Сontents

Why do I need coronavirus prevention?

The immune system is a natural defense against infections

Our immune system can independently destroy a certain amount of the pathogen without causing the disease’s development. Immune cells can eliminate the virus faster than it multiplies. If the amount of viral particles that enter the body is large enough, and the innate immune system cannot cope with this amount, the disease may develop. The number of viral particles that will develop the condition is called the infecting dose.

The weaker the immune system, the fewer viral particles needed to develop the disease.

The severity of the disease depends on the amount of pathogen that has entered the body

As a rule, there is a direct relationship between the severity of the disease and the number of viral particles in the body. The greater the number of infectious doses that enter the body, the faster the disease develops and is more severe. If many viral particles have entered the body, then such a dose of the infectious agent can be fatal — the virus will Deplete the body’s reserves faster than the immune system will have time to cope with it. Lethal doses are used in experiments on mice when testing new methods of treatment and protection. In real life, it is difficult to get a deadly dose of a viral pathogen.

How multi-step prevention reduces the risk of infection

The goal of preventive measures is to minimize the number of viral particles that enter the body. The Swiss cheese model well illustrates the principle of prevention: some virus particles are cut off at one level, some at another, and some at the third. The higher the levels of preventive protection, the fewer virus particles can enter the body.

Even if you follow preventive measures, a person can get sick. In this case, preventive protection will help you get over the disease in a lighter form than if there were no protection. Preventive measures also reduce the risk of the disease’s complications, reducing the viral load on the body.

Asymptomatic COVID-19 increases the risk of infection of others

An essential feature of coronavirus infection is its asymptomatic form in a significant part of people. A person can feel normal, go to work, go to shops, use public transport, but at the same time be infected with the coronavirus.

How contagious people with an asymptomatic form of COVID-19 are is still unknown. And since the coronavirus can affect almost all organs, including the brain, prevention measures will be justified even in a team where all people look healthy.

The value of preventive measures

The great rule of medicine: the disease is easier to prevent than to treat. It applies to both time and financial costs and the impact on health. Prevention is taking care of yourself and your loved ones.

Preventive measures may be unusual and take considerable time. But you will quickly develop a habit, and it will become faster and easier to perform them.

Priorities for preventive protection

Coronavirus can enter the body in different ways. Some ways of infection are more likely to happen, while others are less.

If there are not enough resources to implement all prevention measures, it is reasonable to direct more efforts to protect against infection to places where it is more likely to become infected. The goal is to block the main entrance gate for the disease.

The main thing is to protect the respiratory tract

The main entrance gate for infection is the respiratory tract. The most common route of infection is through inhalation of air containing viral particles. Viruses settle on the airway mucosa, and when the mucosa dries up, the viruses enter the epithelial cells, and infection occurs. Preventive measures aim to reduce the virus’s concentration in the standard air and the inhaled air in particular.

This set of measures is carried out in four directions:

  • Try to reduce the concentration of virus particles in the surrounding air. Avoid crowds of people. For more information, see the paragraph on maintaining social distance, airing, and air exchange.
  • Filter the inhaled air from viruses. If it is not possible, keep a social distance and ventilate the room, for example, in elevators. For more information, see the paragraph on using face masks and respirators.
  • Protect the nasal mucosa in time if there is a chance of communicating with an infected person. For more information, see the paragraph on local prevention methods.
  • Decontaminate the indoor air if there is a possibility of infected people being in the room. For more information, see the paragraph on using germicidal lamps.

It is vital to strengthen hygiene measures to protect the mouth

Coronavirus RNA in people with COVID-19 is found in blood, saliva, nasopharyngeal samples, urine, and feces. There may be viral particles on the sick person’s hands, for example, when the ill person blows his nose in a handkerchief or sneezes, covering his mouth with his hand. If you touch objects with this hand, some of the viruses will remain on the items, and they will become dangerous to others.

