I saw an article1 recently that suggested that boosting the immune system could be a potential “treatment strategy” in the battle against the 2019-nCoV (COVID-19). While it is true that managing the immune system is essential in treating the patient once infected (and this must be considered with caution as it is the ‘cytokine storm’ that often leads to major organ failure and/or death in the most severe cases), boosting the immune system should first be considered as a “preventative strategy”.
There is much talk about vaccines and treatment drugs with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly, there is still little focus on what is keeping people well—why are so many people asymptomatic or showing minimal sign of infection? I realize that pharmacological therapies are necessary when lives are at stake. This is life-or-death for some. Unfortunately, as a society, we tend to focus on treating symptoms rather than preventing disease.
Perhaps, if the medical profession had greater training in nutrition and exercise….
I am happy to see that more discussion is surfacing on the role of inactivity and obesity in this pandemic. The conditions that put the patient at greater risk for severe symptoms (e.g., organ failure and death) are those already known to fall under the category of “hypokinetic disease”—diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, etc. Obesity, itself, is known to negatively impact the immune system, as well as to be the central factor in “metabolic syndrome” (the coexistence of dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension).
No drug can be considered “preventative medicine”. At best, the mitigate the risks of greater complications. What is “preventative medicine”? Those daily habits that boost the immune system and mitigate health risk—namely a healthy diet, exercise, and not smoking. This includes maintaining a healthy body composition (i.e., reducing excess fat and maintaining a functional lean body mass—increased muscle and bone) and a moderate amount of regular physical exercise, as well as daily physical activity. It also involves adequate sleep and the management of stress. Above all, preventative medicine is healthy communities—creating environments that promote health.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!
1https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-boosting-immune-system-treatment-strategy/63-0e889f1b-3ba5-4ec4-b4f4-dd39fc7c4256?fbclid=IwAR3syxc3Vpwf4zQOPeb0sq_xYVB7ErmbU8aktzshRoOg-yPc2MbCleV06Vo