What is COVID?
COVID is a SARS-CoV-2 corona virus that affects different people and different age groups in different ways. People with pre-existing heart, lung and systemic chronic issues are at higher risk for exhibiting great complications and can be affected with greater severity.
COVID is spread via droplets excreted from the respiratory tract of affected people.
Whether or not you believe in one or many conspiracy theories, COVID is here to say and we better just figure out how to protect ourselves and others. The virus has mutated numerous times since it was first identified and hopefully it will attenuate (weaken) with additional mutations.
The long-term side effects of COVID can be devastating. Long-term effects are defined as symptoms lasting longer than 8 weeks. https://covid.joinzoe.com/us-post/long-covid People who are more likely to have long-term side effects include the elderly, women, obese people, asthmatics and people with underlying health conditions.
One of my clients lost her sense of smell over 4 months ago. It hasn’t returned. Another woman thought she had a heat stroke but that was 3 ½ months ago. She still doesn’t have enough energy to get out of a wheelchair to do anything around the house let alone cook a meal for her family. Minimizing symptoms and attenuating them when you can may determine whether or not you keep a job or career when you’re well enough to get back to work.
Symptoms show up 2-14 days after exposure, although the average time is 3-5 days.
Treatment Options for COVID:
Currently there is no cure for COVID but treating the symptoms early is helpful in diminishing the severity of symptoms. Prevention is key! In my own practice, I’ve noticed a few things these last months.
Often people are low in Zinc. I’ve been recommending Zinc Lozenges (Nature’s Way or some other good brand without the artificial sweetener fillers). Be sure to eat seeds/nuts on a daily basis to cover the copper and selenium areas of deficiency.
The exhaustion is caused by a diminished quality of hemoglobin in the red cells. It takes 4 months for the flat bones in the body to produce new cells which then mature and are released into the bloodstream fully mature. If you eat raw Parsley (capsules are a second best choice) and Blackstrap Molasses from the beginning of diagnosis, this helps in creating a better quality hemoglobin for the cells. Indeed, my clients have tested they need these two items every time COVID has come up.
Adding in live pre and probiotic foods insures gut health which can participate in immune function up to 40%. So. . .raw milk yogurt, live raw unprocessed sauerkraut, fermented cranberries in honey, raw local honey—all of these are so much better/effective than capsules of probiotics. Many people love Kiefer and kombucha but these don’t seem to be as effective at the other foods listed above for creating an optimal gut flora.
Stay Hydrated: Drink water mostly but add in raw juices and herbal teas. Coffee and alcohol are dehydrating.
Strengthening your immune system however you can do that can help you prevent being hospitalized. Getting enough sleep, decreasing stress in your life (like that’s going to happen right now!), eating healthy raw/live foods, meditating, exercising and decreasing the negativity in your life all help the immune system.
Eat for Your Blood Type: Studies are revealing that Blood Type O people are less likely to end up in the hospital with COVID so paying attention to those foods that cause inflammation for your blood type would be helpful. So stay away from corn, lentils and chicken if you are blood type B. Eat your animal-based protein if you are a Blood Type O. Go vegetarian if you are Blood Type A. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2020283
Overall, foods that cause inflammation for all blood types include: Sugar, alcohol, trans-fats (margarine), processed meat and refined carbohydrates: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-foods-that-cause-inflammation#The-bottom-line
Elderberry products were thought by some to create a cytokine storm which is very dangerous, but the latest studies show that elderberry products can be used with COVID and do not react the same as the SARS virus from a decade ago. Reference: https://www.gaiaherbs.com/blogs/seeds-of-knowledge/the-facts-on-black-elderberry-and-covid-19
Are Masks Effective for COVID Protection?
Viral particles are quite small and do pass through the materials of face masks. Masks are NOT effective if they do not cover both the nose and the mouth or when masks do not fit snugly on the face.
I feel wearing a mask protects other from your spit. Masks filters out pollens, dust, molds, irritating particulate matter, parasites and may even protect against bacterial infections.
I would never want a surgeon performing an operation on me without masking up! If we can decrease the load of all of these other things in our body, it leaves energy to fight off any COVID we are exposed to.
Wearing a mask tells people that you care, that you are concerned and that you are trying to distance yourself by protecting yourself and other from dis-ease.
Wearing a mask should not be a political statement.
Types of COVID Tests:
The nasal swab test should be done a few days after exposure so there are enough viral particles on the swab. If the testing is done too soon then you can receive a false negative result. This test takes up to several days for results.
A blood test (Antibody test) tests for exposure. If positive, you have been exposed and have most likely recovered.
Breath Tests: A new non-invasive breath test is expected to be release around May, 2021.
120 Symptoms of COVID:
Time and again I’ve heard people say they didn’t have COVID and thought they had other disease processes. They excused away the symptoms because—well—they are such common symptoms for all kinds of diseases! But when symptoms start to pile up, or last longer than they should, a COVID test is in order. I’ve been compiling this list since the beginning of COVID in the news. Here’s what I have so far. . .
