Coronavirus and heart patients with especially CRT-D and P

Standard advice applies

by crustyg - 2020-03-08 12:38:44

Avoid folk who sneeze, avoid crowded spaces, wash *your* hands every time you return home, and *ALWAYS* before preparing food or eating.  It's very difficult outside a laboratory setting to teach yourself not to touch your face/eyes - we all do it - and it's probably the only beneficial effect of wearing a silly paper face mask (they are designed to stop healthcare staff from breathing their nasty germs into patients and surgical wounds, not the other way around - and once they are saturated with moisture they don't even do that very well) - as when your fingers touch the mask you think 'oh, hands away from face'.

Ask yourself, do you always take your annual 'flu shot?  Influenza A kills 1% of patients, and is equally well transmitted.  For 'healthy' folk (healthy enough to travel), current evidence from cruise liner stuck in quarantine in Yokahama is that Covid-19 kills about 0.84% of patients, but there is growing evidence of higher mortality with increasing years.  Being over 70 increases risk, >80 even more so.

Large amounts of statistical data show that adults contract Influenza A every 10 years, on average.  So it's not sensible to terrify yourself with the thought that it's inevitable that everyone will get the current coronavirus infection.  I don't think we have any good data about transferrred resistance from other coronavirus infections to the current strains, but there's at least a chance that some folk will have natural resistance.  These aren't completely novel viruses brought back from outer space.

Keeping our immune system strong

by Gemita - 2020-03-08 13:50:19

is I believe the best way to protect us Benjijohn from illness.  I think most of us know what is good for us, even if it is not always palatable   Here is my list of what I believe would strengthen our immune system to help us through an acute illness.

Reduce or cut out refined or fast foods which are “empty foods” and do nothing to support our immune system - food like processed foods, foods high in sugar, refined carbohydrates (slow release carbohydrates are fine like whole foods below)

If you drink alcohol, drink sparingly or preferably not at all during an acute illness.  Diabetics should take especial care.  Personally I cannot take alcohol because it triggers arrhythmias.

Stop smoking - this will improve immunity to help fight off many diseases and acute illness like Coronavirus

Get adequate, good quality sleep.  

Get fresh air daily and some gentle exercise like walking in natural light especially in winter when our Vitamin D levels may be poor

I would avoid any strenuous exercise or pushing myself physically when we are fighting an acute illness.

Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole foods like (oats, whole grain pasta, whole grain rice, whole grain breads.  Nuts too are nutritious and full of minerals like zinc, magnesium which will boost our immune system.

Eat plenty of fish which is a low fat protein rich in nutrients and Vitamin D.  Fatty fish like salmon, trout, sardines, mackerel is particularly healthy and can lower our risk for heart disease and strokes as well as boost immunity

Eat lean red meat sparingly during acute illness since red meat can be heavy to digest.  White meat like chicken or turkey maybe easier to digest during illness.

If appetite is poor, make vegetable soups and lots of juices (both vegetable and fruit if you have a juicer).  Experiment - we love carrot, apple and red pepper.  These drinks will be packed full of nutrients to boost our immune system and easily digested

Providing it is safe to do so, drink extra clear fluids during a respiratory illness to avoid dehydration.  Caffeine and alcohol may lead to dehydration,  so limit both, or treat dehydration with extra clear fluids.  

If despite all the above you feel your symptoms are worse or not improving, seek help and ask whether supplemental vitamins/minerals might help.  My essential immune system supplements would be Vitamin C and Zinc to try to shorten the duration of any infection.  Take Paracetamol if necessary  to keep temperature under control, maybe speak to your doctor to see whether an antibiotic (for any bacterial lung infection) would help or an anti viral medication to shorten the duration of your illness.

In short, keep warm, rest/sleep well, eat super foods packed full of goodness to stimulate your immune system, keep hydrated, take daily gentle walks in fresh air, take supplementary vitamins and minerals with doctor’s approval if needed.  I don't see how any virus stands a chance against a strong immune system and hopefully it will improve our general health as well if we continue to develop a healthier lifestyle.  Stay healthy everyone

Thx

by Benjijohn - 2020-03-09 12:29:33

Thx Crustyg and Gemita for your detailed answers. Very valuable info. Hope all this will go away soon