“The Pandemic”
I apologize for not updating my newsletter sooner, but with what is going on in our world, I am sure you understand. Well since my last update, we are still in the midst of the pandemic. With it, there is no doubt that the question of whether you should wear a mask or not has become both locally and nationally a hotly, contested and now political question. There is so much conflicting information out there for us to decipher.
In my research about wearing a mask, I found that wearing a mask may avert severe infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. That physical barrier, a mask, while not impervious to viral penetration as studies have shown, may block some viral particles from getting into your body and attacking your immune system. Reducing the amount of exposure could allow your immune system to neutralize these viral invaders, potentially resulting in a milder infection.
This connection between wearing a mask and a milder COVID-19 disease is still correlational like most studies about wearing masks. However, it does change the narrative we have been receiving about the reason to wear a mask. It’s just not a selfless act protecting those around you from exposure as we have been told, but it may also protect you from overwhelming your immune system with the infection. Prevent the viral storm.
In past animal, viral studies, it has been found that the higher the dose an animal receives of a virus, the more likely the animal is to die from infection. Researchers have also done this with varying levels of a flu virus on human volunteers. The higher the dose of the flu virus received by volunteers, the more likely the volunteer was to develop an infection and become ill.
So the question that may be asked is, “Could tolerating the disease be better than fighting it or eliminating the infection?” It appears masks may reduce the dose of the virus that enters your body. Recently, a study with hamsters showed that a barrier made of surgical mask material between hamsters infected with SARS-CoV2 and healthy hamsters dampened the spread of the virus. If the hamsters were masked, they got consistently a milder case of the virus.
Data from viral outbreaks on cruise ships earlier this year substantiate these findings. An analysis of infections of passengers and crew on a cruise ship that departed from Argentina in March showed that after the first reported case of COVID-19, all 217 passengers and crew were given masks to wear. Of the 128 who eventually contracted the virus, 81% of those were asymptomatic.
This was found to be a much higher proportion than expected because it has been found more recently that about 40% of the cases are usually asymptomatic. There have also been other examples of wearing masks that correlate with the higher asymptomatic rates. One would have to surmise from these findings that the masks maybe protecting an individual from their immune system being overwhelmed by the virus.
Definitely, there has been a deficiency in this narrative on why one should wear a mask. The experts have forgotten to tell us that wearing a mask may limit the amount of infection your immune system is exposed to giving your body a chance to fight it off. That is if you do other things like hydrate, rest, social distance, and wash your hands.
If that is not enough to change your mind about wearing a mask, now newly described case reports of patients infected by COVID-19 can result in long lasting neurological complications including inflammation, psychosis, delirium, nerve damage, and strokes even among patients experiencing milder cases of the virus. In some cases, these neurological symptoms were actually the first manifestation of the disease. Why take the chance on not wearing a mask?
According to a paper published July 8th in the journal “Brain,” neurologists in the UK stated they are seeing things in the way COVID-19 affects the brain that they haven’t seen with other viruses. They have found severe neurology that makes patients quite sick without even having a lung dysfunction that is anticipated when contracting this novel virus.
Yes, COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory disease hitting the lungs, but it has also manifested seemingly unrelated symptoms such as a loss of taste and smell and memory loss that can persist for months after being infected. Keep in mind that during the pandemic of 1918 and 1919, there was an epidemic on a large scale of brain damage with those infected by that influenza virus.
In what I have just told you, it should tell you most of all that COVID-19 is not like the seasonal flu. This is not a hoax. Over 150,000 people have died from this invisible enemy. The only tools we have right now to protect ourselves from being overwhelmed by this virus is wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing your hands. These are so simple, but very effective in protecting yourself and others from the spread and more importantly the intensity of infection if you contract the virus.
I have two very young grandchildren that depend on me to protect them from this virus. That is why I wear a mask and gloves during my treatments. I am not trying to make a political statement. Please think of all the children in our country and around the world we will protecting from these simple acts. After all, children are our future. We still don’t know the long term effects of this virus and only time will tell. Let’s try to protect these young ones as well as our most vulnerable, the elderly. They are both very important in the longevity of our culture. As the Nike ad states, “Just Do It!”
Just as a reminder, I have CBD products available as well elderberry gummies to boost your immune system during these trying times. In addition, I will be expanding my office hours to Thursday mornings. If you have any questions, just let me know and I will try to answer them for you. Please all of you be well and don’t forget to hydrate during this very hot time of our summer. Thank you.
Terry