By Bamidele Ademola-Olateju
First of all, I want to declare and affirm upfront that I am not a doctor. However, I am an informed consumer of medical information.
1. Take Vitamin D everyday. Black people all over the world are experiencing severe vitamin D deficiency. Black people who live in temperate countries and those who are affluent who by nature are sedentary and do not go out into the sun, are disproportionately affected by this virus. I suspect that is why it is killing more affluent and elderly people. There is a reason our skin is black and our nose is wide with big nostrils. Our skin is primed to absorb the sun better and our noses are natural humidifiers. Why is the second wave in winter when there is little sunshine? I suspect this virus is less virulent if there is vitamin D in the blood and the immune system is strong. Someday, science will explain the factors responsible for the relatively low prevalence in Africa. Low levels of Vitamin D has been implicated in the increased incidences of certain diseases in black people living in temperate countries.
2. When infected, it feels like the onset of catarrh and malaria. The joints are sore and you experience serious fatigue. You may or may not experience loss of taste or smell. Those who do, tend to have more serious symptoms. If you feel these symptoms, get tested immediately. Do not use Ibuprofen to dull the pain. If you are positive, do not panic. Say after me; do not panic. Even if you have pre-existing condition(s) do not panic. Be calm, take a lot of water infused with lemon and ginger to stay hydrated. Ginger and lemon helps in making plenty of water easy to drink. Eat bitter Kola, it helps the throat to cope with the shenanigans of the virus. Isolate yourself but do not lie down. Exercise or clock no less than 10,000 steps in your room, to keep active and increase oxygen flow to your lungs. When you sleep, lie face down, your lungs get in oxygen better that way. Monitor your temperature. If it is not higher than 38°C or 100.4°F, “be calming down”😁. No need to panic yet. If your temperature is higher, go to the nearest isolation center before your chest starts tightening. The doctors at the isolation centers know how to increase the odds of survival in severely impacted patients. Do not go to private hospital. They do not have the know-how. Covid-19 is not leprosy, so not be ashamed of it.
3. You will have cough with impossibly thick phlegm, expel it. The lemon and ginger helps with expectoration.
4. Eat right.
5. Mask up. This virus chooses its victims. The severity of the symptoms seem to correlate with the quantity of virus you came in contact with. Even with masks and sanitizers, you can still catch it. Covid-19 is real and many people are dying of it.