Useful COVID Facts and Recommendations

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This virus is not a living organism. It is a protein molecule (RNA or DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular (eyes), nasal (nose) or buccal mucosa (mouth), changes their genetic code (mutates) and converts into aggressor and multiplier cells.

* Since the virus is not a living organism, but is a protein molecule, it cannot be killed.

It has to decay on its own. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it lies.

* The virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat, and that is the reason why soap or detergent is the best weapon. The foam CUTS THE FAT (that is why you have to scrub for 20 seconds or more, to create lots of foam). By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down.

*  HEAT melts fat; this is why it is necessary to use water above 77 degrees for hand washing, laundry and cleaning surfaces. In addition, hot water makes more foam, making it more effective.

*  Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% DISSOLVES ALL FAT, especially the external lipid layer of the virus.

*   Any solution with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaking it down from the inside.

*   Oxygenated water increases the effectiveness of soap, alcohol, and chlorine, because peroxide dissolves the virus protein. However, because you have to use it in its pure form, it can damage your skin.

*   NO BACTERICIDE OR ANTIBIOTIC WILL WORK because the virus is not a living organism like bacteria; antibodies cannot kill what is not alive.

*   The virus molecules remain very stable at colder temperatures, including air conditioning in houses and cars. They also need moisture and darkness to stay stable. Therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade the virus faster.

*   UV LIGHT on any object that may contain the virus breaks down the protein. Be careful, it also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin.

*   The virus CANNOT go through healthy skin

*   Vinegar is NOT useful because it does not break down the protective layer of fat.

*   NO SPIRITS, NOR VODKA, serve. The strongest vodka is only 40% alcohol, and you need a minimum of 65%.

*   LISTERINE is 65% alcohol.

*   The more confined the space, the higher the concentration of the virus there can be. The more open or naturally ventilated, the less.

*   You have to wash your hands before and after touching any commonly used surfaces such as: mucosa (mouth area), food, locks, knobs, switches, remotes, cell phones, watches, computers, desks etc… and don’t forget when you use the bathroom.

*   You have to MOISTURIZE YOUR HANDS due to frequent washing. Dry hands have cracks and the molecules can hide in the micro cracks. The thicker the moisturizer, the better

*   Also keep your NAILS SHORT so that the virus does not hide there.

Now for some additional input:

Dr. Bonnie Henry is the Provincial Health Officer for British Columbia, the first woman in this position. She is also an associate professor at the University of British Columbia. She has a background in epidemiology and is a specialist in public health and preventive medicine.

1. We may have to live with COVID-19 for months or years. Let’s not deny it or panic. Let’s not make our lives useless. Let’s learn to live with this fact.

2. You can’t destroy COVID-19 viruses that have penetrated cell walls, by drinking gallons of hot water you’ll just go to the bathroom more often.

3. Washing hands and maintaining a two-meter physical distance is the best method for your protection.

4. If you don’t have a COVID-19 patient at home, there’s no need to disinfect the surfaces at your house.

5. Packaged cargo, gas pumps, shopping carts and ATMs do not cause infection. If you wash your hands, live your life as usual.

6. COVID-19 is not a food infection. It is associated with drops of infection like the ‘flu’. There is no demonstrated risk that COVID-19 is transmitted by food.

7. You can lose your sense of smell with a lot of allergies and viral infections. This is only a non-specific symptom of COVID-19.

8. Once at home, you don’t need to change your clothes urgently and go shower! Purity is a virtue, paranoia is not!

9. The COVID-19 virus doesn’t hang in the air for long. This is a respiratory droplet infection that requires close contact.

10. The air is clean; you can walk through the gardens and through parks (just keeping your physical protection distance).

 11. It is sufficient to use normal soap against COVID-19, not antibacterial soap. This is a virus, not a bacterium.

12. You don’t have to worry about your food orders. But you can heat it all up in the microwave if you wish.

13. The chances of bringing COVID-19 home with your shoes is like being struck by lightning twice in a day. I’ve been working against viruses for 20 years — drop infections don’t spread like that!

