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Fighting Coronavirus with Zinc
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Friday, March 27, 2020
 

BY KAREN BOSSICK

Load up on zinc. But exercise caution with echinacea and elderberry.

That’s the advice of Dr. Steven Greenberg, a family medicine physician who practices out of St. Luke’s Hailey clinic during normal times.

Greenberg said most patients have mild symptoms and require little care. However, some patients-- regardless of risk factors or age--experience significant worsening of symptoms, typically from day seven to 10. Patients should seek care at any point if they feel their symptoms warrant medical attention.

Greenberg says coronavirus appears to be susceptible to the viral inhibitory actions of zinc. Taking between 15 and 30 milligrams of lozenges a day could potentially provide direct protective effects for the upper respiratory tract.

Greenberg offered additional recommendations to keep Blaine County residents healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday.

REDUCE RISK WITH:

Adequate sleep. Sleep ensures the secretion of melatonin, a molecule which may play a role in reducing coronavirus virulence. Too little sleep, by contrast, increases the risk of infectious illness.

Stress Management. Meditation, breathing exercises, guided imagery and other mindfulness techniques can reduce stress.

Zinc—Zinc can provide direct protective effects. Zinc lozenges release zinc slowly, which may prevent viruses from replicating or binding to cells in the throat and nose. 

Vegetables and Fruits. Eat at least five to seven servings of vegetables and two to three servings of fruits daily.

Vitamin C. Clinical trials have found that vitamin C shortens the frequency, duration and severity. Dosage should range from 500 milligrams to 3,000 milligrams daily. Even higher doses may be utilized during times of acute infection.

Melatonin. Typical doses recommended.

IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF AN INFECTION OR HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19:

Exercise caution with elderberry, medicinal mushrooms, echinacea and Vitamin D.

Note that there are no clinically evidence-based integrative prevention or treatment strategies for COVID-19 infection at this time.

If you have high fever, a worsening cough, flu-like symptoms or shortness of breath, call your health care provider for follow-up.

REMEMBER:

Stay home if you’re sick. Call St. Luke’s triage hotline at 208-381-9500 if you develop symptoms. If you experience severe symptoms, visit the emergency department. And, if you need immediate medical assistance, call 911.

Practice social distancing, even if you’re not showing symptoms.

Maintain good hygiene. Wash hands often. Keep surfaces around you clean and disinfected. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing. Avoid touching your face.

Seek testing only if necessary. Testing is being prioritized for those who have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for the virus and are experiencing symptoms such as fever greater than 100 degrees, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, gastrointestinal symptoms and body aches.

Call St. Luke’s hotline with questions at 208-381-9500.

 

RECOMENDACIONES PARA MANTENERTE SALUDABLE DURANTE LA PANDEMIA COVID-19

Además de nuestras recomendaciones de rutina para mantener una hidratación adecuada y una buena higiene, estos son algunos pasos adicionales que pueden tener algunos beneficios.

LA REDUCCIÓN DE RIESGOS

Sueño adecuado: una menor duración del sueño aumenta el riesgo de enfermedades infecciosas. El sueño adecuado también asegura la secreción de melatonina, una molécula que puede desempeñar un papel en la reducción de la virulencia del coronavirus.

• Manejo del estrés: varias técnicas de atención plena como la meditación, ejercicios de respiración, imágenes guiadas, etc. reducen el estrés.

• Zinc: el coronavirus parece ser susceptible a las acciones inhibitorias virales del zinc. La dosis diaria típica de zinc es de 15 mg - 30 mg diarios con pastillas que proporcionan efectos protectores directos en el tracto respiratorio superior.

• Verduras y frutas: al menos 5 a 7 porciones de verduras y 2 a 3 porciones de fruta al día.

• Vitamina C: los ensayos clínicos han encontrado que la vitamina C acorta la frecuencia, la duración y la gravedad de los rangos de 500 mg a 3000 mg al día con dosis aún más altas utilizadas en tiempos de infección aguda.

• Melatonina: se recomienda la dosificación típica de melatonina, en dosis típicas.

DURANTE LOS SÍNTOMAS DE INFECCIÓN O PRUEBA POSITIVA PARA COVID-19

• Se debe tener precaución con los siguientes agentes inmuno activadores:

o saúco

o hongos medicinales

o equinácea

o vitamina D

• También es importante reiterar que no existen estrategias integrales de prevención o tratamiento clínicamente basadas en la evidencia para la infección por COVID-19.

Afortunadamente para la mayoría de las infecciones individuales tiene síntomas leves. La distancia social y los hábitos saludables son su mejor defensa. Si a pesar de estas sugerencias si desarrolla alguno de los siguientes:

 


  • Fiebre alta
  • Empeoramiento de la tos.
  • Síntomas parecidos a la gripe
  • falta de aliento

 

 

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