My opinion on coronavirus
Following the recent vicissitudes of the spread of coronavirus in Europe and having to answer daily to many questions of my patients about it, here are my thoughts and my suggestions. I want to specify that I am not a virologist, but I have been dealing with health for a few years. Furthermore, since a few colleagues and students of the osteopathy community asked for my idea about this situation, here it is.
As the World Health Organisation states “Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death”.
It is fundamental to underline a very peculiar characteristic of this virus. As statistics have shown so far, it is not extremely deadly, but it can be.
However, it is extremely contagious.
This is the main point I would like my readers to focus on.
Because really, it is all about that.
But why?
Because this is the most powerful weapon, we currently have against a pandemic scenario like this. There is no cure, so the best thing to do is to contain and isolate the virus, to prevent it from affecting other people.
Something that made me reflect a lot was knowing that about 80% of people who contract the virus recover without specific treatments, as they would heal from a common influenza. These people must go through strict quarantine periods (for this virus It has been estimated to be at least 14 days) for the chain of contagion to stop. The following piece of the chain may not have an enough powerful immune system.
In my opinion, there are currently many more cases than those found. Particularly in the UK, the government seems to have adopted a debatable way of dealing with the virus. For what it would be historically called “reason of state”, the approach has been, “we deal with it quietly”.
By definition, the reason of state
“it is the set of priorities relating to the survival and security of the state, which can lead the political decision-maker to justify possible transgressions of the rights or the moral codes of individual persons.”
Which is different from saying “there is no virus in the UK”.
Can this minimise damages to the society? Only the time will tell.
What we know is that many people underestimate the symptoms and underestimate the harm they could do to the people next to them. And bear in mind, this does not happen out of ignorance, everyone knows that the virus circulates, this happens because the virus has been underestimated, since the very beginning when it was born in China.
What does this really mean?
It means that during this period of time, when out of home, whether you have symptoms or not, you should be wearing a mask. This is not because your immune system is weak, or to protect you to catch the virus. This is because of something called common sense and intelligence. In fact, you could be already be infected and not experience any symptom at all (incubation period, 14 days ish). What is even worse is that, during this period of time you would inadvertently and unconsciously pass the virus to other people. You wear a mask to protect the others, not to protect yourself.
Too much unselfishness?
It is the appropriate time to be unselfish.
Play clever.
So what do we have to do?
1. Report to the competent authorities if you are experiencing one of the following (at any degree of severity): shortness of breath; difficulty breathing; cough; high temperature/fever.
2. Scrupulously observe the rules of correct personal hygiene.
3. Help your immune system to work at its best.
From this part of the blog on, advices need to be applied to the current disposition of your country regarding the virus. I do recognise these may not be able to be followed in every country.
What can we do to help our immune system?
Since this is historically the first time that the human being encounters this virus, it is essential to have an organism ready to defend itself. Under normal conditions, our immune system is able to defeat this virus.
Here are the best and most effective way to strengthen our immune system and make it more efficient:
● Follow a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
● Exercising regularly and sleep at least 7-8 hours per night: researches have shown that sedentary people and those who sleep less get sick more easily than individuals with an active life and those who sleep 7-8 hours per night.
● Manage stress: regularly find time for yourself
● do not smoke and do not exceed the use of alcohol
● maintain under control body weight and blood pressure
Can osteopathy help our immune system?
To those who have asked me if it is safe to practice and undergo osteopathic treatments in this period, Here is my answer. For the above mentioned reasons, in a healthcare clinic, and during the execution of manual therapies, there is the possibility of contagion. This would always be less than the chance of getting infected in a subway or a bar. Since it is assumed that a clinic follows high standards of hygiene.
In my personal case, I am currently working, helping people in need. Some of my patients are currently in London specifically to get medical treatments. I have always followed strict hygiene rules other than the normal personal and room hygiene. These include washing hands before and after each patient and cleaning them with disinfectant every time I leave the room. I recently increased these simple steps, with disinfecting the bed and everything that comes into contact with patients, for each patient during the day.
This being said, there is something good osteopathy could do in a preventative way.
During the influenza pandemic of 1917, a research study reported that osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) decreased the mortality rate from 5% to 0.25% among 100,000 patients.
Osteopathic lymphatic techniques have long been associated with an improved healing response in the cellular tissues. Lymphatic techniques may enhance treatment by increasing lymphatic flow and fluid removal and enhancing filtration and removal of inflammatory mediators and waste products.
Osteopathy “pump techniques” can also target airways and improve breathing function.
OMT has been found helpful in the treatment of people suffering from pneumonia and airways illnesses, through improvement of the mechanics of breathing and fluidic flow in our body.
Another way osteopathy can help our immune system is through relaxation. Research has shown that manipulative treatments induce the production of relaxation molecules such as endocannabinoids.
Let’s be mindful protecting ourselves and our society.
Bibliography:
Knott EM, Tune JD, Stoll ST, Downey HF. Increased Lymphatic Flow in the Thoracic Duct During Manipulative Intervention. J Am Osteopath Assoc2005;105(10):447–456.
Seffinger MA, Rich J. Lymphatic Pump OMT Releases Cytokines Into Central Circulation. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2014;114(7):587–588.
Smith RK. One hundred thousand cases of influenza with a death rate of one-fortieth of that officially reported under conventional medical treatment. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1920;19:172-175.
Yao, S., Hassani, J., Gagne, M., George, G., Gilliar, W. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment as a Useful Adjunctive Tool for Pneumonia. J. Vis. Exp. (87), e50687, doi:10.3791/50687 (2014).