The coronavirus is viable on various items for several days. The virus can live on your hands, personal items, and frequently used items in public places. Steel surfaces are particularly dangerous, such as Elevator buttons, door handles, and handrails in transport – this type of surface can live up to 28 days. For more information, see the paragraph on disinfection of objects and surfaces.

Coronavirus can enter the body through the intestines, penetrating epithelial cells and using them as a springboard for reproduction. Therefore, it is now important to wash your hands thoroughly before eating and drinking. The virus can also enter the body through the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, and nose when we touch the face with unwashed hands: open the eyes, scratch the nose, stroke the lips or chin. Therefore, it is essential to observe hygiene habits and develop new ones carefully. For more information, see the paragraph on hygiene prevention methods.

Better protect your eyes

Eye protection is similar to respiratory protection: you need a barrier between the eye mucosa and an infected aerosol cloud. This cloud is formed if a sick person sneezes, coughs, talks, or breathes. Moreover, the louder the voice, the larger the aerosol cloud.

An infected cloud’s danger is that it is not visible, and it is in the air for several minutes. For more information, see the paragraph on eye protection measures.

A healthy lifestyle maintains your immune

The immune system protects the body from foreign particles: viruses, bacteria, and parasites. The coronavirus pandemic is a good reason to strengthen your immune system with healthy lifestyle methods and reduce the actions that depress the immune system. For more information about supporting the immune system, see the paragraph on “Preventive diet and healthy lifestyle fundamentals.” For more information about the immune system’s degradation, see the paragraphs on obesity and alcoholism. And tobacco smoking in the paragraph on antiprophylaxis-avoidable risks of infection.

Optional-protect your hands from damage

In the autumn-winter season, the back of the hands often dries up, sometimes cracks, and the smallest wounds (microcracks) are formed. The risk of infection occurs if you touch or scratch the other hand with an unwashed hand.

Also, the skin dries up and cracks from frequent use of disinfectants. How to preserve the integrity of the skin of the hands – look for a special paragraph of the paragraph on disinfection of objects and surfaces.

In exceptional cases, use drug prevention with systemic medicine

Systemic drugs are used for prevention in exceptional cases. These medications are unsafe and have many contraindications and side effects. Before using them, you need to consult with a specialist. For more information, see the paragraph on prevention with systemic drugs.

Variety of preventive measures

Reduce the virus concentration in the surrounding air

Back in April 2020, at the beginning of the first wave of COVID-19, Japanese scientists found that the risk of infection from an infected person is 18.7 times higher indoors than outdoors.

It is much safer outdoors than indoors.

Provide fresh air to the rooms

Indoor air exchange is an integral part of the prevention of coronavirus infection.

In the UK and Belgium, this measure is a critical preventive measure against coronavirus. The UK’s official health and safety guidelines provide direct guidance on this for the current pandemic: “By law, employers must provide sufficient fresh air in the workplace.” The practical guidelines for Belgian employers regarding COVID-19 also contain requirements for proper ventilation in the workplace.

According to the American standard of ventilation, the room’s air exchange must occur 2.5-10 times per hour for acceptable indoor air quality.

Russian official recommendations also contain requirements for ventilation of premises during the coronavirus pandemic. Rospotrebnadzor recommends that employers ventilate the premises every 2 hours.

Open doors, windows, and vents help to increase the fresh air flow.

Maintain a social distance

If a person is infected with a coronavirus infection, they spread the virus particles through their breath. Large drops of sputum released when coughing settle quickly, but the respiratory aerosol is in the air for several minutes. Keeping a distance of 1.5-2 meters between people is enough for large drops to settle, and the infected aerosol dilutes the surrounding air and becomes less dangerous.

A study of the optimal value of social distancing was commissioned by the world health organization (WHO). The minimum value was 1 meter, but with increasing social distance, the risk of infection decreases significantly. Rospotrebnadzor recommends observing a distance of 1.5-2 meters.

Maintaining social distance in the open air is an important prevention measure for COVID-19. However, it becomes necessary to keep the distance indoors.

Reduce personal social contacts

Reducing the number of personal contacts is also an element of maintaining social distance. In a small social circle, an infected person is less likely to appear.

