How To Stop COVID-19 Spread
It’s the year 2020 and life has changed for the whole world. We’re pent up, locked down, feet apart and still too close for comfort. To love is to be distant; it almost seems that coldness has become the new kindness. These various measures put in place – social distancing, remote working, slowed traveling, limited shopping, are all affecting our society in relatively immeasurable ways, as we adjust to what seems to be a new normal.
But what if there were another way? Could it be possible that the prevalence of this fast spreading pandemic could have been slowed using just a few simple measures? Are there health secrets out there that may provide the body with the support it needs to adequately fight this intruder?
LET’S FACE IT
Coronavirus isn’t going to magically disappear. This is a ‘novel strand’ of a well-known virus pool, but it’s brief existence does not necessarily mean it’s course will be brief.
All viruses have the capability to mutate, under certain circumstances and at any given time, into something more virulent, more contagious, possibly resulting in greater fatalities. We just don’t know. The hope of vaccinations and effective drug medication have thousands waiting on edge – but we bring to you another perspective. What if we focused on, as the age-old adage says, prevention, instead of cure?
In this article, we will be looking at how eight easy lifestyle principles could completely change the way we both view, and respond to this disease.
THE CASE OF CORONA (COVID-19)
How does it infect?
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air. They land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets.
TO PREVAIL OR TO PREVENT? THAT IS THE QUESTION
We are told that there is currently no specific treatment for coronavirus.8 Antibiotics do not help, as they do not work against viruses. Any “treatment” given aims to relieve the symptoms while your body fights the illness. But whilst conventional treatments may be lacking, these eight simple lifestyle practices could be the key to keeping you from ever having to need treatments. So, let’s talk prevention.
8 Steps to Overcoming (or preventing) COVID-19
1. Godly Trust
One factor that has become apparent in positive covid-19 patients is the decreased level of lymphocytes at the onset of the disease.15 Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that play several roles in the immune system, including protection against bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Stress is one factor that decreases the body’s lymphocytes – the white blood cells that help to fight off infection. The lower your lymphocyte level, the more at risk a person is to contracting viruses.
Learning two important facts will make a significant difference in the amount of strain your body is dealing with.
- We can’t solve our problems without Divine help. John 15:5; 1 Corinthians 1:20; 3:19; 8:2
- It’s possible to surrender them to One that can solve them. 1 Peter 5:7; Phil 4:6-7, 19; 2 Sam 22:29
Once we give our stressful situation over to God, burdens will be lifted, less cortisol released into the bloodstream, leads to increased immune function, and better immunological response to a virus.
ACTION POINTS
Try starting each day with a time of prayer. Present before God your wants, your cares, your fears, your joys, and your sorrows. Then believe the promises that He hears you, and will do all in His power to give you true rest and happiness. (1 John 5:14,15; Psalm 37:4; Proverbs 3:4,5)
2. Open Air
Studies have shown that there is a certain protein (ACE2), which is the target of the coronavirus, allowing the virus to enter into the cells.10 It is deep down in the airways, almost close to the alveoli, which explains why in the most severe cases of COVID-19, patients are experiencing pneumonia (inflammation of alveoli at the bottom of the lungs 11) as opposed to upper respiratory irritation.
What’s interesting, is that the air at the bottom of the lungs (known as the ‘residual volume’ 12) is rarely, if ever exchanged, making it a potential warm and moist breeding ground for infection. Why not try some simple deep breathing exercises? Deep breathing has been known to relieve symptoms of various respiratory illnesses, and can encourage the exchange of the dead air. in the residual volume for vitalized air.
ACTION POINTS
An ‘oxygen cocktail’ every morning can have very positive results – and it’s so simple! Stand at an open door, open window or outside and count to 10 whilst breathing in slowly through your nose. Hold that breath for 15 seconds, and then release through your nose slowly (at least another 10 seconds). The breathing should be abdominal, meaning your abdomen should extend with inhalation and deflate with exhalation.
3. Daily Exercise
The benefits of daily exercise is tremendous including proper circulation of the blood, providing oxygen and nutrients to the cells, and removing waste – including expelling toxins and dead pathogens. But regarding the case of corona, lets focus on the stimulation of a system that relies entirely on our movement to be effective.
Lymphatic circulation is crucial when it comes to elevating the number of lymphocytes. As mentioned before, there is a high correlation between a low level of lymphocytes and the onset of COVID-19.
Lymph fluid depends on movement of our muscles in order for it to be circulating. Unlike the blood, there is no heart to pump the lymph fluid through its vessels.
Lymph fluid contains many of the white blood cells that are generated in our bone marrow. When threatened with infection, these pathogen-fighting cells are released into the blood stream via lymph ducts and nodes. The better the circulation, the more effective the immune response. All exercise is beneficial for lymph flow, especially rebounding, skipping, swimming, or even just vigorously walking. Massage is also known to greatly help stimulate lymph flow.
ACTION POINTS
Give it a go – try bouncing on a small trampoline for 15mins a day, or buy a standard skipping rope and skip your troubles away!
4. Sunlight
When we think about sunlight and health, many automatically think Vitamin D. While sunlight actually has many more health benefits, something that has been COVID-19 related is a high correlation between people being admitted to hospital, and low levels of Vitamin D.
