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So... What else can you to prepare for when you get #COVID19? This series of tweets will cover how I will use the science I understand to change the way I will get sick.
First of all - Yes I am and will continue to do all of the social distancing and washing practices that are known to minimize infection. But what else can I do to prepare for when I do get sick to make the illness less and hopefully safer?
And... twitter/Facebook active science advice leads to friends changing their behaviour for the better - @PNIRS science made it to their family whiteboard. #postiveCOVID19advice #COVID19
Now for the deep science. I am doing to follow the training method outlined in this paper by Kox et al "Sympathetic nervous system limits immune response" https://www.pnas.org/content/111/20/7379
I am basing these decisions about what I know from my training and research in the field of Psychoneuroimmunology. That is how the way we "think" changes our brain which leads to a change in immune response AND visa versa - YES how you immune system functions changes your brain.
See the work by Kevin Tracey (alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor activation via the vagal nerve)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16461803
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16461803
What else? Ensure I keep smiling, get some sun and laugh. (oh and some wine - definitely some wine) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUFrBvQ96A-KeU6NgpemQXA
First of all I want a diverse microbiome - so I am in the garden getting dirty and having a diverse high fibre diet. This will help get my immune system busy with good work.
What will this do when I get sick? Based on the data from Kox et al I should still respond to illness, but my immune response will include an anti inflammatory component as well meaning I shouldn't feel as sick or for as long.
I also need to have a healthy and rested physiology, so I am making sure I am getting quality sleep at regular times. I am also making sure I am drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Kox showed that a combination of Meditation whilst exposed to cold conditions (they did snow) followed by breathing exercises was able to change a systemic innate immune response.