Examples of restrictions on personal contacts:

  • Minimize personal inter-family communication. It is preferable to use a phone or video conferencing.
  • Avoid mass events, including religious ones. Choral singing is a risk factor, even with social distance.
  • Avoid personal contact with people with coughing, sneezing, and runny nose.
  • Seek to resolve issues over the Internet and phone. For example, work, study, make purchases, interact with institutions. If it is impossible to interact remotely fully, it is advisable to alternate face-to-face presence with remote presence.
  • Avoid family shopping and family visits to institutions. It is better if only one family member will enter public buildings, and the rest will be waiting for him on the street.
  • It is dangerous to shake hands or show other forms of close contact.

The fewer personal contacts, the safer it is

Decontaminate indoor air

Indoors, the increased risk of infection is associated with stagnant air. This air may contain infected aerosol particles. For their disinfection, you can use ultraviolet bactericidal lamps (UV lamps). It is crucial to choose the right type of llama and power.

Open-type UV lamps are most often used in medical institutions or specialized laboratories. The radiation from these lamps is dangerous for all life forms. These devices are turned on when there is no one on the premises, most often at night. Open-type UV lamps effectively disinfect the air and exposed surfaces.

Closed-type UV lamps can be used in areas where there are people. It’s safe. But the efficiency of this type of lamp is much less — only the air passing through the lamp body is disinfected. Therefore, effective disinfection must choose such lamps’ number and performance depending on the room’s volume.

UV lamps are included in various official recommendations for the prevention of coronavirus infection.

Air ozonation should not be used for decontamination in areas where there are people. Ozone is toxic to the lungs because it is a strong oxidizer.

It is crucial to choose the right type of germicidal lamp and the power corresponding to the room’s volume.

Use respiratory protection: masks and respirators

Local respiratory protection is mandatory indoors, while outdoor protection is recommended. Masks and respirators protect against infected droplets and aerosol.

Studies confirm that using a tissue mask reduces the risk of coronavirus infection by about 60%, a surgical mask by 75%, and using a respirator by up to 95%, depending on the type. The effectiveness of these means of protection depends on the correct use:

  • The mask should cover the mouth, nose, and chin. If the mask covers only the mouth, then nothing prevents infected air from entering through the nose when inhaling.
  • Keep the mask or respirator as close to your face as possible. Many models allow you to adapt the mask to your nose shape. Respirators provide a better fit to the face. Respirators issued under Construction State Standart 12.4.244-2013 allow 5% of air intake and provide 90% protection. Respirators approved for use in covid compartments and manufactured per Standart 12.4.294-2015, fit snugly to the face and provide maximum protection of 95%. Mustaches and beards impair tightness and reduce the effectiveness of masks and respirators.
  • The safest way to wear masks and respirators is to hold on to the elastic bands, not bring the virus to the filter surface if the procedure is performed with unwashed hands. It is also recommended to remove the rubber bands since the outer part may be covered with many viral particles after use. At the respirator, first, remove the lower elastic band and then the upper one.
  • When using a respirator in areas where there is a high probability of meeting A COVID-19 patient, you should also wear a mask over the respirator. It will protect the surface of the respirator from getting infected biological fluids on its surface.
  • The mask is a one-time item. It should be changed every 3 hours. Used masks are discarded, but fabric masks can be washed and then ironed with a hot iron.
  • The respirator can be used many times, following the relevant rules of Russia’s Ministry of Health.
  • A cloth or gauze mask is better than no mask. The principle remains the more layers – the more influential the protection.

In South-East Asian countries with a high population density, wearing masks is the norm during seasonal respiratory diseases. In European countries, this practice is not very popular, so the authorities, for example, the UK, introduced large fines for violating the mask regime.

WHO recommends using masks in addition to maintaining social distance.

Disinfect items and surfaces

The coronavirus can remain viable on various surfaces for several days. Virus particles can get on objects in different ways. For example, through the settling of drops of infected sputum formed after coughing or sneezing. Or as a result of the settling of an infected aerosol developed due to a conversation with a person who has become ill with COVID-19.

