Coronavirus Conversations: Day 12 - NSAIDs, PPE, and Surface Transmission

Well, hi everybody. Bet you thought I might have forgotten about you. I didn't. We're here. It's 5 o'clock Eastern Standard Time. It is Sunday and we're going to talk about what an interesting week we had. We'll review some of the science and talk about how things look moving forward, what sort of developments there have been, and some positive things seem to be happening in the face of, you know, certainly plenty of bad news. And That's okay. Let's focus on the glass being half full, light the single candle, and not curse the darkness. Nothing to be served, I think, by cursing the darkness. It's not going to help us make advances and get ahead of this thing. So let's talk about that, about being positive. It's good for you, it's good for your mood, and I think that is really very, very important. So I created a couple of videos the past couple of days. The one we posted yesterday had some science in it from the New England Journal of Medicine talking about the ability of various surfaces like cardboard, plastic, and metal to maintain viability of this virus. I think it's really, really important. As I mentioned in the video, please take a look at that. It is on our YouTube channel. It's on Facebook as well. Many of you saw it and commented, and I appreciate those comments. You know, the take-home message here is, for example, when you're ordering your package, gets delivered by Amazon, we learned from USA Today that there's really nothing to worry about because that package was packed 3 days ago. So by 3 days, cardboard, everything should be good. Well, here's why I want to just think that through. First of all, what's inside the package generally has a lot of plastic, so you got all those air bubbly things that are plastic. But that's not really the biggest risk. The biggest risk is that package is being delivered by the delivery person who handles that package immediately before it goes on your front porch. That is a risk. That individual— not pointing fingers, but that's a potential vector for bringing the virus into your home. What do you do? Well, here's what we do. I spray these packages with a little Lysol solution Leave it on the front porch if it's something I don't really need. Pick it up after a couple of days, open it, take the contents out, let them sit in the garage for another couple of days, spray them if it's something that you need, a little dunk in some Clorox solution and wash it off. By all means, you don't want to take something out and put it right in the refrigerator, put it right in the kitchen. That's not a good idea, not a good strategy. And this is all about strategy, it's all about risk mitigation, which is what the authors of the study talked about. At the end of the study, and of course we highlighted that, actually quoted from the study in the video, so I'm asking you to look at that. I might just post another— why don't I just do that for you right now? Post another resource for you that just gives you some great information. This is actually on drperlmutter.com. We have a whole section dedicated to this whole idea and understanding what we should do about surface contamination. I just, I just posted that for you. Hi, Anna, Quebec, again, thanks for joining. So I think that was some very important information. The next thing we talked about was flattening the curve that you've heard so much about. The reason we need to flatten the curve, and we explained in the video what that means, is because that's the way that we can help offset this incredible burden on our healthcare facilities so that if you need to go to the hospital and, God forbid, be put on a ventilator, that's sick, well, hopefully you— that should be available to you. But if there's this huge surge of people needing to go to the ICU and be on a ventilator, the hospital is going to have to make some decisions about who does and who doesn't get the opportunity. It sounds really draconian, and it is. Somebody said, posted a comment the other day, why am I catastrophizing? I think that means, why are we talking about this as if it is a catastrophe? This is a Cat 5 storm hitting the entire world. It's the way it is, and we're going to do the right things to help ourselves get through it. Hey, we've been threatened by a Cat 5 hurricane here, and in fact Irma was a Cat 5. Didn't hit us at a Cat 5, but what did we do? We prepared. There are certain things to do. In fact, each and every one of you needs to do things now. Now the next thing that I posted was a video about the microbiome, and I'm looking for comments to see what you people thought of that. It was my thought that the gut bacteria may explain why there are so few cases in Haiti So few cases in sub-Saharan Africa based on something called the hygiene hypothesis, whereby we who live in cultures that are so fanatical about hygiene may not have as robust a microbiome, a gut bacteria, and