- Abdominal Pain
- Anemia
- Anxiety https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/many-covid-patients-diagnosed-with-psychiatric-disorders/ar-BB1aV4sn?li=BBnb7Kz
- Aphasia (Loss of Ability to Understand or Express Speech, Caused by Brain Damage)
- Back Pain, Lower
- Back Pain, Mid and at Base of Ribs
- Back Pain, Upper
- Blood Pressure, Increased
- Blood Pressure, Low
- Blood Pressure, Spikes
- Body Temperature, Abnormally Low
- Bones Ache-Especially in Extremities
- Brain, Delirium/Confusion/Hallucinations
- Brain, Inflammation
- Brain, Pressure
- Breath, Shortness of or Difficulty Breathing: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/what-coronavirus-does-to-the-lungs
- Breath, Shortness or Exhaustion from Bending Over
- Burning Sensations
- Calf Cramps
- Chest Pain, Persistent or Chest Pressure
- Chest Pain, Sharp or Sudden
- Chills but No Fever
- Confusion, Mental: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/expert-answers/coronavirus-unusual-symptoms/faq-20487367
- Costochondritis (Pain Where Ribs Attach to Spine or to Xyphoid Process)
- Cough
- COVID Toes: Can linger for months. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-11-02/for-some-survivors-covid-toes-rashes-can-linger-for-months
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (added 11/7/20) https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/doctors-examining-possible-link-between-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-and-covid-19/ar-BB1aN0sv
- Dandruff, Dry Scalp
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Ears, Clogged
- Epstein Barr Syndrome https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7427003/
- Exercise, Inability to-Just No Energy
- Eyes, Bloodshot
- Eyes, Dry
- Eyes, Light Sensitivity
- Eyes, Pinkeye
- Eyes, Swollen eyelids
- Eyes, Sties or Infections
- Eyes, Watering
- Fainting
- Fatigue (the #1 Symptom)
- Feet/Hands Swollen
- Fever or Chills
- Focus/Concentration Difficult
- Foot, Itching Along with Rash
- Foot, Pain
- GERD With Excessive Salivation
- Goiter or Lump in Throat
- Hair Loss
- Head, Extreme Pressure Base of Head (Involves Occipital Nerve)
- Headache
- Hearing Loss
- Heart, Arrhythmia
- Heart, Palpitations
- Heart, Racing (Tachycardia)
- Heartburn or Reflux
- Heat Intolerance
- Herpes, More Apt for it to Come Out
- Hiccoughs
- Hormone Imbalances
- Hot Blood Rush Feeling
- Irritable Feelings
- Jaw Pain
- Joint Pain
- Kidney Issues
- Kidney Pain
- Lips Chapped, Cracked and Very Dry
- Lips, Blue (Considered an Emergency!)
- Loss of Smell, Partial or Complete
- Lungs, Cold, Burning Feeling
- Lymph Nodes, Swollen
- Memory Problems
- Mis-A (Multi-Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults) Dusky red blotched in palms/soles + very chapped skin https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/a-rare-covid-19-complication-was-reported-in-children-now-its-showing-up-in-adults/ar-BB1a5H2v?li=BBnb7Kz&fbclid=IwAR3oTIlNf1ryALcm7fAYkAfD2WmIeGY72OFF_UC1mhdG5s0JTuHz1ePXU1U
- Mis-C (Multi-Inflammatory Syndrome in Children) Read more: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/children/mis-c.html
- Mouth Sores/Sore Tongue
- Muscle Body Aches
- Muscle Twitching
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Neck Muscle Pain
- Neck, Both Sides Throbbing Around Lymph Node Areas
- Nerve Sensations
- Nerves, Neuropathy of Feet/Hands
- Nerves, Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Night Sweats
- Nose, Congested or Runny
- Nose, Phantom Smells
- Nose, Post-Nasal Drip
- Numbness of Arm, Face
- Oxygen, Low Blood
- Pain, Hands or Wrist
- Parosmia (things smell different than they should be) added 11/5/20 https://abscent.org/nosewell/parosmia
- Personality Changes, Drastic
- Phlegm in Back of Throat
- Sadness
- Scalp Painful
- Skin, Burning Sensation
- Skin, Dry and Peeling
- Skin, Palms and Feet Red Blotchy Rash
- Skin, Rashes (3 Types: Hives, Chicken Pox like, chilblains on fingers/toes) https://covid.joinzoe.com/us-post/skin-rash-covid
- Sleep, Difficult
- Sleep, Inability to Wake or Stay Awake
- Sleeping More Than Usual
- Smell, Loss (Anosmia)
- Symptoms Change
- Taste, Changed Sense of
- Taste, Food Tastes Like Paper or Cardboard
- Taste, Partial or Complete Loss of
- Thirst, Constant
- Throat, Dry
- Throat, Sore
- Thrush (Yeast Infection in the Mouth and in the Tongue)
- Thyroid, Elevated (Hyperthyroidism)
- Tinnitus in Ears
- Tremors or Shakiness
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Urine, Protein in
- Veins, Bulging
- Vision, Blurry
- Vision, Floaters or Flashes of Light in Visual Field
- Weight, Gain
- Weight, Loss
Helpful Links and References for COVID:
- Center for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf
- Information on Testing: https://www.webmd.com/lung/coronavirus-testing#1
- FAQ’s on COVID: https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-frequently-asked-questions
- John Hopkins COVID Tracker: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
- Early Symptoms of COVID: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/coronavirus-early-symptoms#seeking-medical-help