Another common way to infect surfaces is through dirty hands. People infected with coronavirus secrete viral particles with almost all biological fluids: saliva, nasal mucus, phlegm from the nasopharynx, urine, feces, and blood. If an infected person covers their mouth with their hand while sneezing, then all objects they touch will be infected. Similarly, an infected person may have a virus on their hands if they haven’t washed them thoroughly enough after using the toilet.

Getting the virus into the hands of a healthy person creates a risk of infection. The virus can enter the body while drinking or eating with dirty hands.

Decontamination of items

One of the most effective ways to prevent this type of infection is to regularly disinfect objects and surfaces that are often used outside the home. For example, mobile phones, keys, wallets, and bag handles. An equally effective way to destroy the virus that has entered the house is to disinfect all frequently used surfaces and objects.

Two types of disinfectants are most common: alcohol-based and chlorine-based. The alcohol concentration must be at least 70%. You can buy a ready-made disinfectant or prepare it yourself from isopropyl alcohol and glycerol. Isopropyl alcohol is a popular product in stores, including online stores. Glycerin is sold at the pharmacy.

Rospotrebnazdor recommends the following scheme for disinfecting house cleaning:

  1. Wash your hands with soap and put on rubber gloves.
  2. Prepare a package of disposable wipes and a bottle of disinfectant.
  3. Take a napkin, moisten it with a disinfectant solution.
  4. Wipe the handles of interior doors with a napkin, then the front door. Throw away the napkin.
  5. Repeat steps 3-4 for the following items and surfaces: mobile phones, tablets, keys, wallets, remote controls, table surfaces, chair backs, toilet flush buttons, faucets, soap dishes, and soap dispenser buttons. It is essential to throw away the used napkin after disinfecting several items and make a new one.
  6. After cleaning, wash gloved hands with soap and water. Then remove the gloves and rewash your hands with soap and water.

Restore the skin after disinfecting activities

The use of antiseptics, disinfectants, and frequent hand washing can cause excessive dryness of the skin. In such cases, the back of the hands begins to be covered with microcracks. To avoid this, you can regularly moisturize the skin: for 5-10 minutes, immerse your hands in warm water, then blot with a napkin or towel, and finally smear with a moisturizer.

Isolate items and packages brought home

All purchases, parcels, and other items that have been touched by other people may be infected with the virus. If possible, wash perishable food with soap or disinfect it. All other items can be quarantined for 3 days. During this period, 90% of viruses will die. After quarantine, the surfaces of these items will become safer.

Hygiene measures

Hygiene is a continuation of the complex of disinfection measures. Necessary hygiene skills are taught from childhood: wash your hands before eating, don’t eat unwashed food, and wash your hands after using the toilet.

Traditional hygiene measures can be strengthened to improve the effectiveness of COVID-19 prevention. It will protect both the person and the people around them. The fewer people around you get sick, the safer it is.

The most common situations when you should wash your hands or use a disinfectant are

  • After returning home;
  • After using public transport;
  • After using a toilet;
  • Before you eat or drink;
  • Before touching your face;
  • After touching objects in public places. Especially dangerous are handrails, door handles and other handles, and touch screens.

The effectiveness of handwashing for the prevention of coronavirus infection depends on the correct implementation of this procedure. Rospotrebnadzor recommends washing your hands in the following order:

  1. Lather your hands.
  2. Rub the palms of your hands.
  3. Rub the back of your hands.
  4. Rub between your fingers.
  5. Wash nails.
  6. Wash thumbs.
  7. Wash finger pads.
  8. Wash off.
  9. Dry or wipe.

The entire procedure will take 20-30 seconds, as recommended by who.

Having the virus on your hands is dangerous for several reasons. The main one is that when you touch your face, viral particles can get into your mouth, eyes, and nose. The second reason is that by touching objects with infected hands, we spread the virus.

