Firsty, I'm.sorry if my paragraphs all disappear, as they seem to after I submit, which makes it hard to read. Sorry it's long...
If those who can get healthier, try to, we'll not be expecting our front line workers to take risks with their lives. We clapped for them, now maybe we should be proactive.
Not only us though, front line key workers, especially BAME people, should be advised, encouraged and even supported to get and stay healthy, as they are exposed to more viruses on a daily basis than most.
I try to explain below - sorry it's long....
I've been researching this virus since December and researching for years about how our bodies work, from a holistic view, including how we fight prevent or reverse what some refer to as 'earned' disease, ie. not something we're born with.
Viruses replicate. But, the sars-cov-2 virus is quite sticky compared to the flu and common cold viruses. So that makes it a little harder for our bodies to get rid of it and while it's there, it's replicating and potentially turning into the disease, known as Covid-19 - that is when the real problems start.
Medical professionals have described how this garden thistle/burr like virus sticks more to people with a lot of visceral fat, which makes sense. This gives it time to replicate more, for longer. So the 'skinny fat' and obese are at risk. Many will not have diagnosed illnesses and often seem healthy. But, in bodies like this, or in people who are over exposed to the virus, like some of our front line key workers are, the virus has the potential to replicate a lot more and therefore, potentially cause them to end up with the more destructive Covid-19 disease.
Most of us rely on our immune system to just get on and fight these viruses and generally it does, often without us realising. But, increasingly many don't have such a good immune system anymore. Those with poor diets, deficiencies and other issues such as high stress, poor sleep, hormonal issues, inflammation, poor gut health, deficiencies, such as vit D, overuse of medication, etc., might have weaker immune systems, maybe not consistently. This might not manifest itself as a diagnosed illness or even be known about unless a virus is caught and the person cannot seem to shake it off or for some time. But you know when your immune system is working, when you have fever and aches - that's your body using its resources to fight the virus or infection, leaving other areas weakened.
In the case of people with darker skin living in regions with, on average, low sunshine, the darker their skin, the harder it is for them to absorb vitamin D. So it makes sense to me that a BAME person with a lowered immune system, might be at a higher risk of ending up with Covid-19 if exposed to the virus.
Sadly many BAME people living in countries like the UK are not advised or encouraged to address this and as a consequence, develop disease over time. BAME health workers for example, could be supported more by ensuring they are receiving the right combination of supplements and time out during the day. I think all front line key workers should be given free, regular check ups and during a crisis like this pandemic, given shift patterns that allow them to keep their immune system strong, and of course, they should definitely have PPE.
And of course, what about front line key workers who spend time with our babies and children.... I agree about the low risk of children spreading the virus. A lot of children have super strong immune systems because they're not old enough to have degraded their systems. Although those with a terrible lifestyle might have slightly weaker immune systems. Still, it takes years! Children fight most viruses very quickly compared with adults. Before viruses have a chance to replicate too much, they're gone. Children who already have other diseases and ill health, of course, need shielding. But, in general, we still need to ensure our children are not deficient and I believe in the idea of giving them all a highly nutritious free school meal, unless of course they have medically advised special dietary requirements.
But, the government can't do everything. We insisted for decades we didn't want a nanny state, then proceeded to fill up on burgers, chips, pizza, cake,... sweetners, protein powder! junk! We sit at office desks, in front of games consoles, in front of TVs, snacking, eating crisps, biscuits, cup cakes, drinking fizzy drinks, alcohol, etc. Look at so many people's stomachs... its visceral fat. Our bodies degrade year in year out. Ok, not all, but a huge percentage and over time, people's immune systems are weakening and their body's internals are degrading, not so gracefully. So we end up catching, keeping and spreading illness, as we struggle to fight it. Again, potentially harming our clapped for key workers.
And finally, a vaccination, if you're keen, will only be effective if you're healthy and your immune system can fight the virus they inject you with! It won't be known for years what the long term impacts are. So, I don't see a magic potion appearing anytime soon as it needs thorough testing.
So, we need to look at ourselves honestly and ask, are we doing all we can to fight this virus and others like it? Are we taking responsibility for the health of ourselves, those who depend on us and being considerate to those around us?
To those who are not, please keep socially distant, isolate for longer, use santiser when shopping, wear masks, gloves, anything to stop the spread of viruses your body holds onto, while you get your body's (internals) in better condition. Sorry to sound blunt! I've got a bit of work to do too, so I'll look at me in the mirror and say the same. Having said that, I rarely eat junk and do try to stay healthy. But, I work all day long, including some evenings and night too, at a computer, so I need to address getting healthier too.
What are you doing or going to do to prepare yourself for the end of lockdown, given that the virus WILL be still be around and other viruses are bound to follow? Will you get healthier, even if just to show your appreciation, or was clapping enough?