by Anne Scheck
SPECIAL REPORT: HOME TREATMENT
A Personal note: It was a hassle for me this week getting my usual thyroid medication. The pharmacy said a call-in from my physician was needed; I then scaled a frustrating hurdle with the doctor’s office. Maintaining regular medication is a basic recommendation during the coronavirus crisis for older people like me. But, like any challenge, this one was instructive: Self-advocacy and self-help may be a good course of action if I ever start to come down with suspicious symptoms. So, I took to the internet – it now seems a good tool for staying abreast of developments – and what follows is my plan for self-care if ever I experience early signs of COVID-19, which has an onset that can seem similar to a flu or cold. This isn’t medical advice– it’s my personal approach to do what I hope keeps me from unneeded contact with healthcare providers, who may become incredibly busy, perhaps overwhelmed. If you’d like to know why I’m sharing such personal information, there’s an explanation at the end of this Linking Letter.
1) Isn’t there a better way for me to determine the possibility of COVID-19 if I ever have a slight cough or sniffly nose? I don’t want to clog up the health system unnecessarily or expose myself to the truly sick.
A couple of well-credentialed physicians at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine have developed a simple online question-and-answer tool to help. It’s found at: https://gehrCOVIDtriage.akidolabs.com
2) I wonder why one of our local stores ran out of zinc. Is this mineral really that effective? The shelves were emptied of it…
Zinc certainly appears to be popular for common colds, and some colds are caused by coronaviruses – but not by the one that causes COVID-19. And though zinc does seem promising, “there remains much to be learned regarding the anti-viral mechanisms and clinical benefit of zinc supplementation as a preventive and therapeutic treatment for viral infections,” according to a report last year in the journal Advances in Nutrition from a health team led by Scott Read PhD, of Australia’s Westmead Institute for Medical Research. Also, too much zinc can cause health issues; You can read all about zinc where I did, at the National Institutes of Health: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-Consumer/
3) I keep hearing about having an occasional drink, a “quarantini,” to get through this – a martini or other alcoholic drink to relax while we’re all asked to stay home. OK, I confess I’ve imbibed “hot toddies” for a cold when I had stopped-up sinuses. I wonder if a steady habit of liquor helps?
No, not when it comes to the human immune system. Doctors have long observed a link between excessive alcohol consumption and “adverse immune-related health effects, such as susceptibility to pneumonia,” according to a research group from Rutgers University in New Jersey, who published their findings five years ago in Alcohol Research: Current Reviews. Since then, more information has been stacking up to support these findings.
4) On my internet search, I found conflicting information about an over-the-counter medicine for fever. Is there one I shouldn’t take?
Anthony Fauci MD, who’s now becoming a household name, said during a podcast interview with the editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Medical Association that he doesn’t know how this information arose. To bring the temperature down in common cases of fever, “Tylenol every six hours is the way to go,” said Dr. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
5) This is all so confusing! Flu, colds and COVID-19 all can bring on a cough. A runny nose and sore throat are usual signs of cold and flu, but can’t COVID-19 cause the same symptoms? And both COVID-19 and flu can cause a fever. I wonder how I can know when fever, or any symptoms for that matter, take an alarming turn for the worse?
The Everett Clinic, part of a large healthcare system in Washington State – the state where the very first case of COVID-19 was reported -- lists these as red flags, meaning they need to be reported right away – and medical help may be warranted.
· Persistent temperature elevation greater than 103-104 degrees despite fever medication
· Bloody sputum or increasing chest pain
· Increasing difficulty getting your breath
· Stiff neck preventing bending neck and placing chin on chest
6) Suppose I am at home, and someone is having to take care of me because I’m not feeling well. What, aside from the usual recommendations, is there I could do?
That’s one problem with the internet -- misinformation can spread. Many news agencies are warning that a saltwater-gargling regimen isn’t treatment for COVID-19 nor is it preventive, though it’s certainly made the rounds on social media. Gargling with warm saltwater -- 1/2 tsp salt to half-a-glass of water – can help ease a sore throat. And drinking fluids is widely recommended, especially water. And COVID-19 virus hasn’t been detected in drinking water, so our good ol’ Independence H20 seems a good choice. “Conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those in most municipal drinking water systems, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
7) Is there anything I can do to help keep my husband safe if he needs to take care of me, should I need it?