therefore our immune systems may be compromised in comparison to people who are less involved with hygiene. Believe me, I'm not saying that now is the time to not wash your hands. Don't take that home message at all. This is the time certainly to wash your hands. But in getting to this point, you know, when you see the ever-increasing rates of asthma and allergy in children, other inflammatory issues in our societies like Alzheimer's, coronary artery disease, and diabetes, one wonders why that might be. And we certainly know that those conditions have, you unique microbiome profiles. So the take-home message for that is that your gut bacteria are an incredibly important line of defense for you in terms of your immunity and in terms of balancing inflammation. The lethal event here seems to be an inflammatory event in the coronavirus infection, as well as something called disseminated intravascular coagulation, Or coagulopathy, whereby the blood basically coagulates much as it would if you were bitten by a cobra. So that said, what do we do now to help bolster our microbiome? I'm not saying this should be considered a validated defense for coronavirus. Of course not. We haven't studied it yet. But having a good diverse gut bacteria is a good thing for us anyway. Why wouldn't you do it? Number 1, think about the medications that you may be taking. Acid-blocking drugs— do you really need to block your stomach acid because you have indigestion? There are some medical issues whereby people need to block stomach acid, like Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and having a gastric tumor, but by and large, I think these medications are overused. We know that the acid-blocking like the over-the-counter acid-blocking drugs, wreak havoc with your gut bacteria. The other thing that seems to change the gut bacteria quite substantially are the nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs. And isn't it interesting that there have been a couple of reports out of Europe indicating that people taking nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs might have a worse outcome? So the current recommendation is, at least from Europe, to avoid taking these nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Perhaps the reason that they are so worrisome or problematic is because of the changes that occur to the gut bacteria. That's simply my thought, but let me see if I can post for you that study. I'll look for it in just a moment. So we're— it's all about then strengthening the gut, strengthening the gut bacteria, and increasing diversity. Don't threaten the gut bacteria with unnecessary medications. Eat a lot of fiber-rich foods, especially those foods that have good prebiotic fiber: garlic, onions, leeks, jicama, Jerusalem artichoke. Maybe hard to come by at this point, but there are Over-the-counter prebiotic supplements that you can buy perhaps from an online resource. I think you can find that on Amazon. So keep that in mind. And then when it arrives, of course, you want to go through the drill in terms of how do you welcome that product into your home. I'm going to shift gears now to the idea of taking inventory in terms of what you've got around your house. I think it would be a real good time To look in your outdoor closets to see what there is, to look at, for example, your barbecue to see if you have enough charcoal. It may be that that might be something that comes in handy at some point. Go through the garage and take inventory. See what you have there. We're all going to have to do a little MacGyver work here when this is all said and done. We're going to have to figure some things out on our own. And it might be trapping rainwater. I mean, who knows? But I would say take inventory, see what you've got. I was out in the garage earlier looking around. I had cleaned out my garage earlier a few months ago. And I'm looking around and seeing all kinds of cool things that I might be able to employ moving forward. So do that. And I would also indicate that this is going to go on for many months. I don't know how many months it takes to spring up a head of lettuce from a seed, but, you know, is that 6 weeks? Is that 8 weeks? However long it is, maybe you should think about buying some seeds online and planting them in your backyard. Now, if you live in an apartment, get some pots, plant some food, and that way we don't have to worry as much about the questions that everyone's been asking me about What do you do about your green vegetables that you're getting from the store? Which is a tough question to answer. I don't know that I fully have the right answer for that question. I can tell you that for now, I think a soap solution might be a good idea. I don't think bleaching your vegetables necessarily is a good idea, but I don't have a right answer for that, and no one's addressed it that I could find in the literature. I was asked on The 700 Club, well, what can we do to occupy ourselves? I