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Controlling what you can. How to support your immune system in a Pandemic.



That's it, we are going into another Lockdown.

I'm trying not to despair and remain positive, but whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?

  • We can’t stop the virus. It's an invisible highly contagious virus.

  • Experts have said a vaccine when it will eventually be ready will not be effective enough to provide herd immunity.

  • We are being told 46,000 people in the UK have died from the virus and have had 1 million confirmed cases. Which is only .5% mortality rate

  • 89% deaths over the age of 65, most over the age of 74 (Average age 82).

  • However, studies show that anywhere between 20-80% of cases are Asymptomatic. Meaning people won't know they have it, meaning they won’t be tested.

So what this means is actual case numbers are likely to be far greater therefore the severity and deadliness of this virus could well be exaggerated.

Unless they test every person in the UK how can they possibly know how many people have had it?


I'm not dispassionate but there are much more serious things out there killing us in far higher quantities yet we aren't all going mad over cancer are we? What about alzheimer's? Diabetes? CHD?


What's the end goal? Why are we being locked down as a nation? Surely just get those vulnerable people to shield and let the rest of us look after our Mental and Physical health and rebuild the economy.

What we know for sure is that it is a virus that we can't control. To fight a virus we need a good immune system. So surely we would do well to strengthen and support that?


Why has the government not given us any advice on taking care of our immune systems and looking after our health?

I am not saying that you ignore any of the advice given. I just believe that there are many questions not only unanswered but unasked! I don't believe the government are doing a very good job in our interests and I believe we all need to question everything and possibly at some point take a stand.


Why? Because if a vaccine won't give herd immunity, if the government won't seemingly accept any loss of life acceptable then is this really going to be our life from now on? Being locked down at will at any moment? Told that we are not allowed to see our loved ones?


Interesting times certainly ahead.


But what do I know? I’m not an “expert”. So why listen to me Eh!?


For a start my only interest is in you being happy and healthy. I am not gaining financially from this in any way. Can that be said for the government and the "experts"?


Anyway. Enough of that. On to a more positive note. We have the power!

This is where our Mindset comes in. We need to step up and take some responsibility, we hold the power. We hold the keys to support our immune systems and look after our health.

So here are the 5 main ways to ensure you give yourself a fighting chance at coping well with COVID when you get it. (I said when because we are all likely to get it at some stage so we may as well put in the work now).


1. Reduce Stress

Stress is one of the things we overlook but has a huge impact on our health and our immune system.


This is a huge problem especially as we are dealing with a global pandemic and an unsure future. The news and media all assisting us in feeling majorly stressed in this time where we need to be supporting our immune systems.

Stress is linked to;

Headaches

Infections such as Flu

Cardiovascular disease

Diabetes

Asthma

Gastric Ulcers

Stress also harms your digestive system. When stressed digestion is impaired therefore eating while stressed is going to mean you may experience digestion related problems such as an upset gut, bloating and gas.

Chronic stress can also cause high blood pressure and increased blood cholesterol levels.


Dealing with stress, as we all have this year during Covid can also lead to unhealthy bad habits such as drinking too much, eating junk food, losing sleep and smoking (Guilty!).

Tips to reduce stress:

· Limit time watching the News

· Limit time on social Media

· Do not engage in discussions that are negative online

· Spend time out in nature

· Have downtime away from screens

· Exercise

· Prioritise Sleep

· Connect with friends and family

· Use a mindfulness App to meditate

· Spend some time deep breathing

· Yoga or stretching

· Read a book

· Bath

This needs to be a priority at the moment and “Self-care” needs to be top of the list at the moment. Remember you can’t help others if you’re crumbling around the edges so make sure your oxygen mask is fitted first.


2. Good nutrition

There’s that saying “You are what you eat”. Well, this is true but for more reasons than you may know. Our gut contains microbes called the microbiota; there are at least as many microbe cells in our bodies as there are human cells. Their collective name is called the microbiome and contains at least 150 times more genes than the human genome.