Well, the usual recommendations for disinfection are well known by now, and need to be practiced. But there’s one CDC guideline that seems to have escaped wide notice: air ventilation. “Make sure that shared spaces in the home have good air flow, such as by an air conditioner or an opened window, weather permitting,” is the way the CDC puts it.
8) I wonder why I don’t seem more anxious. True, I’m feeling fine, but I’m in a risk group – maybe a good target for COVID-19. Hmmm. Why am I not more fearful?
I live here, that’s why. It’s where so many have been compliant with the containment measures; where people are busy making masks from their own material for healthcare providers; where neighbors are making grocery runs for people truly elderly. It’s like what was said by epidemiologist Emily Landon MD, in a broadcast by the University of Chicago: “We can slow the curve of this epidemic and, hopefully, it will fall under our capacity.” I think that’s what we’re doing right here, right now, in our corner of Polk County.
Summary of MINET Announcement:
"The rapidly changing COVID-19 environment means new demands and stress on ALL internet networks and providers worldwide. This holds true for MINET/WVF as well. While we have the bandwidth to handle the increased number of remote workers, and the bursts in unexpected traffic that come with video downloading or web conferencing we are also dependent upon the performance of our upstream providers, their capacities and their network reliability. We fully understand that more than ever, our customers need to stay connected. You can be sure that MINET/WVF is taking every step to make sure all our customers can stay on line and in touch. Our engineering support and technicians will continue to staff and monitor our network operations center 24/7 to ensure our network performance and reliability."
Summary of City Announcement:
For internet users who need it, Wi-Fi is available at the library parking lot and in Riverview Park. The Independence Police Department (IPD) is open, but the IPD is urging the public to call to report non-emergencies or when seeking general information from an officer. The non-emergency telephone number is 503-838-1214. City parks are open, but those taking advantage of them need to implement social distancing and take precautions, like hand-washing or sanitizer use for personal-hygiene safety.
The entire library building now is closed to the public. E-resources and download-able periodicals can be accessed at the website: https://www.ci.independence.or.us/library.
There will be no late charges, door-hanger notices or water shutoffs for late utility bills through the end of April. The city is encouraging use of its online site Xpress Bill Pay. Visit xpressbillpay.com. “It’s a secure, convenient way to view your balance and make a payment without the need for mailing,” according to city staff. For help with this or your account, you can contact 503-838-1212 or Xpress at 1-800-766-2350.
A FINAL COMMENT:
I must have been about 10 years old on the day the creek I was exploring rose in a sudden summer storm. I’d been told not to play in it. There had been calls to my mother to keep me from wandering the creek beds in my Kansas town. But, in a place so flat, the meandering little waterway held me in its thrall: every rock overturned was revealing, crayfish scooted and tadpoles darted. On that day, I was in a culvert. These are tunnels made of concrete, to direct the flow of water under streets. I didn’t hear the rain – I only saw the water rise. It came so fast I had only a moment to think. I wasn’t a strong swimmer but I wasn’t a fast runner, either. And I knew water slowed my legs. So I dove in, dog-paddling, as water filled the tunnel. Then I held my breath and frog-kicked as long as I could before I surfaced. I’d made it out. I popped up on the other side, gulping for air. I never told anyone. But I thought about it a lot. I’d made the right call: plunging in. It did occur me to recount how the water helped carry me out when I was in it – in a way that wouldn’t have happened if I’d tried to run. But if I’d shared my secret, I would have been barred from the creek I loved. A year or two later, I saw my mother’s face crumple one day reading our hometown newspaper. A boy had been caught in a culvert during a heavy rain; He’d tried to outrun the rising water. He’d drowned. So, every once in a while, I irritate someone when I share a safety remedy or a health tip I’ve learned, which I do only when I think they could benefit from it. I have done so in this Linking Letter, thinking of that creek. -end-
SPECIAL REPORT: HOME TREATMENT
A Personal note: It was a hassle for me this week getting my usual thyroid medication. The pharmacy said a call-in from my physician was needed; I then scaled a frustrating hurdle with the doctor’s office. Maintaining regular medication is a basic recommendation during the coronavirus crisis for older people like me. But, like any challenge, this one was instructive: Self-advocacy and self-help may be a good course of action if I ever start to come down with suspicious symptoms. So, I took to the internet – it now seems a good tool for staying abreast of developments – and what follows is my plan for self-care if ever I experience early signs of COVID-19, which has an onset that can seem similar to a flu or cold. This isn’t medical advice– it’s my personal approach to do what I hope keeps me from unneeded contact with healthcare providers, who may become incredibly busy, perhaps overwhelmed. If you’d like to know why I’m sharing such personal information, there’s an explanation at the end of this Linking Letter.