think it's really important to understand it's going to be a long time. When there are people in your home that are there that normally wouldn't be in your home, you've got to understand that you need to think about getting along with everybody, taking your time. It's going to be challenging, much more challenging perhaps than we are used to. And whoever's at your house now, you know, you're all in it together. So what can you do? Maybe you do a jigsaw puzzle. One thing that really is— I've been finding helpful is clean up. Find that kitchen drawer that you know you have that's a disaster and clean out that kitchen drawer. Throw out some stuff. But keep in mind about the inventory. You never know what you might need. But I'm certain there's plenty of junk around that you can clean out. I mentioned about planting seeds even in your apartment. Plant some herbs. Good for you. We talked about that in our new book, Brainwash: Why Planting a Plant and Having a Plant Is a Good Thing. Reconnecting with nature helps reduce inflammation, helps reduce cortisol, which is threatening, oddly enough, to your gut bacteria. So planting a plant in your kitchen or having an herb garden in your kitchen or outside, very, very important for Next bullet point that I wrote down, and we're doing less of the science today. We're doing kind of a week, a wrap-up of the week. Looks like people are interested so I'm going to stay with that. Oh, I know who just joined. LDP, my dear heart, thank you. So what else? Turn off the TV. Really important that you stop fanning the flames of fear in your heart. It's good to check in. I haven't checked the TV yet today. I know what it's going to say, and a lot of that stuff is true. You know, it is the way it is, but it's a new reality for all of us. Things will probably not be the same once we see the other side of, you know, of what we're going through. And truthfully, if we're a couple of weeks behind Italy, Look what's going on there. So that's how things may get with us. I wish it weren't the case, but it looks like that's the direction in which we are going. But we will get through it. What it's like on the other side, who knows? But we've got to pace ourselves for the long run and realize this isn't the time for the sprint. Last 2 things I'm going to mention, then we'll look at a little bit of the science overview. Would be sleep and fasting. So sleep, again, to balance your immune system. If you end up getting this and, you know, if we're told 40 to 70% of us will get it, you want to make sure that you go into this with the best immune system that you can. When you get it, you want your immune system to be as balanced as possible, your gut bacteria in shape, You're ready to deal with it. You have been sleeping well because you're not watching TV at night. You're getting in contact with nature. You're getting exercise as best you can and eating the right kind of food so that when you do get it, if you do, and again, most people will if we're to believe the World Health Organization, you want to go into it as prepared as possible. It's a test that you will face and you want to do your homework ahead of time so you're ready for the test. The last thing I've written down in terms of bullet points is the idea of fasting. Now, the disclaimer is you should check with your healthcare professional. I'm, you know, I don't know how available that person is for you right now, but fasting is a really good way to clean out the debris from your immune system and allow newer, younger, more functional cells to take How long do you have to fast to bring that about? Unclear. Probably at least 36 hours, but, you know, even a 24-hour fast can do you some good for other reasons as well. So I'm going to be delighted to do that with each and every one of you. I think we should— we'll find a day, and I'll look at the comments from everybody when they want to do it. Should be, I would think, this coming up week. Sooner the better. We'll have dinner the evening after this podcast, and then have nothing but water until we get together again. Why are we doing this? A couple of reasons. Number one, this is a good way to reset your immunity and reduce inflammation. How aggressive is it? It's not super aggressive, number one. But understand that when we stress our bodies. And we call this when we stress our bodies and there's a good outcome. We call that hormesis. And one of the best ways to stress your body is to deprive it of calories. A lot of mechanisms kick in saying, "Oh my goodness! We don't have food. I'm going into protection mode." And that's what fasting is all about. So I'll do it with with everybody who wants to join in, and then we can all comment about that fasting. Very important. Now, we're going to look at some science. Let me get back with you here, and I'll answer some questions. Okay, so I was asked again to post the study on ibuprofen. Actually, not a study, but it well, it was published. Yeah, it