14. You can’t be protected from the virus by taking vinegar, sugarcane juice and ginger! These are for immunity not a cure.

 15. Wearing a mask for long periods interferes with your breathing and oxygen levels. Wear it only in crowds.

16.  Wearing gloves is also a bad idea; the virus can accumulate into the glove and be easily transmitted if you touch your face. Better just to wash your hands regularly.

Immunity is weakened by always staying in a sterile environment. Even if you eat immune boosting foods, please go out of your house regularly to any park/beach. Immunity is increased by EXPOSURE TO PATHOGENS, not by sitting at home and consuming fried/ spicy/sugary food and aerated drinks.

Be smart and stay informed! Live life sensibly and to the fullest. Be Kind, Be Calm and Be Safe!

Medical Myths About Hypertension

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1. Blood pressure is not serious

Hypertension certainly can be serious. Without treatment, high blood pressure can increase the risk of a range of health issues, including heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, heart failure, angina, vision loss, sexual dysfunction, and peripheral artery disease.

Hypertension causes damage in a number of ways. For example, over time, increased arterial pressure can cause the vessels to become less elastic. In turn, this reduces the amounts of blood and oxygen that reach the heart, thereby damaging the organ.

High blood pressure can also damage the delicate blood vessels of the brain, which increases the risk that they will block or burst.

2. Hypertension runs in my family, so there is nothing I can do

According to research, hypertension does have a genetic component. For instance, the authors of a 2017 study that included data from three generations of participants conclude:

“Early onset hypertension in grandparents raises the risk [of] hypertension in grandchildren, even after adjusting for early onset hypertension in parents and lifestyle factors.”

However, hypertension is not inevitable, even for those who may be genetically susceptible to it. Often, the condition develops due to lifestyle factors, such as diet, which genes do not influence.

The authors of a 2018 study that analyzed genetic, lifestyle, and health data from 277,005 people conclude:

“We show that adherence to a healthy lifestyle (including [healthful] diet, limited alcohol consumption, low urinary sodium excretion, low body mass index [BMI], and increased physical activity) is associated with lower blood pressure regardless of the underlying blood pressure genetic risk.”

They also found that “[a]dherence to a healthy lifestyle is […] associated with [a] lower risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and composite cardiovascular disease at all levels of underlying blood pressure genetic risk.”

3. High blood pressure is inevitable with age

Hypertension is not inevitable, and it is not a normal part of aging. Although hypertension is more common among older adults, high blood pressure occurs in middle-aged and young adults, too.

Hypertension affects around 7.5% of people aged 18–39 years, 33.2% of people aged 40–59 years, and 63.1% of individuals over the age of 60 years.

Despite this increasing prevalence with age, certain lifestyle interventions can significantly reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure. These include reducing salt intake, exercising regularly, stopping smoking, and eating a healthful diet.

4. I would notice symptoms if I had hypertension

The only way to detect hypertension is to measure blood pressure. There are usually no signs or symptoms to indicate that someone has hypertension.

In the U.S., around 75 million people currently have hypertension. Of these, an estimated 11 million people do not know that they have it.

This is why some experts refer to hypertension as the “silent killer.”

5. I do not use table salt, so I do not need to worry about sodium intake

The WHO recommend consuming under 5 grams of salt each day to help maintain a healthy blood pressure.

They explain that an “estimated 2.5 million deaths could be prevented each year if global salt consumption were reduced to the recommended level.”

However, only avoiding table salt is not sufficient when limiting overall salt intake. It is important to read food labels; salt appears in a wide range of foods, sometimes in very high quantities.

According to the CDC, around 40% of our daily sodium intake comes from these 10 types of food:

breads

pizzas

sandwiches

cold cuts and cured meats

soups

burritos and tacos

savory snacks, such as chips, popcorn, pretzels, and crackers

chicken

cheese

eggs

Ultraprocessed foods are particularly high in salt. The consumption of these foods — which include soft drinks, chocolate, chips, candy, sweetened breakfast cereals, and packaged soups — may also play a role in the development of other conditions.