1) Isn’t there a better way for me to determine the possibility of COVID-19 if I ever have a slight cough or sniffly nose? I don’t want to clog up the health system unnecessarily or expose myself to the truly sick.
A couple of well-credentialed physicians at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine have developed a simple online question-and-answer tool to help. It’s found at: https://gehrCOVIDtriage.akidolabs.com
2) I wonder why one of our local stores ran out of zinc. Is this mineral really that effective? The shelves were emptied of it…
Zinc certainly appears to be popular for common colds, and some colds are caused by coronaviruses – but not by the one that causes COVID-19. And though zinc does seem promising, “there remains much to be learned regarding the anti-viral mechanisms and clinical benefit of zinc supplementation as a preventive and therapeutic treatment for viral infections,” according to a report last year in the journal Advances in Nutrition from a health team led by Scott Read PhD, of Australia’s Westmead Institute for Medical Research. Also, too much zinc can cause health issues; You can read all about zinc where I did, at the National Institutes of Health: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-Consumer/
3) I keep hearing about having an occasional drink, a “quarantini,” to get through this – a martini or other alcoholic drink to relax while we’re all asked to stay home. OK, I confess I’ve imbibed “hot toddies” for a cold when I had stopped-up sinuses. I wonder if a steady habit of liquor helps?
No, not when it comes to the human immune system. Doctors have long observed a link between excessive alcohol consumption and “adverse immune-related health effects, such as susceptibility to pneumonia,” according to a research group from Rutgers University in New Jersey, who published their findings five years ago in Alcohol Research: Current Reviews. Since then, more information has been stacking up to support these findings.
4) On my internet search, I found conflicting information about an over-the-counter medicine for fever. Is there one I shouldn’t take?
Anthony Fauci MD, who’s now becoming a household name, said during a podcast interview with the editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Medical Association that he doesn’t know how this information arose. To bring the temperature down in common cases of fever, “Tylenol every six hours is the way to go,” said Dr. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
5) This is all so confusing! Flu, colds and COVID-19 all can bring on a cough. A runny nose and sore throat are usual signs of cold and flu, but can’t COVID-19 cause the same symptoms? And both COVID-19 and flu can cause a fever. I wonder how I can know when fever, or any symptoms for that matter, take an alarming turn for the worse?
The Everett Clinic, part of a large healthcare system in Washington State – the state where the very first case of COVID-19 was reported -- lists these as red flags, meaning they need to be reported right away – and medical help may be warranted.
· Persistent temperature elevation greater than 103-104 degrees despite fever medication
· Bloody sputum or increasing chest pain
· Increasing difficulty getting your breath
· Stiff neck preventing bending neck and placing chin on chest
6) Suppose I am at home, and someone is having to take care of me because I’m not feeling well. What, aside from the usual recommendations, is there I could do?
That’s one problem with the internet -- misinformation can spread. Many news agencies are warning that a saltwater-gargling regimen isn’t treatment for COVID-19 nor is it preventive, though it’s certainly made the rounds on social media. Gargling with warm saltwater -- 1/2 tsp salt to half-a-glass of water – can help ease a sore throat. And drinking fluids is widely recommended, especially water. And COVID-19 virus hasn’t been detected in drinking water, so our good ol’ Independence H20 seems a good choice. “Conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those in most municipal drinking water systems, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
7) Is there anything I can do to help keep my husband safe if he needs to take care of me, should I need it?
