The Record Special Sections Health Quarterly 04-26-2020 | Page 14

14 ❚ SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020 ❚ THE RECORD Being Well HEALTH QUARTERLY / ADVERTISING SECTION Keep Immune System Strong to Fight Viral Infection F or years, Dr. Ahmad Garrett-Price has been counseling patients about the need to keep their immune sys- tems strong, emphasizing exercise, nutrition and sleep. As the COVID-19 pandemic toll continues to grow, the advice is even more relevant. “We don’t have a proven vaccine, and we don’t have proven treatments,” said Garrett-Price, a family practice physician with Baylor Scott & White Health System in Dallas. “So, our immune system is our first line of defense.” Although a strong immune system is helpful, he and other health experts stress the guidelines in place to battle the coro- navirus’s spread remain crucial: social dis- tancing, frequent hand-washing, avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands, and staying at home as much as possible to avoid getting COVID-19 in the first place. “But this is a viral infection, a much stronger viral infection than many other viruses,” said Marie-Pierre St-Onge, associ- ate professor of nutritional medicine and director of the Sleep Center of Excellence at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. “If your immune system is strong, you’re better equipped to fight those infections, and the likelihood of hav- ing a milder case and recovering is better.” Dr. Garrett-Price calls his approach “life- style-centered medicine that really keeps you in the preventive mode.” It starts with exercise, which in addition to cardiovascu- lar benefits can contribute to good mental health and reduce stress — all important during this time of COVID-19. “Exercise has anti-inflammatory benefits and promotes cellular repair, cell produc- tion and producing immune cells that help you fight off disease,” he said. In a study of 1,002 adults published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2011, people who exercised at least five times a week cut their risk of colds by nearly half compared to people who were largely sedentary. Many of those who did get sick had less severe symptoms. “You may need to exercise in a more socially responsible manner, in your home or garage or backyard,” Dr. Garrett-Price said. “But it’s great to get that heart rate up.” Eating right is no less important given that about 70 percent of the immune sys- tem is housed in the gut. “We want to drive home the concept of food as medicine,” Dr. Garrett-Price said. The healthy foods on his list may sound familiar but are worth repeating: green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, nuts, berries, fish, whole grains, foods rich in vitamins A, C and E — and don’t forget the garlic. “Putting good food in your body bene- fits your overall immune system,” he said. So does giving your body enough rest. St-Onge, who has conducted extensive research into the links between sleep and health, said studies show “people who have adequate sleep have a much stron- ger immune system than those who have poorer sleep.” She pointed to a 2015 study in the journal Sleep in which 164 healthy volun- teers were given nasal drops containing rhinovirus, or the common cold, and sequestered in a hotel. Those who slept less than five hours per night had 4.5 times the odds of developing a cold than those who slept more than seven hours. St-Onge said the current swirl of stress- ful news about the pandemic might make it harder to get a good night’s sleep. She suggests relaxing activities before bed to ease the stress, with one particular recom- mendation. Asthma Is a Serious, But Manageable Lung Disease M ore than 25 million Americans suffer from asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health Interview Survey. This chronic condition is so common that even if you don’t have it yourself, you probably know someone — a friend, colleague or child — who does. Health care providers and patients have many tools for managing asthma, but keep- ing the disease under control can still be challenging. Asthma symptoms result from inflam- mation, or swelling, that narrows the air- ways and makes them more sensitive than usual. The most common symptoms are coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. These symptoms can be brought on by triggers such as tobacco smoke, dust, chemicals and pollen, which may worsen the inflammation of the airways. Consider these three things to know about the condition from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Learn More Breathe Better program, which provides information and resources on asthma, COPD and other lung diseases and condi- tions to people living with the diseases, their caregivers and the health care providers who help treat them. Asthma is a serious lung disease. While symptoms can range from mild to severe, a person can die during an asthma attack. It’s important for someone with the condition, as well as his or her family members, to know how to manage particu- lar symptoms and when to get emergency medical help. Asthma doesn’t go away, and it can’t be cured. Once a person develops asthma, he or she is likely to have it for a lifetime. In other words, children rarely outgrow asthma. Even when symptoms aren’t present, the condition is still there and can “Shut the TV off a couple hours early and don’t listen to the latest statistics,” she said. “Enjoy your loved ones … and go to bed with a sound mind.” One silver lining in the current crisis might be that people staying at home don’t have to commute to work. “So maybe take that time to wake up a little later,” she said. Dr. Garrett-Price sees another possible health benefit down the road. “We’ve always known we were supposed to wash our hands to prevent the spread of germs,” he said. “But now we really know it can prevent a potentially fatal disease. I think that whenever we get on the other side of this, we’ll have a more health-con- scious society.” Editor’s note: Because of the rapidly evolving events surrounding the coronavi- rus, the facts and advice presented in this story may have changed since publication. Visit Heart.org for the latest coverage, and check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health officials for the most recent guidance. If you have questions or comments about this story, email [email protected]. — Provided by the American Heart Association News PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES Managing asthma means working closely with a health care provider, taking medications as prescribed and avoiding asthma triggers. flare up at any time. Asthma can be managed. Like diabe- tes and high blood pressure, asthma takes ongoing monitoring and management to keep it under control. Managing the disease effectively means working closely with a health care provider, taking medications as prescribed, avoiding asthma triggers – like exposure to allergens, poor air quality or tobacco smoke – and watching for any changes in symptoms. These steps can help anyone with asthma gain – and keep – control of his or her health. Currently, it is unknown if people with asthma are at higher risk of getting infect- ed with COVID-19, but if you do get infected you may be at higher risk of getting very sick. COVID-19 can affect your respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs), cause an asthma attack and possibly lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory disease. For more information and resources on asthma, visit nhlbi.nih.gov/BreatheBetter. — Provided by Family Features