Self-Help in Preventing COVID-19
Taking care of yourself is important so you are equipped to help your family through this time.Self-Help guide to Prevent COVID-19
As we grow older, our bodies gradually lose the robustness needed to fend off illnesses, a fact starkly highlighted by the higher rates of sickness and mortality among the elderly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
From birth, our immune system is equipped with white cells that swiftly combat infections, protecting us against a myriad of bacterial, viral, and fungal threats. Additionally, our bodies develop targeted antibodies from past infections. However, novel pathogens like Covid-19 or new strains of influenza can find an easy foothold in systems unacquainted with such viruses, underscoring the importance of bolstering our immune defenses..
Taking Essential Initiatives
While common protective measures during pandemics—such as social distancing, wearing masks, and regular hand washing—are crucial, they are just the beginning. We can take further steps to mitigate the impact of infections. Factors like smoking, diabetes, or obesity may prematurely age our immune system, suggesting a need for more proactive health strategies.
Improving our immune health can be achieved through several practical actions:
Regular Exercise: Engaging in physical activities like walking can have anti-inflammatory effects and significantly boost immune regulation. Aiming for 10,000 steps a day can help older adults maintain a level of immune protection similar to younger individuals.
Balanced Diet: Consuming a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables supports a healthy gut microbiome, which is crucial for a strong immune system. Additionally, moderating caloric intake can also be beneficial.
Medication and Supplements: Statins, commonly prescribed to manage cholesterol and heart disease, can also reduce severe inflammatory responses to viral infections that may lead to pneumonia or death. The function of protective T-cells may be enhanced by daily supplements of vitamin E (200 IU) and vitamin D (1,000-2,000 IU). Zinc is known to be effective against viral infections but must be used within a specific dosage to avoid toxicity.
Caution with Certain Drugs: It’s important to exercise caution with medications like the older antimalarials and certain rheumatoid arthritis treatments, which have been controversially touted by figures such as Donald Trump for treating Covid-19. These drugs can be toxic and should only be used under strict medical supervision. Research is ongoing, for example in Australia, into the efficacy of Ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug, against Covid-19.