Source - Management Forensics Institute
Audience Rating - General Audience
Audience Rating - General Audience
Findings from studies that may add up to our arsenal of tools 🛠 🧰 to strengthen our Respiratory Tract (RT) health under attack by viruses 🦠
This nano-article takes a forensic look at viruses, respiratory health, and what proactive methods can be examined towards improving one's respiratory tract health. Also, how many know that humans and certain viruses live a somewhat symbiotic relationship, that we depend on each other.
The following evidences published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) examine how one's respiratory tract health can be boosted in ways that may help prevent infection or at least alleviate the symptoms earlier rather than later. This may be especially crucial to note in light of the prevailing threat of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic for which we still await the correct immunization treatments whether antiviral medications or vaccination.
These proactive immune efficiency tips, techniques, and strategies studied by the epidemiology experts as published in the NIH studies, in conjunction with the hygiene practices of thorough hand-washing, covering one's sneeze or cough aerosols, and keeping strict distances, lockdowns, quarantines, and staying away may altogether help us to reduce the spread and rate of infections and mortality rate from respiratory tract infections.
Evidence A - A combination of Heat and Humidity
Studies have shown that the combination of higher temperatures and higher humidity plays an important role in reducing the incidences of infections. As reported by Business Insider (1) “... Their study found that, for every 1.8-degree Fahrenheit (1-degree Celsius) increase in temperature and 1% increase in relative humidity, the coronavirus' R0 value decreased by 0.04 and 0.02, respectively. So, for example, if the virus has an R0 value of 2, an 18-degree Fahrenheit increase would drop the R0 value to 1.6: a 20% decrease....”. Consider the situation at the start of the flu season around the Fall season where we have a lower temperature and possible variations of humidity, is it possible that an incorrect combination of heat and humidity may be attributed to the influx of the flu season? More studies may still need to be done to conclusively prove this condition. Might the temperature and humidity levels in your home adversely impact your ability to defend against infections in the respiratory-tract?
In an NIH study (2) it was identified that the humidity level in our respiratory tract is at 100% while we know our body temperature is usually at about 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintaining the proper levels of these factors may play an important role in how we avoid infections. How about the possibilities of ingesting foods that are warm and about rinsing and gargling with warm water?
Evidence B - The positive effect of moderate intensity exercise
In an NIH study (3) the following was identified that "...Cross-sectional and longitudinal data suggests persons who engage in regular moderate intensity exercise maintain a reduced risk of self-reported respiratory symptoms. Additionally, work from our laboratory and others demonstrates moderate intensity exercise performed prior to infection ... or infectious symptoms ... reduces respiratory virus-associated mortality in animals. In contrast, intense exercise before or during viral infection has been associated with greater morbidity and mortality..."
Evidence C - Vitamin D and respiratory tract health
In an NIH study (4) the following was identified that "...Vitamin D is now known to be of physiological importance outside of bone health and calcium homeostasis, and there is mounting evidence that it plays a beneficial role in the prevention and/or treatment of a wide range of diseases. In this brief review the known effects of vitamin D on immune function are described in relation to respiratory health. Vitamin D appears capable of inhibiting pulmonary inflammatory responses while enhancing innate defence mechanisms against respiratory pathogens..."
Evidence D - Adequate Hydration and respiratory tract health
In another NIH study (5) it was identified that inadequate hydration resulted in too much mucus adhesion which could result in infections.
Evidence E - Echinacea and Black Elderberries for respiratory tract health
In another NIH study (6) it was identified that "...Recently, for the first time a herbal medicine, echinacea, was trialled in travellers and showed protective effect against the development of respiratory symptoms during travel involving long-haul flights [11]...". Additionally, the study indicates that "...However, there are other herbs that have traditionally been used to treat respiratory symptoms and aid in the recuperation from a cold. Black elderberries for example, are well known to be supportive agents against common cold and flu like symptoms and have been used for centuries [12]. Interestingly, a non-travel related clinical trial just revealed that a combination of echinacea herb and root extract supplemented with elderberry (Sambucus nigraL.) can be as effective as the conventional antiviral medicine oseltamivir for the early treatment of influenza [13]..."
