Practical, science based advice

Some of my friends know that my brother is the "Arnold Shwarzenegger" of medicine.... So, given all the conflicting tweets, messages and misinformation out there, I asked him for practical advice on how to make sure my family is protected. Here's what I was able to discover.

How is the virus transmitted?

Droplet transfer: A sneeze, cough or swapping spit. A sneeze or cough travels no more than 3 feet, so the 6 foot distancing suggestion is the real deal. Someone with it sneezes on your computer mouse, you pick it up 20 minutes later and pick your nose, It transfers. It does not transfer through skin contact. It does not transfer if someone sneezes on a cardboard box and you pick it up a day later. Think about it, if that were so everyone at Amazon would have it. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. Do not touch your mouth and nose if you have been out in public until you wash your hands. Washing your hands works better than hand wipes.

The crap we heard up until this week about masks not being effective is truly BS (see above). They are effective, but since we have none, its being downplayed. The best strategy if you are going to be in a crowded place (like a food store) is to wear a mask. They are only effective for about an hour, as the material becomes saturated with moisture from your breath. Strategy for re-use: After an hour, spray with alcohol and let dry out in sun.

This virus is VERY susceptible to alcohol, much more than most other viruses. SARS requires a 60% solution to kill, Covid 19 only 30%. Believe it or not, Vodka (80 proof) is 40% alcohol. Lysol and chlorine also kill i

If you cannot get hand sanitizer, try looking in the CLEANING SUPPLY area of your food store or Home Depot for Clorox Cleanup and Lysol wipes, and look for plain old rubbing alcohol at the drugstore. Take a Ziploc, put in some napkins or paper towels or rags, and pour plain old fashioned rubbing alcohol in the bag. No alcohol? Use Vodka (seems like a horrible waste of a good buzz to me) or mix some pool chlorine or laundry bleach with water. Presto! Portable and effective hand sanitizer.

The reason Italy has so many deaths is that they have a very high level of hypertension. Many people are on blood pressure meds, the most common of which work by increasing a number of molecular receptors the virus likes to bind to, that are numerous in the lungs. Genetically, Asians have a higher number of these receptors than Caucasians. Science, not rhetoric…. China did a fabulous job of containing the virus, as they recognized this early. Italy is just now figuring it out, too late. This will come out in the Lancet shortly. Keep your eye out, and if you are on blood pressure meds, speak to your doctor.

The other reason deaths are so high in Italy is that they are using oxygen tents, not respirators. Oxygen tents do not push oxygen into lung tissue. Respirators do.

DO NOT HAVE CLIENT MEETINGS IN THE OFFICE, AND DO NOT GET INTO CONFINED SPACES WITH CLIENTS, LIKE YOUR CAR. When you go into the office, bring hand sanitizer or the Ziplock wipes. Use them on the door handles to the building entrance, bathrooms and office door. You can just hold them in your hand when you open or close a door.

When you tune into the daily government updates, ignore the politicians. They do not know what they are talking about, and have political and financial motivations. Listen to what Dr. Anthony Fauci says about the virus. He is the real deal, the only reliable, honest source of scientifically based information amongst the government talking heads, according to Dr. Schwarzenegger:<)

This will absolutely come in waves, just like the Spanish flu did in 1918. Reported cases peak, then fall. People with cabin fever start congregating again and the next wave begins. REMEMBER this in 30, 60, 90 days!!

PS: My personal favorite social distancing greeting is the Vulcan Salute. If you can’t make the V sign with your hand, consider using the finger:<)