Summary
Firstly, get some perspective by knowing the risks - spend 12 minutes reading this insightful piece by an infectious diseases academic (1). We need to add “Disease Tolerance” to our anti-virus defences. “Tolerating” a virus can involve “quieting immune attacks against pathogens and even providing nutrients to the invaders”(1a) The danger with COVID-19 is pneumonia, the immune system’s inflammatory overreaction, and pre-existing condition vulnerability and treatment conflicts. 90% of flu deaths are the aged in part because they lose their ability to turn off an inflammatory response.(1b) Known as Cytokine Storms, they are killing COVID-19 patients who cannot absorb the little oxygen available.(1c, 1d, 2a) Ongoing round-the-clock use of a Pulse Oximeter is essential if you have any symptoms. (2b, 2c, 2d)
As it is looking more like it is about inflammation and oxygen, Nitric Oxide might also help the blood vessels in the lungs cope.(4b) Melatonin, Vitamin C, and low dose Aspirin with Omega-3 help resolve inflammation without turning off immunity, unlike some drugs. While in your bunker for the next 3+ months, prepare yourself with an anti-inflammatory diet such as the Mediterranean Diet with oily fish, and mastering breathing exercises. As the virus has multiple tricks, so you need multiple defences to minimise the viral load. (1e) Some supplements, sleep, sunshine and serious exercise support your defences to an extent that is startling. And, by prolonging survival time, the immune system can recover and destroy, or at least tolerate the virus. Meanwhile, as we might have to wait a year or forever, for a vaccine (1e, 1f), readily accessible options to lessen the impact of the virus, are preferable to relying on critical care drugs and equipment not widely available. For those who hear time’s winged chariot hurrying near, there are things you can, and must do to “tolerate” the onslaught. The fact that minerals, vitamins and even glucose can calm invaders, and their consequences, makes this new line of anti-COVID-19 research scaleable, sooner.
Inflammasome icon(s) from BioRender.com
Key Points
Pneumonia+, the body’s tolerance and inflammatory overreaction, and low oxygen absorption are the main worry with COVID-19. (2, 2a)
The worst thing is that patients are not realising they are in trouble, hence everyone should track their oxygen trends with a Pulse Oximeter non-stop for at least 2 weeks from when they have any symptoms at all.(2b, 2c, 2d)
Boosting the immune system is important for prevention, and time-buying amelioration, if infected. (2e)
Most importantly, the inflammatory response needs to be managed, without turning off the immune system, or drug conflicts. 90% of flu deaths are the aged because they lose their ability to turn off an inflammatory response. (1a, 1b, 3)
Survivors will tie up hospital beds, and equipment, for months and even risk cognitive damage due to oxygen deprivation. (4, 4a, 2a)
Damage may be reduced by breathing exercises and inhaled nitric oxide which relaxes the blood vessels, increasing the transfer of oxygen to the blood and easing the heart’s workload. (4b). While urgent trials are underway, nitrate-rich vegetables such as beetroot, plant foods high in antioxidants to support the nitric oxide, blood pumping exercises plus breathing exercises help the body increase its own production of nitric oxide. Avoid mouthwash as it kills the bacteria that produce nitric oxide where needed most. (4c, 4d, 4e)
Melatonin and Vitamin C reduce the inflammation. (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f)
Low dose Aspirin + Omega-3 also combine to produce Resolvins which help ensure that the immune system does not stay overreacting when infected, a mechanism we lose as we age. (6, 6a) Blood thinning would be a useful bonus. (6b, 6c)
The resulting combined effects of the above two “Dynamic Duos”, promote the resolution of inflammation without suppressing the immune system.
They both help deal with Public Enemy No 1: a switch on the NLPR3 Inflammasome, so the immune system can focus on the virus. (7, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d)
The Mediterranean Diet with high salicylate acid (aspirin) and oily fish provides the components of the Dynamic Duos, and these help with sleep. (8, 8a)
Supplements such as Vitamins D(8b) and C, Melatonin, and Omega-3, and very low dose aspirin are warranted particularly if vulnerable or infected, and complement most standard medical options.
The aim is to prolong survival allowing the immune system time to recover, deal with this virus, and future versions.
However, the first line of COVID-19 preventive defences remains soap even for fruit and vegetables (9, 9a) and physical distancing to minimise the viral load, along with a synergistic combo of nutritious anti-inflammatory foods (10, 10a), sleep (11) and serious exercise (12, 12a) - all easily implemented, and scaleable.
It is not hard, but getting the message across about taking the boring basics seriously, is. (13)
See:
PART 2 Why: Background on Inflammation - COVID-19’s killer.
PART 3 What: Details on Steps to take - (this is to be replaced by 8 Fact Sheets, shortly)
Factsheets:
Inflammasome icon(s) from BioRender.com