How do I Prevent Getting and Dying from the Flu or Coronavirus?

As of this morning, Chinese health authorities reported 37 thousand cases of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) with 810 deaths globally. Though quarantines are in place, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus a public health emergency, so fears about the virus have, well, gone viral. It’s important to remember however that as scary as those numbers are, they pale in comparison to seasonal flu. The CDC reported that in the 2017-2018 flu season, there were as many as 45 million cases, 810 thousand hospitalizations, and 61 thousand deaths from the plain old flu. Both infections need to be taken seriously.

What is seasonal flu and how do I prevent it?
Fortunately, there is a flu vaccine available. Estimates indicate the flu shot prevents about 5 million people from getting the flu every year. Still, most recent reports indicate only 37% of adults received a flu vaccine.
Whether you receive a flu vaccine or not, one of the most important things you can do to prevent the flu is to practice good hand hygiene! Seems too simple to be true, but you need to do more than a quick rinse:

• Use soap and wash hands a minimum of 20 seconds
• Wash hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom, blowing your nose, and before eating
• Clean/disinfect surfaces/objects often
• Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth—it is amazing how many times we do this without realizing it. My awakening came after cutting jalapeno peppers as my face started to burn.

How do I prevent coronavirus?
There is not yet a vaccine for coronavirus, though one is predicted for 2021. However, the good news is, the same hand hygiene tips above are essential in preventing coronavirus.

How do I know if I have the flu or coronavirus?
Many symptoms are shared by both flu and coronavirus:

1. Fever
2. Cough
3. Shortness of breath
4. Muscle aches
5. Headache
6. Sore throat
7. Runny nose
8. Fatigue

In people with coronavirus, the first 3 are the most common symptoms.

Your history can give an indication of which virus you contracted. For one thing, seasonal flu is much more common. However, you would want to mention to your healthcare provider if you have been exposed to an infected person, had recent travel, or are in close contact with animals including bats.

There are laboratory tests to detect flu, most commonly “rapid influenza diagnostic tests” (RIDTs). The CDC developed test kits for coronavirus available at this writing to about 200 labs in the US.

Why do some people die from the flu or coronavirus while others do not?
There are some conditions that put you at greater risk of complications from both seasonal flu and coronavirus:

• Age (children younger than 2 or adults 65 or older)
• BMI >40
• Comorbidities such as:
  • Autoimmune diseases or chemo
  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease (including hypertension)
  • Chronic lung disease
  • Kidney, liver, or neuro disorders

Many of these conditions look familiar to people with metabolic syndrome.

​How do I know if I’m in trouble?
Life threatening complications of both viruses include:

• Pneumonia
• ARDS (Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome)
• Septic shock

There are warning signs that you are dealing with more than the flu or coronavirus. Though antibiotics don’t do anything for viruses, secondary bacterial or fungal infections can occur which generally do respond to antibiotics if the infection is caught early.
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You should be feeling better in a week, with symptoms tapering off within 2 weeks. Let your healthcare provider know right away if you experience the following:

• Symptoms go on longer than 2 weeks
• Feeling worse after you start feeling better
• Unable to drink enough water to stay hydrated
• A fever for more than 3 days, or a fever returns. Every household should have an electronic thermometer.
• Secondary infections often settle in the lungs, so monitor for the following:
  • Increased shortness of breath
  • Increased sputum (from a dry cough to a productive one)
  • Pulse oximetry < 90%. Using light from a clip-on device, a pulse oximeter measures the percent of oxygen saturation in red blood cells (SaO2). I mention it because the devices have become so affordable and give objective measurement of how your heart and lungs are functioning. I do not endorse any products, but here are some examples of devices with good reviews for under $25:
    • Innovo Deluxe Fingertip Pulse Oximeter with Plethysmograph and Perfusion Index
    • Zacurate Pro Series 500DL Fingertip Pulse Oximeter Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor
    • ClinicalGuard CMS 50-DL Fingertip Pulse Oximeter
    • Concord Sapphire Fingertip Pulse Oximeter
    • Deluxe SM-110 Two Way Display Finger Pulse Oximeter
    • Mibest Silver Dual Color OLED Finger Pulse Oximeter

There are also pulse oximeters included in some wearable fitness devices, though be sure to look for reviews that address reliability.
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In sum, both the flu and coronavirus deserve serious attention, but with proper prevention, detection, treatment, and monitoring strategies, serious complications can be averted. Be well!