The Down and Dirty About Covid-19
The year 2020 was a challenging year for all of us having to deal with Coronavirus-19.
What is Covid-19?
How do we protect ourselves against it?
Is there any hope for a cure?
What is Covid-19?
Covid-19 is a disease caused by a virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, i.e., SARS-CoV-2) from the group of Coronavirus, which means a virus with a crown.
Coronaviruses have been with us for decades and usually present with mild cold symptoms of congestion, runny nose, and a low-grade fever at times.
SARS-CoV-2 is a mutation of the regular virus, with more severe symptoms in some cases resulting in death.
This virus tends to affect older people and those who have more than one underlying disease, such as cancer, chronic kidney and lung diseases, smoking, obesity, pregnancy, severe cardiac diseases, diabetes type II, and sickle cell disease.
Virologists monitor the Covid-19 virus for mutations or the development of different strains. Changes in the genetic material of the Covid-19 virus can result in the virus becoming more infectious and more resistant to drugs.
It also alters the ability of different tests to detect the virus and, most importantly, renders vaccines against this virus less effective.
Covid-19 has been mutating since its discovery. In the UK, a new mutated strain was discovered. It is called B117.
It now accounts for over 60% of the new cases in the UK. This new mutated strain has been categorized as more infectious in spreading the disease, but so far, it is not more deadly.
This virus is now widespread, i.e., present in other countries, including the US. So far, the vaccines against Covid-19 are still thought to be effective.
How does Covid-19 spread?
Covid-19 is spread from person to person by droplets when one coughs, sneezes, or talks. When these droplets come into contact with another person’s mucous membranes, they then become infected.
This virus can also spread when individuals touch their eyes, nose, or mouth after touching a contaminated surface.
So far, over 79 million people worldwide have been infected with the Covid-19 virus, and there have been over 1.7 million deaths.
What are the Covid-19 symptoms?
Once infected with the virus, it takes at most 14 days for symptoms to develop and, on average, 4-5 days after exposure to someone infected with Covid-19.
The symptoms of Covid-19 are non-specific and can mimic several other diseases.
The most common symptoms, in order of frequency, are cough, fever, muscle aches, headaches, problems breathing, and sore throat. The symptoms that tend to be unique are a loss of smell and taste.
In severe cases, the virus causes a cascade of events that results in one’s body attacking the inner lining of our blood vessels resulting in injury and problems with blood clotting.
It can affect any organ of the body, more so the cardiovascular system and the lungs. Most people who develop Covid-19 have mild symptoms and will recover.
How is Covid-19 detected?
The major problem with Covid-19 is that the virus can be transmitted without developing symptoms and before one develops symptoms.
There are two main types of tests to detect the virus.
The first test detects whether you are actively infected by the virus by using a nasal swab specimen. The test takes a couple of days to get the results back.
The second test detects whether you have been infected by the virus in the past. This test is a blood test. The results can be ready within 1-2 hours.
How can we prevent getting Covid-19?
What can we do to make sure we are not spreading the virus to others and keeping ourselves fighting fit to handle this virus should it come our way?
Do all the things you should already be doing, such as: getting plenty of sleep, drinking plenty of water, and exercising.
Eat a good healthy diet by increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables provide the raw materials the good bacteria in your gut feed on to produce substances that boost your body's immune response.
Increase the intake of supplements such as garlic, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and zinc. They all have immune-boosting properties. I recommend Juice Plus.
Wash your hands frequently, wear a mask, and stand 6 feet apart from the next person.
Avoid being stressed as much as possible. Keep calm. Do not panic. Stress works against your immune system.
Do vaccines help as a method of prevention?
Yes.
We now have vaccines to provide our bodies with the ability to develop immunity against Covid-19. Two vaccines have been approved for emergency use in the US, produced by Pfizer and Moderna.
2 doses are to be given, separated by 2-3 weeks. The first set of vaccines is going to healthcare workers and people in nursing homes, followed by 75 years and older people, and then front-line, essential workers.
Many people have concerns the Covid vaccines were produced quickly.
One needs to consider that the technology used to create vaccines today is much more advanced than it was 40 to 50 years ago, so it will not take as long.
As with any vaccine, there are pros and cons to getting one. Being a new vaccine, we will not know the full spectrum of side effects and its effectiveness, though the science says it is highly effective.
On the other hand, getting the vaccine helps increase herd immunity to the point where we can lower the increase in new cases because of all the people who have been vaccinated.
Because the vaccine is new, it is recommended that it be given in a health facility where a reaction, if present, can be dealt with and monitored. Reactions to vaccines, in general, are rare.
Anyone with a severe reaction to the vaccine should not get the second dose.
What if I suspect I may have Covid-19?
If you develop symptoms that make you suspect that you may have Covid-19, see your provider.
Call first for directions. Just showing up at your primary doctor's office will put healthy people at risk.
If you do not have a provider, get yourself checked out at an Urgent Care or ER.
Final Thoughts
Lots of information has gone out on Covid-19 from different media outlets. I hope this blog sheds some light on what we are dealing with in regard to this virus.
We are not helpless. All hope is not lost. There are things you can do to protect yourself from this virus and come out on top.
