How to boost your chances with the virus
Predicting the behavior of a virus can be exceedingly tricky, as evidenced by the constantly changing COVID-19 virus which has gone through numerous iterations, most recently the omicron version.
“The nature of coronaviruses is to mutate quickly, but also to eventually mutate to a less deadly form because it doesn't want to kill off future hosts,” explained Dr. Mia Taormina, DO, an infectious disease specialist with Duly Health and Care's office in Lombard. “So, I have hope for the future.”
“Most infectious disease experts had been saying for a while that we were overdue from our next pandemic; and they even predicted that it would be a respiratory disease that would be mild enough to spread. MERS and SARS killed people so quickly that they couldn't spread. COVID, on the other hand, spreads easily,” Dr. Taormina explained.
“I strongly urge everyone to get that third dose (of the vaccine) because it will boost your antibodies by 80 to 90 percent. ... Don't let the head or body aches you got last time deter you. Those are nothing compared to COVID,” she added.
Before you grouse, she also suggested that everyone look back at the many shots your infants got to protect them from various diseases. Protection against many illnesses required a series of three or four shots and she said that that is probably what will ultimately happen with COVID, too.
“I look forward to a bright future as long as most people get their suggested boosters and act responsibly by testing when they are concerned that they have been exposed or before a large group event,” she added.
She also urged people to ditch their cloth masks and instead use N95/KN95 masks or doubled surgical masks when in public.
“I foresee that people will see face masks as an option for years to come — during flu season, for instance, or when schoolchildren are sniffling and coughing,” Dr. Taormina predicted. “Masks have become normalized over the past two years. Even little children have learned to see a smile through someone's eyes.”
How to boost your immune system
• Don't smoke.
• Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables.
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
• Get adequate sleep.
• Avoid infection by washing your hands frequently and cooking meats thoroughly.
• Try to minimize stress.
• Keep current with all recommended vaccines. They prime your immune system to fight off infections before they take hold in your body.
Source: Harvard Health Publishing