To reduce the risk of infection, you should stop touching your face or doing it with washed or disinfected hands.

How to stop touching your face with your hands – recommendations of a psychotherapist

To touch your face with your hands — it’s a primary biological feature. Children learn different subjects, trying them on the tooth. Adults touch their faces when they are expressing emotions or when they are lost in thought. To eliminate this automatism, you need to be aware of the movement of your hands. You can train this skill with the following exercises:

  1. Put on bright gloves, and the next time your hands automatically reach for your face, you will notice them and remember not to touch your face with unwashed hands.
  2. The second exercise is similar to the first: instead of gloves to rub his hands with something odorous. When the hands are near the face, the smell will be more pungent, and it will also help to recognize and stop this automatism.

There are situations when the nose or other parts of the face itches, and the hands are dirty. In this situation, you should endure. After a while, the feeling is likely to pass. Alternatively, wash your hands and safely scratch the itchy area.

Public hygiene

During a pandemic, it is vital to take care of your safety and the safety of others. You may not know that you are infected if you are asymptomatic. To reduce the risk of infecting others, you should cough and sneeze in a disposable napkin. After that, the napkin should be thrown in the trash, but not in your pocket, to not spread the infection. It is convenient to have several napkins with you to use a new one every time.

If there is no napkin, you can cover your mouth with your hand while coughing, but it is advisable to disinfect or wash your palm as quickly as possible.

Behavioral prevention methods

One of the most common places of infection is our home. It’s hard to accept. But according to statistics, children are infected with coronavirus much more often at home than at school.

Perhaps the risk of infection with coronavirus at home is because, at home, people believe that they are safe and less comply with preventive measures. Regularly ventilating your home is common, but it is challenging to wear a mask, maintain a social distance, and avoid close contact at home.

To reduce the risk of infection, at home, all family members can take their temperature daily and ask about the presence of symptoms of coronavirus infection:

  • is there a sense of smell;
  • is there a sense of taste;
  • is the stool is normal;
  • whether there are respiratory symptoms: cough, runny nose, sneezing.

Rospotrebnadzor recommends that if symptoms are detected, this family member should be given a separate room for quarantine, and a coronavirus test should be performed. When symptoms appear, the person becomes very contagious.

Eye protection

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic started in China. The new disease’s contagion was unknown, there was not enough protection, and Chinese doctors paid insufficient attention to precautions. It led to a tremendous death rate among medical personnel. The painful experience was taken into account, protection standards were introduced, and the death rate among doctors was significantly reduced. Chinese doctors began using eye protection glasses or a transparent shield for the entire face, among other protective measures.

The coronavirus was introduced to Russia 3 months later. Chinese experience was taken into account in the Ministry of Health recommendations to prevent and treat coronavirus infection, emphasizing eye protection.

The infection mechanism through the eyes is based on the fact that infected drops or aerosol can get on the eye mucosa, and through it, the virus will enter the body.

Chinese researchers studied infection statistics and found that people with glasses are 5 times less likely to get COVID-19 than people without glasses.

For eye protection, ordinary construction safety glasses or any other are suitable.

Inpatient eye and respiratory protection are recommended in institutions. For example, Rospotrebnadzor advises stores to use transparent screens between cashiers and customers. And the European Center for Disease Prevention and control advises installing the same screens in educational organizations where there is a massive flow of people: in information points, reception rooms.

Vaccination

Seasonal flu vaccination indirectly protects against coronavirus

In many countries, annual vaccination against influenza. The vaccine’s introduction makes the immune system work more actively: the number of antiviral protection proteins increases: interferons, lymphocytes. This increased immune system activity allows the body to cope with many other viral particles that penetrate inside, including coronavirus ones.

American scientists conducted a statistical study of 11,672 patients from 34 countries and found that those vaccinated against influenza had a lower risk of Contracting COVID-19.

Indian scientists have investigated the impact of flu vaccination on the severity of COVID-19. This study found that the mortality rate from coronavirus infection is lower among those vaccinated.

