Things that matter greatly- that you don't see on the news.

Why are some societies so mildly affected by this virus, while others are hit hard?
Some people don't know they even had it, others are critical?

Consider-
Japan had 1.5 million Chinese people enter in January, many from Wuhan area. Yet, with a population 1/3 the size of the US- as of April 6th they had less than 4000 cases and 100 deaths. There is a distinct difference in Japanese society. They traditionally do not shake hands or hug, they bow in greeting. Touching another person is done carefully, because they highly respect personal space. And they are meticulous in cleanliness of homes and selves. Shoes are left outside. In other words, they practiced things that naturally limit the transmission of biologic pathogens between people, as a culture.

If you are thinking the cure is a vaccine- think of this. The purpose of a traditional vaccine is to give you the disease. The injection is done with a weakened form of the pathogen, in order to trigger your immune system into attacking it. Since the injected agent is very weak, it is easily beaten by even a weak immune system, and in that process- generates the antibodies in your bloodstream that protect you from future infection by the strong form of that agent. It is your immune system that is the cure- the vaccine is only a trigger for it.

In other words, the real defense that protects you from any infectious agent is your immune system. Thus- the condition of your immune system is critical, no doubt makes the difference between people who are exposed and contract the Covid 19 virus that are asymptomatic and those who become critically ill. When we strengthen our immune system, we reduce the severity of or eliminate all kinds of sickness. How can we do that?

Besides proper diet, there is a significant factor that causes our immune system to be highly active- and that is exposure to the environment. If you live in a situation that minimizes exposure to most such agents, your immune system will "idle down", go into more of a stand-by level instead of an alert level. That will increase it's response time and weaken it's ability to respond. What are we doing by staying inside, staying away from people, insuring we sanitize everything? We are reducing our exposure to all pathogens, idling down our immune system. It would seem that while we should limit personal contact transmission where Covid 19 risk is probable, we should not be shutting ourselves away from the outdoors, from active and open environment, from the sunshine and exercise that helps keep our systems strong and resistant.

Things that boost your immune system strength are similar to those that promote good health and fitness.

Eat right-include fruits, vegetables, grains.
Sleep well- rest restores, but is best if regular and of quality.
Exercise, and sunshine- everyday.
Limit alcohols and avoid smoking, both impair your immunity.

Another really important aspect of this is your mental state. Stress is a major issue.
Stress both reduces immune system strength, and it disrupts the bodies normal chemical balance- and that balance has much to do with it's ability to function normally. Long-term stress is particularly dangerous, for both physical and mental health.

Medical studies show that a person who is living in high stress is 3 times more likely to develop a serious disease. That includes things that aren't contracted from pathogens, like cancer- which are also related to the immune systems ability to combat.

The nature of the way this virus has been handled compared to others like H1N1, that was also very aggressive, is drastic. It has shut down our environmental interactions, and it has created a sort of paranoia- and incredible stress levels for many. The longer this continues, and the more you allow it to dominate your life and mindset, the greater the risk it presents.

While the nature of age does generally make us more vulnerable, that is not universal. The immune system can be poor in a young person, strong in a senior- like the 106 year old woman who recently recovered from the Covid virus.

The ultimate defense is your own healthy and strong immune system, coupled with your own positive state of mind. You hear little of this from the media- but ask your doctor how much those things matter, and they will back this up. There is neither profit nor ratings benefits to promoting this, so it's not in the headlines, but it's vastly important to you. We have the power to control these things, and we don't need to have a vaccine to do it now.

This too will pass, and you can do things right now which will insure you will be here and healthy when it's gone.

 

If a person spends much time watching mainstream TV, stress will be increased by way of fear and terror. The main function of mainstream TV is to incite fear, and thus stress.

I very much agree on good nutrition, exercise and sunshine. Plenty of C & D, get outside.

 

I bet most states will have some sort of safe at home well into June.

 

Good call, that is indeed a stress source.
I think that the weaker the person is in themselves, their confidence and their values, the more vulnerable they are to media suggestions and fear-mongering- and the more they watch, thinking they are somehow gaining knowledge. The stronger a person is, the more likely they are to skim the news looking to see if their is something actually relevant and worth further examination. Thus, the healthier are less vulnerable here too, and the weaker more so. Perhaps a strong immunity is also a kind of "bullshit repellent". Or at least, a strong and independent mind is.

 

There are some related stories making news, generally from noted medical institutions and doctors. Here's one, explaining how our protective choices are also preventing what is known as "herd immunity", which is what eliminates a virus presence over an entire society- something that must happen for things to return to normal.

https://www.foxnews.com/media/david-katz-coronavirus-vaccine-herd-immunity

Here's another Dr, who explains it well-
https://vashiva.com/dr-shiva-live-the-immune-system-your-bodys-operating-system/

 

Excessive use of Hand sanitizers over the past couple decades hasn’t really been good for anyone.

Hard to say what the real numbers indicate but I grew up outside a lot. We got dirty. We got cut up and didn’t bother with bandaids. We didn’t wash our hands much except before eating and probably not well enough. We drank out of hoses. We got ticks and we tore them out. We got bit up by mosquitos and spiders. It built immunity. It built toughness.

 

And I will bet those states will have the population totally ignore them. We are currently two weeks into most states lockdown and the people are openly protesting.