For instance, one study in the BMJ that included data from more than 100,000 people found that “a 10% increase in the proportion of ultraprocessed foods in the diet was associated with a significant increase of greater than 10% in risks of overall and breast cancer.”

It is also worth noting that both kosher and sea salt are chemically the same as table salt and, therefore, no less harmful to health.

6. When my blood pressure responds to medication, I can stop taking it

People who take medication to treat hypertension may find that their blood pressure returns to normal. However, for many people, hypertension is a lifelong condition.

It is important to follow the doctor’s recommendations and only reduce or stop taking the medication when they have confirmed that this is the best course of action. According to the American Heart Association (AHA):

“Expect to treat high blood pressure for life. Doctors will sometimes reduce a [person’s] drug dosages after achieving normal blood pressure and maintaining it for a year or more, although it is rare for the treatment to be stopped entirely. Some form of treatment must be continued over a lifetime for good results.”

7. Hypertension is curable

There is currently no cure for hypertension. However, there are ways to manage the condition and reduce its impact on health.

For instance, making the following changes may help:

reducing alcohol intake

eating a healthful diet

exercising

managing stress

quitting smoking

maintaining a moderate weight

taking medication

8. Only men develop high blood pressure

Although anyone can develop hypertension, men have a higher risk of doing so until the age of 45 years. From 45–64 years, everyone has a similar risk of developing high blood pressure.

After the age of 64 years, however, women seem to have a higher risk of developing hypertension than men.

Diet and Sleep

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Much of what we know about sleep and diet comes from large epidemiological studies that, over the years, have found that people who suffer from consistently bad sleep tend to have poorer quality diets, with less protein, fewer fruits and vegetables, and a higher intake of added sugar from foods like sugary beverages, desserts and ultra-processed foods

Tryptophan is an amino acid found in many foods, including dairy and turkey, which is one of the reasons commonly given for why so many of us feel so sleepy after our Thanksgiving feasts. But tryptophan has to cross the blood-brain barrier to have any soporific effects, and in the presence of other amino acids found in food it ends up competing, largely unsuccessfully, for absorption. Studies show that eating protein-rich foods such as milk and turkey on their own actually decreases the ability of tryptophan to cross the blood-brain barrier.

One way to enhance tryptophan’s uptake is to pair foods that contain it with carbohydrates. That combination stimulates the release of insulin, which causes competing amino acids to be absorbed by muscles, in turn making it easier for tryptophan to cross into the brain, said Marie-Pierre St-Onge, an associate professor of nutritional medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the director of the Sleep Center of Excellence at Columbia.

Dr. St-Onge has found in her research that when people eat more sugar and simple carbs — such as white bread, bagels, pastries and pasta — they wake up more frequently throughout the night. In other words, eating carbs may help you fall asleep faster, but it is best to consume “complex” carbs that contain fiber, which may help you obtain more deep, restorative sleep.

“Complex carbohydrates provide a more stable blood sugar level,” said Dr. St-Onge. “So if blood sugar levels are more stable at night, that could be the reason complex carbohydrates are associated with better sleep.”

One example of a dietary pattern that may be optimal for better sleep is the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes such foods as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, seafood, poultry, yogurt, herbs and spices and olive oil. Large observational studies have found that people who follow this type of dietary pattern are less likely to suffer from insomnia and short sleep, though more research is needed to confirm the correlation.

But the relationship between poor diet and bad sleep is a two-way street: Scientists have found that as people lose sleep, they experience physiological changes that can nudge them to seek out junk food. In clinical trials, healthy adults who are allowed to sleep only four or five hours a night end up consuming more calories and snacking more frequently throughout the day. They experience significantly more hunger and their preference for sweet foods increases.

The takeaway is that diet and sleep are entwined. Improving one can help you improve the other and vice versa, creating a positive cycle where they perpetuate one another, said Dr. Susan Redline, a senior physician at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a professor of sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School who studies diet and sleep disorders.

“The best way to approach health is to emphasize a healthy diet and healthy sleep,” she added. “These are two very important health behaviors that can reinforce each other.”