Would you wear a hazmat suit to prevent coronavirus?

Recently, I took a trip to Texas with my nephew to see his family (aunt, uncle, and cousins).

While we were at the airport waiting to check-in for our flight, we noticed a young couple in front of us wearing full hazmat suits and masks.

I’m talking full-body coverings.

We giggled.

We thought it was way overkill.

Everyone in the airport was wearing a mask, including us because it was mandatory. But, a full hazmat suit?!

There is always the possibility that the young couple had co-morbidity factors like hypertension, obesity, or diabetes that would put them at greater risk for catching and being hospitalized from C0vid-19.

According to an article in Time Magazine about the hospitalizations for C0vid-19 in New York, “The median age of patients was 63 years old, and 94% of them had at least one comorbidity, meaning that they had at least one other disease in addition to C0VID-19. The most common were hypertension (affecting about 53% of all C0VID-19 patients), obesity (affecting about 42% of patients with BMI data) and diabetes (affecting about 32% of all patients).”[1]

Beyond catching this virus and being hospitalized, the overwhelming majority of fatalities from C0vid-19 were/are happening within elderly populations, nursing homes, and long-care facilities.[2]

And, those two at the airport were not elderly.

And, if they didn’t have co-morbidity factors, then wearing hazmat suits was over the top, and their risk of dying from the disease was extremely rare.

And, if that’s the case… then it’s not really that funny at all.

It shows the heightened fear that the media has perpetuated concerning the risks of catching and dying from Covid-19.

I recently read an article in National Geographic about the first dog to die from Coronavirus. But, that dog also had a co-morbidity factor: lymphoma.[3]

I really enjoy reading Nat Geo, and was saddened that they hopped onto the fear-mongering bandwagon.

Unfortunately, that’s life in the world we live in today. Headlines promoting fear and sensationalism certainly do get clicked on.

As I look around at the people in the world today, it seems like the vast majority of human beings are riddled with fear about dying from Coronavirus.

But, are those fears legitimate?

The latest studies show that herd immunity is kicking in especially in the poorest of neighborhoods where residents have NOT been able to social distance from each other and do NOT have access to surgical masks. Herd immunity means that the numbers of new cases and deaths decline over time rather than rising due to exposure to the virus.

“Researchers in Mumbai conducted just such a random household survey, knocking on every fourth door — or, if it was locked, the fifth — and took blood for antibody testing. They found a startling disparity between the city’s poorest neighborhoods and its more affluent enclaves. Between 51 and 58 percent of residents in poor areas had antibodies, versus 11 to 17 percent elsewhere in the city. The lowest-income residents are packed tightly together, share toilets, and have little access to masks.”[4]

I personally do NOT have a fear of dying from C0ronavirus.

Firstly, because I was exposed to the virus, suffered through the symptoms, and lived.

Secondly, I do NOT have co-morbidity factors. At least none that I know of.

Is C0vid-19 a highly contagious disease? Absolutely.

Do we need to protect the elders? Absolutely!

They run the greatest risk of catching and dying from C0vid.

Are the heightened fears and paranoia surrounding this disease justified?

Nope!

It’s time to turn off the news feeds and start thinking critically for the sake of your health and for your sanity.

I suggest instead of buying a hazmat suit to protect yourself from the virus, do these life-saving tips instead.

Reduce Co-Morbidity Factors

We all know by now that the vast majority of co-morbidity diseases that people are suffering from today are preventable conditions.

• Hypertension that leads to heart disease and stroke, and was the #1 co-morbidity factor, and can be prevented by eating a healthy diet, exercising, staying at a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, smoking cessation, and reducing stress.[6]
• Obesity was the #2 co-morbidity factor. And, the same diet and lifestyle improvements that can prevent hypertension, also help to maintain a healthy weight and reduce/eliminate obesity.
• Diabetes type II was the #3 co-morbidity factor and according to the Mayo Clinic, that too is preventable, “Diabetes prevention is as basic as eating more healthfully, becoming more physically active and losing a few extra pounds.”[7]

The majority of these co-morbidity factors are preventable by the exact same things…  diet and lifestyle improvements.

