Who gets sick? Much of Covid-19’s prevalence, severity, and lethality may have to do with viral particles you are exposed to – the issue of viral load. Very little is written on this subject because it is difficult to study, but we can learn a little from studies on flu (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4676262/). In one frequently cited […]
Coronavirus Public Health Blog 3.24.20 Psychological Shock of Coronavirus
“I don’t believe this.” Or “this can’t be happening.” What if it is? Coronavirus is now provoking global shock. It’s a generalized “I can’t believe this is real”: I can’t go out for a pizza I can’t get my hair cut. I can’t take a walk. I can’t leave my house. Covid-19’s ultimate effects will […]
Coronavirus Public Health Blog 3.23.20 Sleepless from Coronavirus – What to Do
The global pandemic is keeping lots of us up through the night. It’s a new world. For most of us, insomnia’s a normal result. But good sleep improves immune response. The body resets immunologically in sleep. One famous study out of UCSF showed people who on AVERAGE slept 6 hours or less had far more […]
Coronavirus Public Health Blog 3.22.20 How To Not Get Bored During Quarantine
Once the shock of all that’s happening gets acknowledged, how do you deal with enforced confinement? Perhaps you’ll be able to work from home, but even if you can, this is a time for active rest, to do stuff that’s cheap, playful, and social. With thanks to many friends, here’s my restdoctor’s partial list of […]
Coronavirus Public Health Blog 3.21.20 Living Contingently
“I have to run, they’re closing the beaches, this is the last time I can go.” So ended one conversation this week. How do you live when the future cannot be predicted with certainty? That’s the way we live now. Actually, it’s true all the time. What happens when a truck jackknifes across the highway, […]