6 Precautions To Help Prevent Catching Coronavirus

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 14:48:00 +0000

Dear Friends,

We’re all getting inundated with news of the coronavirus epidemic, and with starting to see a handful of cases in the greater Houston area, I thought a little practical summary of what to do would be helpful. At the end of this paragraph, there will be some links to authoritative websites for further reading.

This is an RNA type virus, called a Novel coronavirus SARS-C0V-2, and is the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The virus can be transmitted both from animals to people, and people to people. Usually, to catch this, there has to be close contact with an infected person (less than 6 feet distance) for some time, or exposure to respiratory secretions (cough droplets or saliva) that land on furniture or other objects.

Who should get tested?

Persons with fever and or symptoms of acute respiratory illness (cough, trouble breathing) AND who have either traveled within the preceding 2 weeks to affected countries (China, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Iran,) or have been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case.

What precautions can an individual take to help prevent catching coronavirus?

Avoid shaking hands, instead, use a fist bump or some other greeting
Use your knuckle to touch a light switch, elevator button, use a paper towel or napkin to lift gasoline dispenser, use a napkin to open doors or open with a hip or closed fist (especially high traffic areas.) The virus is transmitted from hand to mouth and nose, so keep the fingers and palm as germ-free as possible. People touch their face, nose, and mouth at least 3.5 times per hour, basically self-inoculating. Use a tissue and avoid this habit.
Wash hands with soap and water a good 20 seconds, and use sanitizer everywhere elsewhere that’s not possible, especially upon return from public areas with high human traffic. Use the sanitizers provided at supermarkets. Keep sanitizers in the car and purse.
Always cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard; sneezing into the sleeve area would keep germs there for a week.
Use disinfectants such as Lysol, to clean surfaces where others have been, think of judicious use of nitrile or latex gloves for cleaning purposes. A mask (N-95) is useful to put on if you are the one coughing, does not do too much to prevent catching the virus in general (although useful if you are a health care worker exposed to lots of folks who are coughing.)
Keep your immune system strong. The people who get into trouble with any infection, are the very young, the very old and the very sick. Tips: stay warm in cold weather, sleep enough, eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Keep stress levels as low as possible and keep exercising. There may be a small benefit, although of questionable significance, from taking Vitamin C and Zinc supplement in terms of shortening the duration of a cold, but if you do, do not use the intranasal form of zinc as it can cause subsequent problems with the sense of smell.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-criteria.html

https://coronavirus.baylorcme.org/professionals/resources.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/what-you-need-know-about-coronavirus-or-covid-19

Brief Health Review: Talc Powder

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 14:12:00 +0000

Talc is a natural mineral made up of four elements: magnesium, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen. It is the softest mineral available and is used in powder form, in cosmetics and makeup, and paint. Talc has been used since times of antiquity and in the United States has been marketed for diaper rash by Johnson and Johnson since 1893. There still is a great deal of controversy regarding the role of talc in causing cancer and respiratory disease, and there has been a discussion of its role in ovarian, endometrial, and lung cancer. No clear findings have emerged, aside from a possible weak link to ovarian cancer as mentioned below. In infants, serious aspiration of the powder can take place, and great caution should be taken (Mofenson et al, Pediatrics, August 1981.)

The FDA very recently reported that “out of an abundance of caution” Johnson and Johnson is voluntarily stating a recall in the US of a specific batch of Johnson’s Baby Powder, in response to an FDA test indicating the presence of “sub-trace levels of chrysotile asbestos” contamination (Lot #22318RB) The report (FDA web bulletin Oct 18, 2019) mentions the claim of the Johnson and Johnson company ascertaining that testing over the past 40 years have shown that their consumer products do not contain asbestos. In case you use that product, you might check the lot number. Of recent interest are the legal advertisements about ovarian cancer and its relationship to talc powder use. Reportedly, over 6000 lawsuits have been filed, mostly from women with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer who have alledged they got the disease after years of using talc powder on their genital area (Healthline.com)

The American Cancer Society has published helpful material on talcum powder which is a mineral similar to the cancer-causing asbestos, and often mined in close proximity to where the other is mined. That article mentions that studies show mixed results in terms of causality or relationship between talc use and ovarian cancer, and quotes the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, which stated that asbestos-free talc is not classifiable as to carcinogenicity (cancer-causing potential) in humans, but that use of talc on the groin/genital area is “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

A report published in 2018 reviewed 27 studies, looking into this possible association between talc and ovarian cancer found in conclusion a “weak but statistically significant association.” (Berge et al, European Cancer Prevention May 2018) The aggregate relative risk for ovarian cancer in talc powder users was 1.24. In other words, a 24% increase in the risk of getting ovarian cancer in those exposed to talc.

Most talc comes from China and is presumably asbestos-free, but how much of it undergoes rigorous testing is an unanswered question.

What are some alternatives to talc-based baby powder? Consider corn starch powders, arrowroot starch or tapioca starch powders, oat flour, and zinc-based diaper rash ointments (source: Healthline.com).

The Center For Occupational Medicine - Blog

6 Precautions To Help Prevent Catching Coronavirus

Who should get tested?

What precautions can an individual take to help prevent catching coronavirus?

Brief Health Review: Talc Powder