Participation in a vaccine trial

Today, vaccination is the most effective way to protect against infection.

Now the third stage of testing is some coronavirus vaccines developed in different countries of the world. You can take a voluntary part in any of these programs and get a coronavirus vaccination right now. Within 2-3 weeks, you will need to continue to follow the rules of prevention so that in response to the vaccine’s introduction, antibodies have time to develop, which protect the body from the development of the disease.

However, there is an important caveat. The third stage of testing the vaccine is placebo-controlled. It means that most of the subjects will receive the vaccine. And the rest will get a placebo. What precisely a particular issue will receive, even the specialist who makes the vaccination does not know.

Therefore, when participating in the third stage, it is better to continue to observe preventive measures until the end of the test and establish what exactly the subject received.

Local methods of prevention

Since the main route of infection with coronavirus infection is the pathogen’s inhalation, it is reasonable to strengthen the respiratory tract’s protection further. Reducing the concentration of the virus in the surrounding air is the first step. The second measure is to wear masks or respirators. The third measure is to protect the nasal mucosa.

Nasal lavage

Russia’s Ministry of Health recommends the prevention and treatment of coronavirus infection to wash your nose with saline solution. The preventive effect is based on washing off the mucus, which may contain viral particles.

Prevention of interferon

Interferon alpha-2b is used for local antiviral protection. They are used by Chinese, Russian, and Cuban doctors. Nasal interferon has such a low dose that it does not cause side effects.

The interferon’s preventive effect is based on stimulating the body’s interferons’ production — the main proteins of antiviral protection. Interferon should be dripped into the nose after returning home — this approach is most effective: use interferon when the virus has just entered the body and started the reproduction cycle. If you apply interferon earlier, then interferon will not have a preventive effect before the virus enters.

Some Russian employers have distributed the drug interferon to their employees and their family members to protect them from COVID-19. The authorities of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District also distributed the interferon drug to families where there were cases.

Prevention with oxoline ointment

Oxoline ointment is not included in the official recommendations, but the drug’s instructions directly indicate local antiviral action. However, oxoline ointment, along with interferon, is recommended by “Gazprom dobycha Orenburg” LLC for the prevention of coronavirus.

Preventive diet and healthy lifestyle fundamentals

Vitamins and trace elements support the immune system

The human body needs a large complex of vitamins, macro-and microelements for normal functioning. A shortage usually worsens individual systems’ performance, and an overabundance can lead to pathologies and diseases. Therefore, before taking vitamin and mineral complexes, you should first pass tests to understand exactly where there is a shortage and consult a specialist about specific medications.

An alternative option is to get the same substances in their natural form – with fruits, vegetables, and herbs. In this case, the probability of overdose is much lower, and the bioavailability of vitamins and trace elements is higher since in fruits, vegetables, and greens, they are associated with amino acids, so they are easier to digest.

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 is especially crucial in the coronavirus pandemic. It does not protect against coronavirus but rather contributes to a lighter course of the disease if its level is average.

Vitamin D3 is produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight. However, in general, people worldwide are deficient in vitamin D3, so vitamin supplements are popular in different countries.

However, it would help if you were careful with vitamin D3: its excess leads to the calcification of blood vessels and elasticity loss. It is advisable to pass a test for vitamin D3 and then consult with a specialist who will prescribe the necessary dose.

Reduce the use of glucose: it induces the coronavirus to reproduce

Glucose is the primary source of energy for many living organisms. In nature, sweet fruits and berries contain glucose. A person often consumes glucose in the form of sugar. During digestion, sugar is broken down, and glucose is formed.

Brazilian scientists from the University of Sao Paulo studied what energy sources SARS-CoV-2 uses for reproduction. It was found that the coronavirus can only reproduce in the presence of glucose. It can’t use more complex carbohydrates. This mechanism is one reason why people with diabetes are at risk for COVID-19 — their body cannot process all the incoming glucose, and a lot of it remains in free form, which contributes to the proliferation of viral particles.

