Category: Corona Virus

CODE BLUE DOCUMENTARY

Rent/buy film here.

When we embarked on the film project in 2015, the primary initiative was to shed light on the overwhelming body of evidence that supports the importance of diet and lifestyle on the formation of chronic disease. We had no idea its release would be hampered by an acute novel infectious disease. Over the past several months, we have suffered a global period of mourning as our lives have been turned upside down and we have witnessed the loss of so many loved ones. In the midst of this pandemic, Code Blue was released on May 26, 2020, to a community universally in pain. COVID-19 would lead to the cancellation of our theatrical releases in Los Angeles, New York, and Pennsylvania, as well as scratch our plans for a film tour. As an infectious disease specialist who trained in pandemic preparedness, admittedly even I was caught off guard. This virus, for which we still have many unanswered questions, remains elusive and has not only managed to take countless lives but has also irrevocably changed societal norms. The development of a safe and effective vaccine is yet to be realized. Trials for therapeutics are ongoing, some cautiously optimistic, but it will still be some time before they are readily available to the general public. How does the COVID-19 pandemic relate to the chronic disease epidemic and Code Blue? It is, indeed, alarmingly relative. The virus has placed an unexpected and startling spotlight on the chronic disease epidemic. On June 15, the CDC published findings on those affected by COVID-19 in the United States from January to the end of May 2020. Data revealed approximately 1.8 million cases and more than 100,000 deaths during this period. Chillingly, those living with a chronic disease were six times more likely to be hospitalized and twelve times more likely to die. The pandemic has further deeply affected our most vulnerable minority communities, with 33% of cases occurring in Hispanics and 22% in Blacks.

– Dr. Saray Stancic (July 2020)

You may check current CDC covid statistics here.

Early Covid Treatment?

READ ABOUT IT HERE. YOU WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO DISCUSS THIS TREATMENT WITH YOUR DOCTOR, always an important recommendation.

In this report we learn of interest in inhaled corticosteroids, but no definitive evidence of efficacy, as of yet. We are informed that this (and other) therapies continue to be investigated. Please listen to entire report, as it is neither a yes or no.

I posted pro/con info about research in the area of nebulized Corticosteroid treatments. CLICK HERE.

Poor diets threaten US national security 

Living in the midst of a viral pandemic it’s rather startling to realize that poor nutrition is the leading cause of illnesses in the US. The Federal Nutrition Research Advisory Group has published a white paper indicating that unhealthy diets kill more than half a million Americans each year.

Click HERE to read CNN news report.

Click HERE to read the white paper.

Vitamin D, Endothelium, Deficiencies & COVID-19 IMMUNITY

Review of a very important July 4, 2020 article relating vitamin D levels & endothelial health & its effect on Covid-19.

Conclusions

Higher 25(OH)D concentrations are non-linearly associated with lower risk of all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality. The thresholds of 45-60 nmol/L might represent an intervention target to reduce the overall risk of premature death, which needs further confirmation in large clinical trials.

LINKS/REFERENCES:

JCEM Journal

Nutrients Review of Vitamin D

Johns Hopkins Tracker

Simple Vitamin D Pathway

Reminder: Besides supplementation of vitamin D, mushrooms are high in vitamin D2, preferably prepared heated instead of raw. We also produce our own vitamin D in our skin when we are exposed to sunshine — more precisely, when our skin is exposed to ultraviolet-B radiation (UVB). Note that standard window glass, according to the International Ultraviolet Association, will allow UV-A to pass through while almost 100% of the UV-B and UV-C light is blocked. Thus it is recommended we get some outdoor exposure.

Inhaled Corticosteroid Treatments

West Texas MD Richard Bartlett uses nebulized (inhaled) corticosteroid Budesonide to treat Covid-19:

https://youtu.be/eDSDdwN2Xcg

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newswest9.com/amp/article/news/local/local-doctor-believes-he-has-found-silver-bullet-for-covid-19/513-8cd065d2-dbb5-4814-9cdd-5bb0dae77703?espv=1

Interview here w/ Letter to Senate & initial paper by Dr. Bartlett:

Dr. Richard Bartlett Shares Covid Information (Update with PDF Links)

It’s interesting that he (& no one else) can make big $$ on this treatment. It is a widely available drug. I’m not a doctor, but I looked up side effects & they seem minimal. Consult your own physician.
In his letter to Senate West Texas MD wrote:

“… other organizations and nations are reviewing inhaled Budesonide to treat COVID-19. Inhaled Budesonide is currently under study at the NIH and is also undergoing study in France. Spain and Oxford University have both, individually, announced plans to study inhaled Budesonide as a COVID-19 therapy. […]
Taiwan, a nation of 24 million, treats early with a different inhaled corticosteroid and has had only seven deaths over the duration of this pandemic. Or consider Japan, who also treated with an inhaled corticosteroid. Although Japan’s demographics skew towards an older population, they have had only 977 deaths in a nation of 121 million. Likewise, consider South Korea with population of 50 million who recorded only 283 deaths using an inhaled corticosteroid.”

I found that the Japanese did some earlier research back in 2014: Budesonide is an inhaled steroid used for asthma. This article indicates it might have some anti viral effects on rhinovirus (cause of common cold) :

Formoterol and Budesonide Inhibit Rhinovirus Infection and Cytokine Production in Primary Cultures of Human Tracheal Epithelial Cells – PubMed
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24998372/

But we must move cautiously:

https://www.newswest9.com/amp/article/news/local/midland-memorial-hospital-says-inhaled-steroid-is-no-silver-bullet-for-covid-19/513-a30477f5-35fb-41cb-97fb-e8aaad6250b2

Then there is this opinion, but it was written back in May:

https://www.medpagetoday.com/blogs/skeptical-cardiologist/86521

And there is this:

Researchers at UW-Madison published a study that seams to indicate that allergy induced asthma may have protective effects, summary here: https://www.med.wisc.edu/news-and-events/2020/april/allergies-asthma-may-reduce-covid-19-risk-/

Studies need to separate the types/causes and severity of asthma.

The following video was posted mid-June. Forward to minute 8:55
Doctor Roger Seheult @ Loma Linda University hospital says in video he thinks if steroid research pans out & covid turns out to be (as suspected) a systemic vasculitis disease, then perhaps intravenous [rather than nebulized] steroids may be an option for advanced illness.

Here’s a June 24 post about steroid research, in general, for advanced patients. http://projectwaistline.com/?p=20502

On Dr. Seheult’s website I posted the links to West Texas Dr. Bartlett. Two days later Seheult posted this new video about inhaled corticosteroids (remember that Budesonide is a corticosteroid). https://youtu.be/BG5pEDKbQv0

In conclusion more research is required. Ongoing studies continue at this time. There may be something here since asthmatics who use nebulized steroids for their asthma saw better outcomes with covid-19. But don’t self-medicate prophylactically, there may be side effects. Discuss it w/ your doctor first.