 

A division of the company I worked for sold hand sanitizers. The salesforce was advised not to self demonstrate the product during a sales call as they destroyed the immunity to everyday bacteria that helped us stay healthy.

 

Speaking of environment, I was another scruffy, dirty kid, tore up and abraded most all the time by tree bark, stray nails sticking out of wooden fences, bicycle road rash, bloody noses, chin punches, tackles to the ground, clocked by beanballs, stung by catfish and mouse traps, pierced by dirty hooks, and cut by slippery knives in my own dirty, sweaty hands -- very beneficial exposure to the environment.

 

You don’t need to be a doctor to understand that there has to be a connection between an increase in sickness and disease and our countries obsession with cleanliness.

The other connection is basic ease of travel. There simply wasn’t as much interaction between us and the rest of the world. Products and food mostly came from here. Disease stayed localized and was tougher to spread. Not anymore.

 

Love you guys, I grew up in the same environment and every scar on my body has a memory attached and I wear them proudly.

 

Now that's what I am talking about! Stubbed toes, thorns, scraped knees and elbows, ringworm, and barefoot all summer long. I'm still that same kid, only much older. As you say, exposure to the environment is a good thing.

 

I generally agree with OP, BUT, it also is an human natural attempt, to find reasons why YOU, who still is not infected, will escape it. We all do that. In every category of risk.

Also, they are right now investigating why so many tested positive, HOMELESS in Boston, and NO symptoms. And ILLEGALS sent back to s America same.

I wrote an OP about it, and postulate that those subject to immune system assault on a reg basis may fare far better than expected. Even those with comorbidities.

 

That's the way it works! And the kid who was kept in a bubble by germophobic parents.... got sick every day or two.

 

You are right.
You are probably aware that the Incas and Mayas were nearly wiped out with the sudden introduction of European diseases by Spanish invaders, and many American tribes suffered similarly.

 

Sadly my kids don’t really understand the concept of getting and staying dirty or going and discovering things on their own. And there really aren't many opportunities for it. The neighborhood kids can’t just form groups and disappear for entire days during the summers. It’s all scheduled and managed and overseen. I don’t like it but it is our world today.

 

There is something important in that for the long run, too. Life is actually a collection of experiences, and memories. The bland ones simply fade away- but those that tested you, demanded of you, motivated the imagination, the spirit of adventure and the risk they involve, stay with you. I'm old now, but those are the kind of things I think of and remember as my life- and I'm still doing them, within the limits of age. If you do nothing challenging, take no risk, climb no mountains- you are existing, but not living. We were meant to do exciting things, to discover ourselves and revel in life. Some of the things we remember may not be known or would not matter to anyone else, but they matter to you, and they identify us to ourselves. A man who knows who he is, likes who he is and savors the memories and experiences of it all is vastly more alive than those who never take a chance or test themselves. You got it right.

I would hate to be on my death bed and realize I never lived. Many will suffer that fate.

 

More bullshit. In Japan people literally live on top of each other.

 

"Hormesis" as a principle (that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger) to incorporate into day to day life has been of great benefit to my health.

1. Basic - Anyone who does moderate exercise outside to significant perspiration, gets moderate sun and eats plenty of fiber is incorporating it in a basic way.
2. Intermediate/Advanced - Saunas (Dr. Rhonda Patrick), Cold/Cold Showers (Wim Hof), Breathing exercises, HIIT interval training, Intermittent Fasting (Dr. Jason Fung and many others) incorporating Autophagy, low level exposure to bacteria and other toxins via touching earth with bare skin frequently... not major carcinogens of course.

Anecdotal, but all 4 my grandparents (and many other people's) lived into mid 80s or some much higher despite awful diets due to the government pro carb/pro veg oil lies from the 70s on and far more exposure to toxins in the mid 20th century. They did not use much air conditioning/heat, did not sit in front of the TV, were far more outdoors than contemporary folks, ate whole veg and fruits in addition to all the poor government diet.

 

Well, you would know, because you assume everything you think is fact, so long as it is is conflict with what anybody else thinks

I have personal friends in Japan, one of whom is an author and financial expert- and his view is that the actual restrictions, which were put in place much later than most, was done in response to political pressure and has done far more harm than good. You probably know more than he does too.

If what I write is beyond your comprehension, you can politely ask for clarification, and I will oblige, or you can remain silent and not offend society. Nothing else is respectable.

Just love being obnoxious to people?
That's all I see you do. Try something else, it's not working.

 

George gets it.

 

George was sort of a visionary with a unique perspective, a man ahead of his time. Loved it.

The old saying is true- That which does not kill you makes you stronger!

 

I had a pet water moccasin and *oh the horrors* even ran around in the woods with several firearms, unsupervised and rode my bicycle 10 miles one way, to go fish in the river, as a boy. A stack of encyclopedias and National Geographics (before they pushed propaganda) WAS my internet, as a boy.

 

I love to hear his opinion on the world today.

 

To the topic, I disagree that social distancing is the reason for Japanese results, or if so very moderately. It's 1) the Japanese social policy of fighting metabolic syndrome/obesity/lower caloric intake, 2) more activity leading to more cardiovascular health, 3) I suspect healthier diets (zinc, vitD, C things much of the world like USA are deficient of that attack flu like diseases), high presence of antibacterial anti-inflammatory herbs and foods such as ginger, tea other antioxidants, that address comorbid factors, also a whole carb diet based on rice moreso than processed carb, but they do eat lots of noodles..