was published in BMJ, a peer-reviewed journal. I'll post that to you right now. And there it is. So that is that. And then I'll post anything else that people want, just let me know. Let me just move that up so I can see. All right, let's get to our questions. I didn't see that there were any birthday wishes for today. And okay, I'm happy to do that. Hi from Long Island, New York. We all understand what New York is going through. I think Governor Cuomo, in my opinion, has done an amazing, amazing job in keeping a level head and really managing resources. You're lucky to have a wonderful governor. Hello from Australia, trying hard to eat diverse. Good idea. What have you heard about nebulizers and steroid inhaler? I haven't heard anything specifically about that, but we do know that steroids by and large downregulate or turn down the immune system, so that might be something to think of. They recommend only paracetamol. Thank you, Helena, for saying that. Yes, paracetamol, for those of you here in America, is acetaminophen, also known— one brand is Tylenol. Blanch and freeze. Yes, that has to do with vegetables That's what we are thinking of doing. Lisinopril, an antihypertensive medication. People have been talking about lisinopril, but I think that that science is probably flawed, even though we know that the angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor on the cell, type 2, is the entrance point for the virus RNA. It's not panic, it's being realistic. That's what this is all about. No panic here. Let's take a deep breath and continue to plan. Failing to plan is planning to fail, and we're all about that. And let's keep going. Yeah, okay, somebody says take inventory. Are you for real? Step up and help distribute remdesivir. Oh, Okay, and I would say to Joanna, if I had remdesivir, I would help distribute it. It is unavailable, so I think my recommendation is that we take inventory of our food and our various supplies that we have at home. Other ideas that you may have, we're certainly welcoming your comments. Oxidative stress brought on by this virus? Yes, that's clearly what goes on. during what is called the cytokine storm, which is a severe event. My 21-year-old toddler is throwing a fit and told her she can't order food. It's reality. Son an ER doctor, so is an ER doctor so worried? Yeah, that's a very, very tough place to be in. Hopefully your son, Lori Richmond, has access to things to protect himself, you know, that's something that's certainly very scarce right now. Avoid any vaccinations? I would say that when an immunization, Muriel, becomes available for this and seems safe, I will probably get an immunization for this. I don't know, Andrea, the role of homeopathy. There are some homeopathic preparations being discussed. I don't know any specific data on that. Nice to see you again. In for the fast. All right, me too. Group fast? Yes. We're in. You mentioned herb gardens. When I join, suggest herbs to grow? I, I think you should grow herbs that you like to use for cooking. things grow well are dill and mint and chives. You know, the thing about the mint, it grows like crazy, so you can use it. You're not going to, you know, take the whole plant. I have hypoglycemia and can't fast. Okay, fair enough. Positive karma fast from Shelley Elkins. You bet. Thank you for the prayers, Leslie. And good. Okay, I'll keep going here. Oregano, oregano, lemon balm. Yes, sage grows. And right after Tracy Chamberlain, my, uh, is the post about ibuprofen. Health wisdom, good. Spread the word. You're in. We talked about that on the phone, actually. So, um, let's see. Best protective herbs? Don't know. This might be a good time for cilantro, but I can't say that's definitely been The curve in Peru, according to Anna Hoffman, is starting to flatten because nobody is allowed to go out. Nobody means nobody— only medical help, police, and somebody with a special permit. Yes, that's what we're talking about. Please watch the video. It's posted here on— I posted yesterday. It's also on YouTube about how we can flatten the curve. It's not going to happen because we've suddenly developed a new drug. It'll happen based upon our behaviors. Talks about Dr. Wahls. Clarified today, 12-hour fast is okay, maybe 16, not beyond while infectious. That's probably a good recommendation. This would be for those of us who are thinking that we remain in good health. Dr. Wahls always has wonderful information. We've interviewed her on our podcast before. Can I train, ride, run? Well, that's really up to you, Elizabeth. I continue to exercise during a fast, but I don't know what your physiology is like. Are you keto-adapted, etc.? All right, let me take a couple more questions. And yeah, I mean, it's a good question. Susan Denise, I think it is, about too long a fast raising your cortisol. Yes, I think that that Dr. Atiyah does himself. He does fasts that last four and five days. So you know, but for for those of you who