Get Sunshine and Vitamin D

Numerous studies have shown that people with low levels of vitamin D have higher levels of respiratory conditions and increased mortality rates of C0vid-19.[8] [9]

Move beyond your fear of contact with other human beings and go outside to soak up some sunshine. Sunshine is an excellent source of vitamin D.

And, if you do go outside please do NOT wear a hazmat suit. If your body is covered from head to toe with a hazmat suit, or with globs of sunscreen, I can guarantee that your body won’t absorb vitamin D.

Expose your arms, hands, face, legs, and let the sun do its best work to naturally support immunity.

I’m not inviting you to burn yourself by sitting out in the sun slathered in baby oil during the peak hours of 10 am and 2 pm. I’m inviting you to just go outside and get some sunshine.

It’s free.

It’s available to everyone.

And, it’s really good for your health (both physical and mental).

Here’s an article about why you shouldn’t be afraid to go and get some sun: Here comes the sun!

BUT… if you are still too afraid to catch some rays, do your body a favor and supplement with vitamin D.

Support Immunity

The population with the highest mortality rates from Covid-19 is the elderly.

There are many reasons for this.

One is, as we age, the body generally becomes drier. For the immune system to function at its best, it needs proper hydration.

And, as we age the ability to absorb nutrients from our food often decreases resulting in a form of micronutrient malnutrition.

“There appears to be a connection between nutrition and immunity in the elderly. A form of malnutrition that is surprisingly common even in affluent countries is known as micronutrient malnutrition. Micronutrient malnutrition, in which a person is deficient in some essential vitamins and trace minerals that are obtained from or supplemented by diet, can happen in the elderly.”[10]

Some of the best ways to support hydration, immunity and absorption of nutrients for both the elderly and the younger generations include eating traditionally prepared soups, stocks, stews, and other liquid-based, nutrient-dense foods, plus herbal teas.

Grab some nourishing and delicious immune supportive recipes here: Do you know how to support immunity?

In the meantime, while you’re waiting for the next wave to decimate the human population, an interesting question to ponder is “why have the media promoted so much fear about fatality around this virus.”

• Is it political?
• Is it financial?
• Is it to control the masses?

It certainly has nothing to do with health. If it did, they would instead be touting the benefits of improving our diet and lifestyle.

I often joke in my webinars and classes that “I’m not a conspiracy theorist.”

And, it’s true. I’m not.

I don’t follow anyone else’s theories unless they resonate deeply within me and make basic common sense.

But, if the media (including social media) keeps up its fear-mongering shenanigans, they are certainly going to push me over the edge into the land of conspiracies.

Now, hang up your hazmat suit and get back to living life on planet earth.

 

[1] https://time.com/5825485/coronavirus-risk-factors/

[2] https://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2020/05/26/nursing-homes-assisted-living-facilities-0-6-of-the-u-s-population-43-of-u-s-covid-19-deaths/#501e235a74cd

[3] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/07/first-dog-to-test-positive-for-covid-in-us-dies/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=editorial::add=SpecialEdition_COVIDPET_20200729&rid=15E747000E9BAEA51604A5C69D892A15

[4] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/17/health/coronavirus-herd-immunity.html

[5] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/24/health/coronavirus-reinfection.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200825&instance_id=21584&nl=the-morning&regi_id=133738968&section_index=1&section_name=big_story&segment_id=36872&te=1&user_id=15e747000e9baea51604a5c69d892a15

[6] https://medlineplus.gov/howtopreventhighbloodpressure.html

[7] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-prevention/art-20047639

[8] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200507121353.htm

[9] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/suffer-the-children/202005/vitamin-d-and-covid-19

[10] https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system