The most considerable amount of glucose enters the body with sugar. The glucose content in fruits and berries is significantly lower.

Reducing your sugar intake or avoiding it will help your body deal with the coronavirus more efficiently, as it will multiply more slowly.

The intestinal microbiota enhances antiviral protection

Bacteria that live in the gut and are involved in food processing are often referred to as the”second brain.” That happens due to the abundance of mechanisms of influence of the intestinal microbiota on the body.

The hormonal background and the immune system’s work depend on the species diversity and the number of intestinal bacteria. For example, certain intestinal bacteria indirectly stimulate antiviral proteins’ production in the respiratory tract — interferons.

Other types of intestinal bacteria help reduce systemic inflammation of the body. Butyric acid bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids that support the healthy functioning of the intestinal epithelium. A healthy epithelium prevents the penetration of compounds that cause inflammation into the body.

Systemic inflammation is a risk factor for coronavirus infection. The mechanism is based on the fact that inflammatory processes stimulate the cytokine storm and worsen its prognosis.

The correct balance of the microbiota also increases the effectiveness of vaccination.

To maintain a balanced microbiota, it is necessary to regularly include in the diet coarse-fiber food containing dietary fibers that feed on beneficial microorganisms. Most dietary fiber is found in whole grains, bran, vegetables, fruits, and herbs. You should also add fermented foods containing live intestinal bacteria to your diet. The most popular are fermented milk and sauerkraut. Cabbage is also a product with a negative caloric content (much dietary fiber) — the body spends more energy on its assimilation than it receives. Therefore, cabbage is the best answer to the question:” what to eat to lose weight?”.

Coarse-fiber foods and fermented foods will help maintain the right balance of the intestinal microbiota.

Physical activity supports the immune system

Moderate physical activity improves the functioning of all body systems. In particular, the immune system begins to work more actively. According to a large-scale study, only 30 minutes of physical activity a day is enough.

Stress, depression, and apathy negatively affect the immune system. Physical activity also improves your emotional state. A 2008 study at the Berlin medical University found that exercise is no less significant than antidepressants.

30 minutes of physical activity a day will support the immune system.

Systemic action drugs prevention

In unusual cases, when there is a high risk of infection with coronavirus, systemic drug prevention is used. It is important to remember that systemic medications have side effects and contraindications. Uncontrolled and unjustified medication can significantly worsen the condition of even a healthy person. Before using this class of drugs, you should consult a specialist.

The second important point is that the effectiveness of systemic drugs has not been proven to prevent coronavirus. The recommendations of the Ministry of Health contain a direct indication of this: “Currently available information on the results of therapy with all drugs does not allow us to draw a clear conclusion about their effectiveness or inefficiency, and therefore their use is permissible by the decision of the medical Commission in the prescribed manner if the potential benefit to the patient exceeds the risk of their use.”

However, the Ministry of Health’s recommendations indicate hydroxychloroquine and Arbidol (umifenovir) as drugs for systemic drug prevention of COVID-19.

Several studies show that people who continuously take anti-cholesterol statins are less likely to have a severe form of the disease and are less likely to get sick with coronavirus. An essential point of these studies is to clarify that people who have never taken statins should not take them for prevention since, in this case, the potential benefits are unknown, but the side effects and contraindications are known.

Systemic medications should not be taken without a specialist’s appointment as the harm may exceed the benefit.

Anti-Prophylaxis –  a preventable risks of infection

Ventilation in a closed room contributes to the spread of coronavirus

A room where there is no air supply from the street, or if there is a weak air supply, is already dangerous.

Air conditioners and split systems create an additional danger. Closed Windows and doors are necessary for their effective functioning. As a result, the system drives potentially contaminated air around in a circle, which negates maintaining social distance.

Publications in scientific journals also confirm the danger of using air conditioners. For example, the first of the large outbreaks of coronavirus in schools occurred in Israel. Abnormally hot weather forced the use of air conditioners in schools. As a result, 13.2% of students and 16.6% of staff were infected.