are not used to fasting, don't start off with a 24-hour fast. That's for sure. I would say that for those of you who aren't familiar. With fasting, what you might simply do is have your dinner and then the next morning maybe skip breakfast if you can until let's say 12 or 1, something like that. That is what we call time-restricted eating. You're going to get a really nice window there, and it's actually a very good point. Okay, let me scroll down. So many comments. Having a hard time finding out how long the virus is in delivered groceries. Again, I just posted, and if you go to drpermutter.com, we have a whole section on coronavirus. It really depends on how they are wrapped. It looks like about at least 3 days for plastic, so keep that in mind. Oregano is supposedly antiviral. Okay. I came in late. Have you mentioned the medicine from Cuba, interferon? Well, you know, that's the second time somebody has posted about interferon, and I would say that we talked about the fact that an interferon beta has been fast-tracked in terms of being made available, at least in England. So I'm going to try to find that. That study. Ah, here we are. Okay, let me. I'm going to post that interferon study. And so again, there is a there is a brand of interferon that was public put out by a company called Synergen, and they are in Britain, and they have interferon. But they are looking at creating a specific product that could be fast tracked. It is SNG001. Fast-tracked for COVID-19 immediately. And let me just read to you. They have received an expedited approval from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency— that's, I guess, England's FDA— to conduct a trial of this drug, inhaled formulation of interferon-1 beta, in COVID-19 patients to potentially assist with the global outbreak of So let me tell you why this is important because it looks like those with lower interferon-1 beta are at higher risk and also, if you can believe it, it looks like the virus is able to lower interferon-1 beta. Wow. Certainly pretty stealthy and aggressive, not, not good to know, but maybe that will pave the way for this drug. I will post it now and there you go. All right. Well, listen, everybody. I plan to be back tomorrow. I will give you some great, great, great. Let's do it. We'll have supper tonight, and we will reconvene tomorrow at five o'clock. For those of you who are used to doing a fast, let's do it together. If you've not fasted before, you should check with your healthcare provider. I wouldn't. Think you should jump into a 24-hour fast willy-nilly. I will. There's a lot, a lot to talk about and a lot to know about fasting, and we've talked about it extensively on drperlmutter.com. All right, everybody, I know there are a bunch of you on there, questions quite extensively. Okay, perfect time to brainwash, that's for sure. And Anita, I think it's Thank you. Thank you as well. All right, I'm gonna not sign off yet. Hang on, steady as she goes. Here we go. Oh, I do want to tell you that I'm gonna be interviewing tomorrow Dr. George Tetz, T-E-T-Z. He is an expert in phages, these microscopic particles that affect gene expression, and And has a lot of interesting things to say about what they've discovered in terms of sequencing the COVID-19 genetics, and he's going to talk to us about that. I will record that and we'll get that up to you guys as soon as possible. Okay, so as promised, today's poem is by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and it is called Children. Here we go. Children. Come to me, O ye children, for I hear you at— I hear at your play, and the questions that perplex me have vanished quite away. Ye open the eastern windows that look towards the sun, where thoughts are singing swallows and the brooks of morning run. In your hearts are the birds and the sunshine, in your thoughts the brooklets But in mine is the wind of autumn and the first fall of the snow. Ah, what would the world be to us if the children were no more? We should dread the desert behind us worse than the dark before. What the leaves are to the forest, we with light and air for food, ere their sweet and tender juices have been hardened into wood. That to the world are children. Through them it feels the glow of a brighter and sunnier climate than reaches the trunks below. Come to me, O ye children, and whisper in my ear what the birds and the winds are singing in your sunny atmosphere. For what are all our contrivings and the wisdom of our books when compared to With your caresses and the gladness of your looks, ye are better than all the ballads that ever were sung or said, for ye are living poems. And I'll leave the rest for you guys. Okay, I didn't realize that poem ended so somberly. Anyway, and I will take. I will take. Requests for poems from you guys. All right, talk to everybody tomorrow. Have dinner tonight. And if you're joining in on the fast because you've done this before, see you guys tomorrow. Bye for now.