Well, well, well. What do we have here? It seems we have a stubborn virus that cannot take the hint that it is not wanted. We all know it as Coronavirus or COVID-19. Warning: There is a lot of information sooooo sorry. Since we are still learning about COVID-19, the information in this post is not finite.
First off, what is COVID-19? The (CO) stands for corona, the (VI) stands for virus, the (D) stands for disease, and the (19) of course stands 2019 for when it was introduced to us.
The outbreak started in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China and has spread internationally. According to Intermountain Health Care, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory illness in people and animals. There are several coronaviruses that infect people and it is similar to a common cold. However, here is the kicker, two coronaviruses caused severe illnesses in people, SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). Thus brings us to how COVID-19 was born from the coronavirus SARA-CoV-2. Fun right? *Note the sarcasm.
Symptoms
It takes 2-14 days for symptoms to show, and if you have COVID-19 it can range from mild or no symptoms to severe illness. I have below what to watch out for:
Common Symptoms
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Dry cough
- Shortness of breath
Other Symptoms
- Sore throat
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Stuffy nose
- Chills
- Diarrhea
Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself 🙂
Now it is a scary world at the moment, so it is important to learn how to prevent yourself from catching the virus. So what should you do?
- 6 FEET APART PEOPLE! As for now, we know that the virus spreads from person to person contact. So please everyone, practice social distancing.
- Wash your hands with soap and water frequently. Sing a good ol’ 20 second song while washing to make sure you’re squeaky clean.
- Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
- When going out to public places, wear a mask. We do not want to be inhaling that virus. The CDC advises anyone who is near anyone to wear a cloth face covering. As you all are aware, there is a shortage of the different face mask out there. So why not make your own? If you need some help, this TIME article has a great step by step guide for sewing and non-sewing enthusiast. If homemade face masks are not the route for you, Herbal Concepts have cotton face masks available such as the one I am wearing in the photo.
- To wear gloves or not to wear gloves? That is the question. When you wear gloves, they are supposed to be worn for one particular task. Once that task is finished, dispose of them. I know it seems like the right thing to do to wear gloves to the store. However, if you keep the same pair of gloves while touching and picking up all different items in the store and then touching your wallets and purses to pay, guess where all those germs are going. EVERYWHERE! So the best route to go is to do basic hand washing and use hand sanitizer in between.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. For the best way to clean, the CDC was kind enough to show us how to disinfect and clean properly. To find out more click here.
- Now onto health and wellness! I know it is hard, especially right now, but try to destress. A healthy mind is a healthy body. I am not telling you to pop a squat and meditate unless that is your vice then power to you. However, find something that brings you joy and keeps you at ease.
- Let’s get physical! It is the time to make sure your body is in tip-top shape in order to combat illnesses. A great benefit to exercising is that it makes you feel happier. It increases the production of endorphins, which decreases feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress. Remember when I said a healthy mind is a healthy body?
- Maintain a healthy and strong immune system. There are many ways to do this. Lucky for you I have compiled a list of tips and tricks to do that:
- Eat more whole plant foods like fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and legumes. I know this is a no brainer, but it never hurts to be reminded. As Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.”
- Consume more healthy fats. I know…another no brainer. Foods like olive oil, salmon, and chia seeds are full of omega-3 that will help fight off inflammation.
- Say yes to fermented foods. This could include yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir. Fermented foods are rich in beneficial bacterias called probiotics, which populate your digestive tract. Why is that important? Well a healthy gut means that your gastrointestinal tract has a good balance of bacteria. That will help your body obtain energy from the food you eat, get rid of toxins, and fight off viruses and bacteria. 🙂
- Lastly…make sure you stay hydrated! An adult body is made up of 50-60% water, so if you are not staying hydrated just think about what that is doing to your body. Before you say it, alcohol does not count. I know during this time it is easy to consume copious amounts of alcohol, BUT drinking excessive amounts of alcohol actually weakens your immune system. So tread lightly and drink plenty of water.
Phew that was a lot. But guess what? THERE’S MORE!
How Can I Help?
There are plenty of ways to help others during this devastating time. So here are a couple of options that will definitely make a difference
- Community
- Check on your neighbors or anyone you know and see if they are doing okay and if they need anything. This is a time for all of us to come together and be there for one another.
- Volunteer! There are many ways to volunteer, even if it is making weekly phone calls to the elderly. The smallest things make the biggest difference. At Volunteer Match they post plenty of opportunities to volunteer.
- Please only pick up what you NEED from the grocery store. I know we all need to be stocked and try to limit the amount of time going to the grocery store. However, just think about the many people who cannot get their hands on products because people keep clearing out the shelves. Not only that but think about the amount of food wasted. According to RTS (Recycle Track System) on a regular and not a global pandemic, each year 40 tons of food in the U.S. is wasted. That is $161 billion, which approximately is 219 lbs of waste per person, and that makes up 30-40% of the U.S. food supply. So yeah…let’s stop being greedy.
- Make a donation. There are many different charities and organizations that are looking for help during this pandemic. So if you have the ability to donate money or food, it definitely will be greatly appreciated.
- Support your local restaurants. You can do that by ordering take-out from them, buying a gift card, or some restaurants have converted to a mini grab-and-go market.
- Nurses/Doctors
- We know these wonderful nurses and doctors are working on overdrive to tend to all of these patients. If you feel sick, instead of going to the hospital first, Emory made C19 where you can check your risk for COVID-19 or you can call your primary doctor or urgent care to see what next steps you should take.
- If you would like to donate, check your hospital to see what supplies they need and how to donate them.
- Run errands for higher-risk people. If you can volunteer to help those in need than that is one less person in the hospital.
- Give blood. There are not just COVID-19 patients in the hospitals right now. Blood supply is low, so if you are a healthy individual and check off all the requirements then consider donating blood to the American Red Cross.
- Send food! Donate food to the hospitals or to different food banks like Feeding the Frontline . Make sure you check with the hospitals to find out what is the best way to donate food. Also instead of meals, it is actually better to donate snacks. Nurses and doctors do not have a lot of time to sit down and enjoy a full meal. So a quick, on the go pick me up is perfect!
In general, we should give our thanks and gratitude to all the essential workers. Donate money or food if you can, volunteer if you are available, or simply just tell them thank you. It is a hard time right now, but it is the perfect time for us to come together and bring positivity and kindness to the world.
I would like to state again that info in this post is not solidified because we are still learning about COVID-19, so things could change. I purposely did not include what you should do if you are sick because I am not a health care professional. Please, if you happen to be sick, consult a doctor right away. The best overall thing to do, and this goes for everyone, is to social distance and make sure you are taking care of yourself. So I wish everyone safety and health! 🙂