Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
The Greatness of Green Tea!!! Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Green tea is everywhere these days! Green tea is found in everything from tea bags to lattes and even ice cream! But as we all know these forms are chock full of sugar and additives …
FATS~THE SKINNY YOU NEED TO KNOW By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT When talking about health, wellness and diet, the subject of fats always seems to scare people. I’ve heard such things as ‘fats are bad’ to ‘I don’t consume any fats because they’ll …
COVID-19
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
I wanted to take the time to review COVID-19. As government safety guidelines and regulations slowly relax I wanted to go over some ways that can be helpful in keeping us healthy. Like any contagious virus COVID-19 is something we should be aware of and work towards keeping ourselves healthy to help reduce the spread.
Coronavirus is also known as COVID-19. This virus is caused by the SAR-COV-2 virus. Like any virus it is spread on respiratory droplets. In other words when someone who has the virus like Bob for example coughs, sneezes, speaks or even breaths the virus can spread. If the droplets land on a surface and you touch it and then touch your eyes, mouth or nose then the virus can infect you! (1)
While anyone can become infected with COVID-19 there are some risk factors you may have that make you at risk for more severe disease. The greatest risk factor for severe disease is age. Anyone who is over 65 years old is at a higher risk of severe disease. Another risk factor for severe disease is having an underlying medical condition. For example those with asthma, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, chronic liver disease, diabetes and even heart disease are all at risk factor for severe disease. Anyone who smokes or is exposed to 2nd hand smoke is also at risk for severe disease. Having a BMI equal to or above 30 is also a risk factor for severe disease. Additionally use of corticosteroids or other immune suppressive medications is also a risk factor for severe disease. If you have a chronic condition talk to your doctor to determine if it places you at an increased risk for severe disease. (2)
Let’s review some of the more common signs of COVID-19. First you may have a fever, cough, fatigue and a loss of taste /smell. Less common symptoms include a sore throat, headache and aches/ pains. You may also experience a skin rash or discoloration as well as red or irritated eyes. Lastly you may have diarrhea. More severe symptoms include shortness of breath, loss of speech or mobility or you may even be confused. In some cases there may be chest pain. (1) For a comparison of COVID-19 vs. viruses with similar symptoms please see the attached chart. (3)
COVID-19 can have some very series complications. While many people will not have complications I want to review some of the more common complications that can occur. These include acute respiratory failure, pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress. Next to the lungs the liver suffers the biggest injuries from COVID-19. Many people who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 develop heart problems. While not as common as liver damage those with severe illness may also experience kidney disease. Having COVID-19 may also lower our immune system’s ability to fight off pathogens leading us vulnerable to secondary infections. Blood clots are also a complication found in those hospitalized for COVID-19. One complication that you may have heard about is “Chronic or long hall COVID” which is where those who have had COVID-19 develop chronic fatigue like symptoms such as bran fog, fatigue, pain, trouble thinking or dizziness. (4)
What can you do to help reduce the spread of COVID-19? Well 1st it’s important to keep good hygiene! Wash your hands and clean regularly touched surfaces. Don’t touch your eyes, mouth, or nose! Stay away from anyone who is sick. If you are sick stay home! Don’t’ forget to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze. (5) Now what can you do to help boost your overall immune system?
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Mushroom Hx Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Omelets, risotto and even salads are all places you might find mushrooms. But did you know mushrooms are also an amazing supplement for our immune system? There are so many different types of mushrooms that sometimes it can …
PROTEINS~WHAT ARE THEY? By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT While we all know protein, do we really know how much we need on a daily basis? It’s also something we all like as there seems to be endless choices. There is also no wrong …
The Common Cold!
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Today we will be talking about something everyone knows about and that topic is the common cold! Having a cold is probably one thing that both children and adults understand. But what cause’s a cold? Well when you have a cold you are actually suffering from a virus, in most cases it is a Rhinovirus. When we talk about upper respiratory infections the common cold is an example of what we mean. How do we catch a cold? Well the virus enters our body through the eyes, nose and mouth. Like most viruses it travels on droplets in the air that are released when someone coughs, sneezes or even just talks! When someone who is sick touches an object or even shakes your hand the virus gets on that object. If you touch it and then touch your eyes, mouth or nose BAM the virus can infect you too!
Exposure is probably one of the largest risk factors for getting a cold. It is one of the reasons why people are encouraged to stay home if they are sick. Having a weakened immune system is also a risk factor. Having a history of smoking or being exposed to 2nd hand smoke also increases your risk of getting a cold. Infants and young children are also at a higher risk of catching a cold.
What are the symptoms of a cold? While I know most people can probably list these all by heart I just want to do a quick reminder of what they are. Usually in 1-3 days after exposure to the virus symptoms can start and they can include runny/stuffy nose, sneezing, sore/ scratchy throat, cough, low grade fever, headache and even just plain old “I don’t feel good”. (1) Unfortunately the common cold isn’t the only virus that can cause these symptoms. I’ve included a chart that compares them! (2)
Now while most people recover from a cold within a few days – a week there can be complications that occur. These can include sinus or ear infections. There may also be acute bronchitis. If you have asthma or emphysema or chronic bronchitis the symptoms can get worse. You may develop a cough that lingers after infections. (3)
While most people with a cold don’t need to see a doctor sometimes it’s necessary. For children up to 12 weeks if there is a fever of 100.4 degrees it’s a good idea to see their doctor. In older children if there is a rising fever or fever lasting more than 2 days, if there is any trouble with breathing, wheezing, ear pain, or just intense symptoms as well as unusual fatigue or fuzziness it can also be a good idea to see their doctor. Lastly if there is a change in appetite it’s important to see their doctor. In adults it’s a good ideas to see a doctor if there is a fever over 101.3 degrees that lasts more than 3 days, if the fever returns after being gone or there is shortness of breath, wheezing or the symptoms unusually severe. (1) If there is a high fever in either children or adults it may be a good idea to see your doctor. (3)
When it comes to a cold prevention is key! And that starts with 1 simple word- hygiene! Wash your hands and clean frequently touched surfaces. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneezes or cough. If your sick stay home! Don’t share glasses or eating utensils. If you can stay away from those that are sick. (1) It is also helpful to make sure that your environment is not too dry so that your sinus don’t dry out which would leave you at risk for a cold. (3) It’s always a good ideas to help boost our immunity. In that case what can we do to boost our immunity?
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