When I hear that C0vid is rearing its ugly head again this fall, I'm not surprised, and you shouldn't be either. The new variant is referred to as Eris or EG.5, and its characteristics, early on, appear to be similar to Omicron, which was highly virulent, meaning it spread pretty quickly but didn't pack the punch of previous variants.

For many of you, the information provided will be "old hat," as you may have been doing these things over the past several years, but this is probably new information for others. The core concept is to boost your immune system to fight off C0vid and other viral infections during the cough and cold season.

Viruses are opportunistic infections, meaning if the opportunity presents itself, it will infect the individual. What makes for a good opportunity? A person whose health is compromised is a prime example. When you don't get enough sleep, eat a poor diet, are under constant stress, have underlying medical conditions, are exposed to excessive toxins, and are sedentary, these factors make an individual susceptible to a viral infection.

According to studies, older individuals, who are overweight, have multiple diseases, and have a low vitamin D status, are the most susceptible to the C0vid virus.  It is common sense to try and decrease your risk by making changes to stack the deck in your favor.

We are continually bombarded with the message that we need vaccinations for everyone at every age. I'm frustrated and don't understand the lack of information and education on lowering your risk of getting viral infections through lifestyle modifications. There is a massive void regarding education on eating right, exercise, decreasing toxin exposure, adequate sleep, weight loss, stress reduction, and vitamin D status. 

Viruses are airborne illnesses that spread through coughing and sneezing and usually settle in your oral and sinus passages. One of the easiest things you can do is to gargle with mouthwash twice daily with the active ingredients chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine, cetylpyridinium chloride, or one contained essential oils. Most of the famous brands have one of these ingredients. Studies have shown that this is an effective way to decrease viral load.

Gargling will take care of your oral cavity, but we also breathe in through our nose. Nasal sprays have gained attention as another possible tool in the fight against C0VID-19. The logic behind their use is that they could help reduce the viral load in the nasal passages, where the virus often establishes itself before moving deeper into the respiratory system.

Nasal sprays containing povidone-iodine, colloidal silver, and xylitol have been studied and shown to decrease the viral load in nasal passages≥

A study led by Saïd M. Derouiche and published in the journal "BMC Infectious Diseases" in 2021 investigated the effects of a hypertonic saline nasal spray on SARS-C0V-2 viral load in the nasal passages. The researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial involving healthcare workers. The results indicated that the hypertonic saline nasal spray significantly reduced the viral load in the nasal passages. Rinses with salt water can reduce the viral load in your sinuses.

Incredibly, two simple, readily accessible treatment options could benefit the masses in the fight against viral infections. Yet, we are over three years into the C0vid era, and we have yet to have any government-sponsored studies looking at these inexpensive options for prevention. 

Increasing vitamin D3 to obtain an optimal level of >50 ng/ml. The dosing to reach this level is based on body weight, but ultimately you should test your level yearly to determine if you are hitting the level you want to achieve. The recommendation of taking vitamin D should be made every year from September thru April because our sun isn't potent enough to make vitamin D from our skin's exposure. Vitamin D is an inexpensive option in the viral battle.

Vitamin C has long been recognized as a protection for upper respiratory infections. The antioxidant benefits of vitamin C go beyond preventing respiratory illness at doses of 500mg twice a day and can easily be added to your supplement regimen.

Incorporating zinc * at 20-50mg daily doses is essential to any immune support protocol. When zinc is transported into the viral body, it prevents virus replication. The infection process is halted when the virus cannot replicate or reproduce.

*multi product combindations are available to help with compliance and cost. Call the pharmacy for recommendations.

Melatonin and sleep go hand in hand, but did you know that melatonin is also a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulator and has beneficial metabolic effects? When dosed at 1-6mg daily at bedtime, melatonin gives you a lot of bang for your buck in the fight against the virus.

Elderberry*, or Sambucus nigra, contains a variety of flavones, isoflavones, flavanols, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and lectins, which have been shown to have anti-viral properties. Elderberry is beneficial during periods of high viral transmission. Limit use to 2 weeks or less if you have an autoimmune disease.

Quercetin* and resveratrol are both plant flavonoids that work synergistically to fight viruses. Quercetin is a zinc ionophore, dragging zinc into the viral body to do its work in preventing viral replication. Resveratrol's* main benefit in the viral fight is that it binds to spike proteins and activates autophagy, clearing out damaged cells and replacing them with new ones. *A combination product is available for these 3 nutrients listed. 

The information provided is designed to stack the deck in your favor when you are out and about during winter. These supplements and lifestyle modifications are the foundation of a healthy, effective immune system. 

Suppose you are a patient at greater risk for developing c0vid due to weight, underlying disease states, or age. In that case, we have additional recommendations that can be accessed through the pharmacy. Prevention is always easier than treatment, so don't wait. It is time to provide your immune system with the necessary tools to protect you!

If you need help with immune support, stop by or call the pharmacy (701-483-4858). Please visit my website at www.irsfeldpharmacy.com to find this and other archived articles in the blog section. 

Until next time, be vigilant about your health!