Viral Infections on the Rise 

In the ever-changing world of disease and illness, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza have spiked since last fall. The reason for this spike is up for debate, but the fact that people gather in larger groups again increases the possible spread of respiratory infections. This concept is expected, with these types of infections rising in winter.

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.

I’m not sure if you remember this, but individuals who were:

• older
• overweight
• have multiple diseases,
• and had a low vitamin d status, according to studies, were the people most susceptible to the 2020 virus. The same can apply to RSV and influenza.

Whether you choose to get vaccinated or not, it would make common sense to try and decrease your risk by making changes to stack the deck in your favor. Unfortunately, you are stuck with your age.

We are continually bombarded with the message that we need vaccinations for everyone at every age. I 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. 

Imagine what the population would look like if we had received that information about ways to improve your overall health for the last 40 years.

Unfortunately, the thought process of making the changes I have listed contributes $0 to the bottom line of large corporations. The same corporations with our best interest in mind? 

I had a patient in my office just this week who is on the cusp of type 2 diabetes, and she explained to me that many of her family had type 2

Diabetes and that it was probably just genetic. At this point, I had to explain that we all have good and bad genes and that our behaviors will either turn them on or leave them off. 

Here comes my cheerleader outfit... 

I then donned my cheerleader outfit and did my best to fire her up and explain that she could turn this around and fix the underlying problems affecting her blood glucose levels. She left my office feeling empowered to make the necessary changes and take control of her health. We were both pretty fired up. I will leave the cheerleading outfit on, and try to fire you up about taking control of your health and how best to defend yourself against the influx of respiratory infections.

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 popular brands have one of these ingredients. 

When you think about RSV and influenza, they are airborne illnesses that spread through coughing and sneezing, and if the virus settles in your oral and sinus passages, gargling should kill them. Studies have shown that this is an effective way to decrease viral load.

Increase Vitamin D 

Increasingvitamin 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.

Increase Vitamin C 

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 doses of 20-50mg per day 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. 

Melatonin * and sleep go hand in hand, but did you know that melatonin is also a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, 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. If you have an autoimmune disease, limit use to 2 weeks or less.

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 or clears out damaged cells and replaces them with new cells. 

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

If you have questions or need help setting up an immune support protocol, stop in or call the pharmacy at 701-483-4858 to set up an appointment. Please visit my website at www.irsfeldpharmacy.com to view this and other health-related articles in the blog section. 

Until next time, be vigilant about your health!!

* some products linked are combinations products so be sure to read about their contents to make the most of your supplement budget.