In addition, when contrasting the Spanish Flu pandemic to our current Coronavirus crisis, an important fact to note was the decrease in death rate and the slowing of infection rate with the introduction of outdoor hospitals. In patients who were constantly exposed to sunlight and fresh air, there was a marked improvement in comparison to those within a regular hospital setting. In addition, the rate of health care workers contracting the disease also decreased.
ACTION POINTS
Sunlight is free and abundant. Try and spend at least 30minutes every day in the outdoors sunlight, even on overcast days. Give your immune system a boost – and watch your mood lift as well.
5. Proper Rest
If you weren’t paying attention before (perhaps you’re a little tired?), now is the time to wake up. Studies have shown that a critical factor in increasing the body’s ability to destroy pathogens is associated with sleep.
(Reading this as a late-night past time? I encourage you to finish the rest in the morning ☺)
Our white blood cells have special receptors that bind to the viruses, and help terminate their existence. Wakefulness has been shown to hamper the effectiveness of this mechanism, whereas the opposite it true with increased levels of sleep. Specifically, Slow-Wave-Sleep, which occurs between the hours of 10pm and 1am, is the period of time that these receptors are the most effective. This cannot be compensated by sleep at any other time of the day.
ACTION POINTS
Why not do yourself a big favor, wind down a little earlier, turning off all lights (including your phone!), and help your body help you.
6. Lots of Water
There’s been a lot of talk about the necessity of drinking water in the fight against COVID-19. What’s true is that our cells are composed of around 75% water. Keeping cells functioning at optimal level requires an adequate water intake, especially when fighting infection.
However, water can also help on the outside of the body. Hydrothermal treatments utilize water at different temperatures to invoke an internal circulatory response. A simple application of hot and cold water, uses alternatively, has proven to be widely effective is increasing the immune response of the body to COVID-19.
ACTION POINTS
The good news is, you don’t need to be a doctor to treat yourself. All you need is a shower, and a clock. Three minutes under water (as hot as you can take it, but not scalding) followed by thirty seconds of a cold-water spray, is all it takes. Do this three times in a row, dry off briskly, and your immune system will thank you.
(Check out this links for more explanations on contrast showers)
https://www.ucheepines.org/covid19/
https://www.adamkempfitness.com/contrast-shower/
More on hydrotherapy – https://www.ucheepines.org/selected-useful-hydrotherapy-procedures/
7. Always Temperate
Temperance – a vintage term for an extremely relevant practice. This is the complete abstinence from anything harmful, and using what is good in moderation. Lets talk about two things here.
- Hygiene – we mentioned that skin acts as the barrier of protection between our body and invading pathogens. Good bodily hygiene is crucial in protecting yourself and others from contracting COVID-19. On top of frequently washing your hands, ensure you shower daily (its not just your hands exposed to the elements), wash your hair regularly, and keep oral hygiene at an optimal.
- Smoking – studies have indicated that smoking causes an increase in ACE2 distribution22, which is the protein specifically targeted in COVID-19. This indicates that smokers are more at risk of disease contraction and virulence. You can reduce this susceptibility by simply squashing the habit. (And experience an improvement to your overall health in many other areas). Need help quitting? Find out more here:
8. Nutrition
The phrase ‘we are what we eat’ takes on a new meaning, if what we eat turns us into a breeding ground for disease. We’re going to focus on just two main point here:
- Decrease Sugar – White, refined sugar has been proven to dramatically decrease the immune response in just a few minutes.23 In addition, Vitamin C is vital for proper functioning of white blood cells (WBC’s). Sugar and vitamin C have a similar chemical structure. When we eat sugar it directly competes with vitamin C, and as a result, less vitamin C enters into WBCs. This then weakens their reactivity, in turn weakening the immune response to infection. Let that sink in – and the next time you reach for that chocolate bar, exchange it out for a crunchy apple.
- Increase Alkalinity – In order for the COVID-19 virus to attach itself to invade a cell, that cell actually needs to be a particular pH. Raise the pH of the cell, and the virus cannot make that attachment. How does this knowledge help you? Well, you can help to increase the pH of your cells, just by staying away from acid forming foods, and eating in abundance those foods that promote alkalinity. Lemon water in the morning is a great way to start your day. Watermelons, avocados, dandelion, millet, are among just a few of these foods. In general, increasing your intake of raw fresh fruits and vegetables will give your blood an alkaline boost. For more information, https://www.ucheepines.org/alkaline-acid-food-chart/
GOD’S PLAN
These eight simple steps, put into the acronym ‘GOD’S PLAN’, are the basis for maintaining health, and preventing sickness of any kind.
Life may have drastically changed for us all in this current crisis, but there is One who remains unchanged in His ability to bring relief, health, and cure.
The same God who created you knows your body intricately. He knows the number of hairs on your head, and you can be certain He knows the amount of ACE2 receptors in your body. He cares for you, and only wants what is best.
God gives us these simple laws of life, as a safe-guard for your health. Whilst the entire world is at a standstill, Heaven is busy making house calls for healing. Whilst we practice social distancing, God tells us that He is close to the suffering (Psalm 34:18).
He wants to bring ‘health and cure’ (Jer 33:6), and has plans of goodness for your future (Jer 29:11). However, He needs your cooperation (1 Cor 3:9). He wants the simultaneous development of not only the physical, but the spiritual (3 John 1:2).
Now, during the days of corona, is your opportunity to begin some new health habits that can protect you through this crisis. However, the best time to start some new heart habits is also today, which will carry you through to eternity.
By Danella Taylor
Praise the Lord!