What about ibuprofen?
Background:
Ibuprofen interferes with the bodies basic response to inflammation
That is how it decreases fever and muscle aches
But inflammation is the first stage of :
- healing
- fighting off infection
There are some animal studies that suggest ibuprofen might slow virus growth
But in humans it probably is a bad idea
It will decrease the fever, but fever is what helps fight the virus
It will decrease muscle aches, but possibly at the expense of making you sicker overall
Recommendation:
I would recommend not taking ibuprofen ( unless you really don't need it )
Ibuprofen interferes with the bodies basic response to inflammation
That is how it decreases fever and muscle aches
But inflammation is the first stage of :
- healing
- fighting off infection
There are some animal studies that suggest ibuprofen might slow virus growth
But in humans it probably is a bad idea
It will decrease the fever, but fever is what helps fight the virus
It will decrease muscle aches, but possibly at the expense of making you sicker overall
Recommendation:
I would recommend not taking ibuprofen ( unless you really don't need it )
What about masks?
Masks are always good - they are just like life jackets
But if you are watching TV at home, by yourself, you don't need to wear a mask. (Or a life jacket)
If you go outside to somewhere that has a lot of people, a mask might be a good idea
But even better - don't go there!
Health care workers are always going to need masks
Don't hoard them if you don't need them - that makes you a jerk
But if you are watching TV at home, by yourself, you don't need to wear a mask. (Or a life jacket)
If you go outside to somewhere that has a lot of people, a mask might be a good idea
But even better - don't go there!
Health care workers are always going to need masks
Don't hoard them if you don't need them - that makes you a jerk
Who is most at risk? |
What drugs might help? |
|
Risk factors are :
- obesity - hypertension - asthma/chronic lung disease/ smoking - maybe vaping - diabetes - heart failure - chronic kidney disease - cancers - immune suppressing drugs, like prednisone - sleep deprivation |
hydroxychloroquine ( Plaquenil)
azithromycin ( Z - pac ) Zinc Losarten ( or it might make it worse ) Remdesivir Goofy stuff that might helpSaunas
Hot tubs |
Should I go to the doctors office/hospital/lab?
Hell no ! That is where all the germy people go. Stay away unless you are really really sick!
Hide out at home unless you are really sick, or have an essential job and are feeling great
Do telemedicine if you can
Pharmacists can give you a week of drugs in emergencies
Hide out at home unless you are really sick, or have an essential job and are feeling great
Do telemedicine if you can
Pharmacists can give you a week of drugs in emergencies
How can you tell if you have Covid 19, or allergies/colds/flu etc?
You can't - the only way to know is to get a test
And those are in short supply, so don't even bother
unless there is a special reason you need one
And - from your point of view - it doesn't really make a difference
We can't give any specific treatment for any of those that does much
So lie low and don't worry about it
And those are in short supply, so don't even bother
unless there is a special reason you need one
And - from your point of view - it doesn't really make a difference
We can't give any specific treatment for any of those that does much
So lie low and don't worry about it
How long can the virus hand around?
Droplets ( like the picture above ) - seconds
Aerosol ( teeny droplets - under 5 microns, which is 1/200 of a mm. - think of cigarette smoke ) - minutes
On surfaces - hours / days
Aerosol ( teeny droplets - under 5 microns, which is 1/200 of a mm. - think of cigarette smoke ) - minutes
On surfaces - hours / days
What can you use to clean things?
Soap - any kind
Bleach etc - dilute 1/10
Lots of water - the solution to pollution is dilution
Alcohol - officially needs to be 70%, but I am pretty sure vodka would work well
Bleach etc - dilute 1/10
Lots of water - the solution to pollution is dilution
Alcohol - officially needs to be 70%, but I am pretty sure vodka would work well
Why is flattening the curve so important?
Imagine you have to evacuate 100 people off a sinking ship
You have a rowboat that can hold 10 people at a time
If you can do 10 people at a time, you will all make it
If all 100 people need a boat at the same time, 90 are going to drown.
You don't know which group you are going to be in
You have a rowboat that can hold 10 people at a time
If you can do 10 people at a time, you will all make it
If all 100 people need a boat at the same time, 90 are going to drown.
You don't know which group you are going to be in