References
(1) Business Insider: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-cases-flu-like-drop-linked-with-high-heat-humidity-2020-3%3famp
(2) NIH Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3457514/
(3) NIH Study-Moderate Intensity Exercise: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2803113/
(4) NIH Study-Vitamin D: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2759054/
(5) NIH Study-Hydration: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2658694/
(6) NIH Study-Herbal Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848651/
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The following evidences published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) examine how one's respiratory tract health can be boosted in ways that may help prevent infection or at least alleviate the symptoms earlier rather than later. This may be especially crucial to note in light of the prevailing threat of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic for which we still await the correct immunization treatments whether antiviral medications or vaccination.
These proactive immune efficiency tips, techniques, and strategies studied by the epidemiology experts as published in the NIH studies, in conjunction with the hygiene practices of thorough hand-washing, covering one's sneeze or cough aerosols, and keeping strict distances, lockdowns, quarantines, and staying away may altogether help us to reduce the spread and rate of infections and mortality rate from respiratory tract infections.
Evidence A - A combination of Heat and Humidity
Studies have shown that the combination of higher temperatures and higher humidity plays an important role in reducing the incidences of infections. As reported by Business Insider (1) “... Their study found that, for every 1.8-degree Fahrenheit (1-degree Celsius) increase in temperature and 1% increase in relative humidity, the coronavirus' R0 value decreased by 0.04 and 0.02, respectively. So, for example, if the virus has an R0 value of 2, an 18-degree Fahrenheit increase would drop the R0 value to 1.6: a 20% decrease....”. Consider the situation at the start of the flu season around the Fall season where we have a lower temperature and possible variations of humidity, is it possible that an incorrect combination of heat and humidity may be attributed to the influx of the flu season? More studies may still need to be done to conclusively prove this condition. Might the temperature and humidity levels in your home adversely impact your ability to defend against infections in the respiratory-tract?
In an NIH study (2) it was identified that the humidity level in our respiratory tract is at 100% while we know our body temperature is usually at about 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintaining the proper levels of these factors may play an important role in how we avoid infections. How about the possibilities of ingesting foods that are warm and about rinsing and gargling with warm water?
Evidence B - The positive effect of moderate intensity exercise
In an NIH study (3) the following was identified that "...Cross-sectional and longitudinal data suggests persons who engage in regular moderate intensity exercise maintain a reduced risk of self-reported respiratory symptoms. Additionally, work from our laboratory and others demonstrates moderate intensity exercise performed prior to infection ... or infectious symptoms ... reduces respiratory virus-associated mortality in animals. In contrast, intense exercise before or during viral infection has been associated with greater morbidity and mortality..."
Evidence C - Vitamin D and respiratory tract health
In an NIH study (4) the following was identified that "...Vitamin D is now known to be of physiological importance outside of bone health and calcium homeostasis, and there is mounting evidence that it plays a beneficial role in the prevention and/or treatment of a wide range of diseases. In this brief review the known effects of vitamin D on immune function are described in relation to respiratory health. Vitamin D appears capable of inhibiting pulmonary inflammatory responses while enhancing innate defence mechanisms against respiratory pathogens..."
Evidence D - Adequate Hydration and respiratory tract health
In another NIH study (5) it was identified that inadequate hydration resulted in too much mucus adhesion which could result in infections.
Evidence E - Echinacea and Black Elderberries for respiratory tract health
In another NIH study (6) it was identified that "...Recently, for the first time a herbal medicine, echinacea, was trialled in travellers and showed protective effect against the development of respiratory symptoms during travel involving long-haul flights [11]...". Additionally, the study indicates that "...However, there are other herbs that have traditionally been used to treat respiratory symptoms and aid in the recuperation from a cold. Black elderberries for example, are well known to be supportive agents against common cold and flu like symptoms and have been used for centuries [12]. Interestingly, a non-travel related clinical trial just revealed that a combination of echinacea herb and root extract supplemented with elderberry (Sambucus nigraL.) can be as effective as the conventional antiviral medicine oseltamivir for the early treatment of influenza [13]..."
References
(1) Business Insider: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-cases-flu-like-drop-linked-with-high-heat-humidity-2020-3%3famp
(2) NIH Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3457514/
(3) NIH Study-Moderate Intensity Exercise: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2803113/
(4) NIH Study-Vitamin D: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2759054/
(5) NIH Study-Hydration: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2658694/
(6) NIH Study-Herbal Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848651/
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