Well, the usual recommendations for disinfection are well known by now, and need to be practiced. But there’s one CDC guideline that seems to have escaped wide notice: air ventilation. “Make sure that shared spaces in the home have good air flow, such as by an air conditioner or an opened window, weather permitting,” is the way the CDC puts it.
8) I wonder why I don’t seem more anxious. True, I’m feeling fine, but I’m in a risk group – maybe a good target for COVID-19. Hmmm. Why am I not more fearful?
I live here, that’s why. It’s where so many have been compliant with the containment measures; where people are busy making masks from their own material for healthcare providers; where neighbors are making grocery runs for people truly elderly. It’s like what was said by epidemiologist Emily Landon MD, in a broadcast by the University of Chicago: “We can slow the curve of this epidemic and, hopefully, it will fall under our capacity.” I think that’s what we’re doing right here, right now, in our corner of Polk County.
Summary of MINET Announcement:
"The rapidly changing COVID-19 environment means new demands and stress on ALL internet networks and providers worldwide. This holds true for MINET/WVF as well. While we have the bandwidth to handle the increased number of remote workers, and the bursts in unexpected traffic that come with video downloading or web conferencing we are also dependent upon the performance of our upstream providers, their capacities and their network reliability. We fully understand that more than ever, our customers need to stay connected. You can be sure that MINET/WVF is taking every step to make sure all our customers can stay on line and in touch. Our engineering support and technicians will continue to staff and monitor our network operations center 24/7 to ensure our network performance and reliability."
Summary of City Announcement:
For internet users who need it, Wi-Fi is available at the library parking lot and in Riverview Park. The Independence Police Department (IPD) is open, but the IPD is urging the public to call to report non-emergencies or when seeking general information from an officer. The non-emergency telephone number is 503-838-1214. City parks are open, but those taking advantage of them need to implement social distancing and take precautions, like hand-washing or sanitizer use for personal-hygiene safety.
The entire library building now is closed to the public. E-resources and download-able periodicals can be accessed at the website: https://www.ci.independence.or.us/library.
There will be no late charges, door-hanger notices or water shutoffs for late utility bills through the end of April. The city is encouraging use of its online site Xpress Bill Pay. Visit xpressbillpay.com. “It’s a secure, convenient way to view your balance and make a payment without the need for mailing,” according to city staff. For help with this or your account, you can contact 503-838-1212 or Xpress at 1-800-766-2350.
A FINAL COMMENT:
I must have been about 10 years old on the day the creek I was exploring rose in a sudden summer storm. I’d been told not to play in it. There had been calls to my mother to keep me from wandering the creek beds in my Kansas town. But, in a place so flat, the meandering little waterway held me in its thrall: every rock overturned was revealing, crayfish scooted and tadpoles darted. On that day, I was in a culvert. These are tunnels made of concrete, to direct the flow of water under streets. I didn’t hear the rain – I only saw the water rise. It came so fast I had only a moment to think. I wasn’t a strong swimmer but I wasn’t a fast runner, either. And I knew water slowed my legs. So I dove in, dog-paddling, as water filled the tunnel. Then I held my breath and frog-kicked as long as I could before I surfaced. I’d made it out. I popped up on the other side, gulping for air. I never told anyone. But I thought about it a lot. I’d made the right call: plunging in. It did occur me to recount how the water helped carry me out when I was in it – in a way that wouldn’t have happened if I’d tried to run. But if I’d shared my secret, I would have been barred from the creek I loved. A year or two later, I saw my mother’s face crumple one day reading our hometown newspaper. A boy had been caught in a culvert during a heavy rain; He’d tried to outrun the rising water. He’d drowned. So, every once in a while, I irritate someone when I share a safety remedy or a health tip I’ve learned, which I do only when I think they could benefit from it. I have done so in this Linking Letter, thinking of that creek. -end-
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