Air conditioners and split systems contribute to the spread of coronavirus infection.

An episodic decrease in immunity increases the risk of getting sick

The effectiveness of the immune system is not constant and depends on many factors.

Hypothermia of the body most often occurs in the autumn-winter period and is often the cause of colds. The mechanism of action is based on the deterioration of the immune system if a person is freezing. With such an episodic decrease in immunity, even a small dose of the pathogen is enough to get sick.

Also, the immune system weakens after intense sports training for 3-4 hours.

It is vital to strengthen prevention measures in case of hypothermia or after heavy physical exertion.

Obesity promotes hyper inflammation in COVID-19

Adipose tissue cells produce particular proteins that promote inflammation. An abundance of fatty tissue can trigger and then increase the inflammatory cascade in patients with COVID-19. Hyperinflammation-cytokine storm — is a severe form of the disease, often leading to sepsis and death. Therefore, obesity is a risk factor for COVID-19.

Due to dietary habits, obesity is often accompanied by a violation of the intestinal barrier function, which negatively affects the immune system. The previous paragraph’s recommendations, “Preventive diet and healthy lifestyle fundamentals,” are well suited to normalize the intestines’ work and reduce adipose tissue volume. If you follow these principles daily, the effect will be visible in a week.

Smoking reduces the protective function of the respiratory tract

Tobacco smoke contains about 4,000 toxic substances. Many of them are harmful to the respiratory epithelium: they reduce cell viability, inhibit antiviral functions, and cause inflammation of the mucous membrane.

Upper respiratory tract cells are the body’s first line of defense against dust and foreign microorganisms. Tobacco smoke facilitates the penetration of viral particles through the epithelial layer, increasing its permeability.

The lower respiratory tract of smokers is colonized by microorganisms that cause pneumonia and increase the immune system’s bacterial load: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus infuenzae.

Tobacco smoke also destroys the alveoli walls and capillary bed, which leads to an accelerated decrease in lung function. As a result, the alveoli of smokers are deformed, and their elasticity decreases. The shortness of breath of a smoker is associated with the destruction of elastic fibers that provide a natural gas exchange. During COVID-19, this process is compounded by a high viral load on the lungs and hyper inflammation, so smokers are more likely to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and respiratory failure.

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Alcohol suppresses the immune system and stimulates lung diseases

The effect of alcohol on the body begins with the gastrointestinal tract (GI). Alcohol damages intestinal epithelial cells and reduces the number of immune cells in the gastrointestinal tract. The systemic effect of alcohol on the body also begins in the gastrointestinal tract-the quantitative and species composition of the intestinal microbiome changes. As mentioned in the paragraph “Preventive diet and healthy lifestyle fundamentals,” intestinal bacteria affect the immune system of both the intestines and the entire body. Alcohol breaks this connection.

Alcohol weakens the entire immune system, reducing both innate and adaptive immunity. Alcohol disrupts the transmission of immune signals in the brain. Therefore, drinkers are predisposed to infectious diseases and systemic inflammation.

The adverse effects of alcohol on the liver are widely known. However, lung diseases are more common in drinkers. Alcohol disrupts the function of the respiratory epithelium and weakens its barrier properties. Therefore, there is a predisposition to pneumonia, ARDS, respiratory viral infections, tuberculosis. ARDS and sepsis accompany severe COVID-19. However, in alcoholics, due to the weakness of their immune system, these manifestations are registered with pneumonia and without COVID-19. Alcoholics have a more challenging time recovering, healing wounds, and physical injuries.

Alcohol and some medications use the same enzymatic pathway of metabolism. Therefore, the effectiveness of drugs is reduced due to increased decay. Also, alcohol increases the risk of toxic effects on the liver when using a popular antipyretic agent-paracetamol. And when taking aspirin, alcohol can cause bleeding.

Alcohol consumption is often accompanied by tobacco Smoking. Therefore, alcoholics and smokers are at risk not only for COVID-19 but also for age-related chronic diseases. In this group of people, chronic diseases occur about 10 years earlier.

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