delivery person may be infected. When opened, the contents can be disinfected too. The National Environment Agency has published a list of effective products that can be safely used in a wide variety of sanitizing applications. They work because they contain one of these effective ingredients:⁷
●    Benzalkonium chloride (0.05%)
●    Chloroxylenol (0.12%)
●    Ethyl alcohol (70%)
●    Iodine in iodophor (50 ppm)
●    Isopropanol (50%)
●    Povidone-iodine (1% iodine)
●    Sodium hypochlorite (0.05 – 0.5%)
●    Sodium chlorite (0.23%)

Most COVID-19 infected people will not even know they are infected. They are the lucky ones. In most cases they are younger and their immune systems are much stronger or they have already developed resistance to other respiratory diseases. Chinese researchers found that “the 399 patients with at least one additional disease (including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hepatitis B, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney diseases, and cancer) had a 79% greater chance of requiring intensive care or a respirator or both, or of dying.”⁸

China has also reported on their death rates for different categories of people. “Overall, China CDC found, 2.3% of confirmed cases died. But the fatality rate was 14.8% in people 80 or older, likely reflecting the presence of other diseases, a weaker immune system, or simply worse overall health. By contrast, the fatality rate was 1.3% in 50-somethings, 0.4% in 40-somethings, and 0.2% in people 10 to 39.”⁸

The reports from Seattle match the Chinese data. Of the first nine deaths reported in Washington State, eight were residents of LifeCare, a rehabilitation nursing center which cared for people with compromised health conditions.⁹

Since we know COVID-19 is out there, should we panic? No, because panic increases anxiety which weakens immunity. In addition, let’s put COVID-19 into perspective by comparing its deaths with deaths from other causes.

In 2018 automobile accidents resulted in 36,560 deaths with approximately 4.5 million people being seriously injured. But people still ride in cars. The CDC estimates one in six Americans (48 million people) are affected by foodborne illness annually with about 128,000 people being hospitalized and 3,000 dying. People are still eating.

There are many more causes of death that are far more severe than those two examples. In the top ten causes of death there are seven chronic diseases! The leading cause, heart disease, kills nearly 650,000 people a year (1,780 per day). The ninth leading cause, chronic kidney disease, kills more than 50,000 annually (137 per day). Deaths caused by chronic diseases are really a tragedy because I believe most of them can be prevented by eating proper foods that are:
●    Low Glycemic
●    Nutrient Dense and Diverse
●    With 1:1 balances of Omega-6 to Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs)¹⁰

Chronic diseases are responsible for seven out of 10 deaths in the U.S., killing more than 1.7 million Americans each year (4,660 per day). The cost to treat them consumes 75% of the money spent on public and private healthcare. Obviously, and unfortunately, Americans are not in a panic to eat only the best foods for actually preventing early deaths from chronic diseases. So, if they aren’t freaking out about the deadliest risks, then maybe we should not panic like they are and just chill out and be careful by taking appropriate steps regarding COVID-19.¹¹

Already I’m wondering if it’s possible that the worldwide COVID-19 infection rate has already peaked? For three weeks now the number of active cases has actually been declining. Has that been due to under reporting? According to WorldOMeter, which tracks all kinds of data as it happens, during the later half of February the percentage-rate-of-increase in new cases and deaths from COVID-19 slowed significantly. Could it be because of the many precautions being practiced around the world that the worst is behind us? I wonder why this information isn’t front and center?¹²

Probably the greatest concern we should have is for how long restrictions will be imposed on businesses, schools, travel, shipping, and events before it’s recognized that the worst over. Those measures have a financial impact that falls heavily on the private sector. The mainstream media (MSM) and various politicians have certainly had a field day with telling us how bad off we are. But if worldwide there is an improving trend and it continues, maybe in a month or two all the noise about COVID-19 will have moved onto another alarming problem that needs to be blamed on someone.

In the meantime let’s still be cautious. COVID-19 differs from the flu because it’s a lung disease and it may also affect the central nervous system. When infected 90% of the people get a fever, 80% get a dry cough, 30% get shortness of breath and feel tired. Only 4% have a runny nose which may be from a cold or the flu. About 80% of the cases are mild. According to the Chinese study less than 1% of cases are asymptomatic—a person showing no symptoms.

Obviously as a nation we will survive COVID-19. The silver lining, if I can say that, is that the concerns for this viral infection have certainly raised awareness for the importance of a strong immune system. And immunity depends a lot on an equal balance of Omega-6 and Omega-3 EFAs in the cell membranes of our bodies. It’s ironic how concern over COVID-19 has made people think more about boosting their immunity then all the deaths from heart disease, arthritis, and many other chronic diseases.¹³

The bottom line is that a healthy immune system plus lower levels of inflammation come primarily from a proper diet. They go a long way toward protecting us from body failures (chronic diseases), bacteria, viruses, and injuries. Are you eating foods that improve immune system function?

To your health.

Ted Slanker

Ted Slanker has been reporting on the fundamentals of nutritional research in publications, television and radio appearances, and at conferences since 1999. He condenses complex studies into the basics required for health and well-being. His eBook, The Real Diet of Man, is available online.

Don’t miss these links for additional reading:

1. Flu Season That's Sickened 26 Million May Be at Its Peak by Dennis Thompson from U.S. News and World Report

2. The Flu Season from CDC

3. Coronavirus Immunity by Ted Slanker

4. Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities from CDC

5. Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Advice for the Public: Myth Busters from World Health Organization

6. Explainer: How Long Can Coronavirus Survive on Surfaces? by Deena Beasley from Reuters

7. Interim List of Household Products and Active Ingredients for Disinfection of the COVID-19 Virus from National Environment Agency

8. Who Is Getting Sick, and How Sick? A Breakdown of Coronavirus Risk by Demographic Factors by Sharon Begley from STAT News Reporting from the frontiers of health and medicine

9. Three More Deaths Linked to Coronavirus Disease, Bringing Total COVID-19 Fatalities in Washington State to 9 by Ryan Blethen from The Seattle Times

10. Top 10 Causes of Death in the US by Naveed Saleh, MD, MS, from MDLinx

11. by Wullianallur Raghupathi and Viju Raghupathi

12. COVID-19 Coronavirus Outbreak from WorldOMeters

13. The Importance of the Ratio of Omega-6/Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids by A. P. Simopoulos, PhD