Sunshine, cook outs, campfires, pools, gardening—all remind us of summertime. During this season we don’t typically think of illness or viral risk.
However, as we have been immersed in the COVID-19 Pandemic, an era that many of us thought we would never experience in our lifetime, we’ve had to think about immune support, viral transmission, infection control, and contracting illness more than ever.
But, did you know that COVID 19 is not the only summertime virus we need to be proactive against?
A 2019 study by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health shows that viruses are a major cause of waterborne diseases due to body fluids and skin flakes. Waterborne diseases are linked to pools, lakes, ponds, spas, rivers, and hot springs. Another common childhood illness is hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFM) which can cause blisters or ulcers in the mouth, hands and feet, or parainfluenza virus 3 which can cause bronchiolitis, pneumonia, or just a cold.
Holistic interventions can reduce the risk of many common virus transmissions.
- Vitamin D, C, and zinc can reduce the risk of transmission of many viruses and can shorten the duration and severity.
- Glucocorticoids (steroids), vitamin C and thiamine (also known as vitamin B1) have important biological effects in patients with respiratory distress.
- Vitamin C infusions are also known to be very affective.
Before picking the right regiment for you or your family, make sure to consult a holistic or primary care physician.
Cardea Health Integrative is a functional medicine practice located in East Aurora NY. If you would like a consultation please call 716-685-2361 or visit cardeahealthwny.com
