Ever since the coronavirus was identified by Chinese officials in early January, news reports have alerted us to its escalation on an almost hourly basis. With over 4,000 cases in China, 106 of which have proved fatal, new outbreaks of the virus have since been confirmed in Australia, Canada, France and Germany. A respiratory infection similar to SARS, the nature of the coronavirus means it has the potential to spread far and wide, and quickly.
If the virus is actually as contagious as is being currently asserted, modern air travel and the purported time of incubation and asymptomatic status (about two weeks) really means it can spread anywhere on the planet, says cardiologist and vitamin C expert Dr Thomas E. Levy. As with nearly all other contagious viruses, spread is most commonly due to airborne virus in microdroplets from sneezing, coughing and the exhalation of infected individuals.
A sensible first step? A strong immune system is really the only significant protection for an individual, says Dr Levy. And a great deal of immune system strength comes from the vitamin C content in the immune cells. When the levels of vitamin C in the body are low, the immune system can never function at full capacity, he adds. (To boost your natural defences try a daily dose of oral supplementation, anywhere up to 2000mg.)
Understandably, the possibility of a pandemic is enough to cause serious panic. While avoiding exposure to anyone likely affected is an obvious precaution, there are practical ways you can protect yourself and allay your worries. Here are Vogues tips to help you keep calm and carry on.
Read more: Does A Pillow Spray Have The Power To Revolutionise Your Sex Life?
Washing your hands frequently isnt just good daily etiquette, its the first line of defence when it comes to warding off the spread of infection. For the most effective results apply warm water to your hands before lathering up with your chosen soap Floriss Luxury Hand Washes make the job more enjoyable. Scrub vigorously for at least 20 seconds to kill any germs, making sure you reach every part including the backs of your hands and under your fingernails, then rinse well and dry. If the occasion means its impossible to get to running water, then a hand sanitiser will suffice; just ensure it contains at least 60 per cent alcohol, which is enough to get to work eliminating almost all classes of germ immediately. When it comes to mixing form and function, Byredos Rinse-Free Hand Wash, (25) does a sterling job: combining Scandi-chic packaging with breezy florals and soft musks, it makes pulling it out of your handbag every hour a pleasure, rather than a chore.
While you might be more familiar with the power of LED therapy when it comes to treating myriad skin ailments (everything from increasing collagen and bounce in the skin to fading acne scars), its also an effective tool in combatting feelings of stress and anxiety. Near-Infrared has a balancing effect on cortisol, which is commonly referred to as the stress hormone, while happy hormones like serotonin and dopamine are triggered by the lights, explains The Light Salon co-founder Laura Ferguson. Add to that the sensation of warmth that gently spreads over your skin for the duration of the treatment, and chances are youll re-emerge much more zen than you went in. Plus, of course, glowing, healthy skin is always a welcome bonus. For a quick but effective blast of bliss without even having to remove your make-up, book in for The Pick-Me-Up (35 for 15mins) at The Light Salon.
Read more: How To Survive A Hormone Crisis In Your Twenties
Meditation can play a key role in providing a sense of clarity and perspective during times of intense worry, something youll already know if youre one of the 40 million global users of the Headspace app. On a physical level, things like meditation, sound healing, reiki healing and breathwork kick in your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for rest and relaxation, and tone down your fight or flight response, explains Yulia Kovaleva, Founder of Re:Mind Studio. To engage with this ancient relaxation technique, regardless of your experience or skill, Yulia suggests the simple step of connecting with your breath. Breathe in, collecting all the tension and tight feelings around your chest, and then exhale. Imagine it moving down through your body, down to your belly, into your pelvis and all the way down into your feet and leaving your body, releasing it into the ground. Best of all, the practice can be done anywhere and anytime, even (and perhaps aptly) on the Central line at 8am.
Not just a way to perk up your evening bath, aromatherapy has a proven impact on issues including depression and insomnia. As we breathe the essential oil, some constituents are absorbed through the nose via the olfactory bulb which communicates with the limbic system, says Annee de Mamiel, aromatherapist and skin practitioner. The limbic system is directly connected to those parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels and hormone balance. Harness the potency by sprinkling a few drops of an inhalation blend inside a tissue; de Mamiels Altitude Oil (30) was created to help protect the immune system and contains linalool-rich lavender to relax the mind, and antiviral eucalyptus, pine and lemon myrtle to fight bacteria and viral pathogens.
Even if not directly affected by trauma, often the thought of perceived risk is enough to make us feel anxious. To set your mind at ease, enlist the help of an herbal tincture to soothe frayed nerves, re-establish a sense of equilibrium and sharpen brain function. Lauded in Ayurvedic medicine, studies have shown that ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng, is an adaptogenic herb (meaning it can help your body handle stress better) that can have a significant effect on fighting symptoms of anxiety by modulating cortisol. Try adding a teaspoon to your morning smoothie, or mixing with warm milk and honey before bed.
More from British Vogue:
All products featured on the website are independently selected by our Editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Read the original here:
5 Ways To Avoid Freaking Out About The Coronavirus - British Vogue
- Psoriasis Basics: Overview, Symptoms, and Causes - January 27th, 2025
- Vitiligo Symptoms, Treatment & Causes | NIAMS - January 27th, 2025
- The Surprising Connection Between Obesity, Parasites, and Your Immune System - SciTechDaily - January 27th, 2025
- Versatile 69p spice that boosts immune system can go in soups, smoothies and milk - Express - January 27th, 2025
- How the skins secret immune system could lead to needle-free vaccines - Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance - January 27th, 2025
- Fevers link with a key kind of immunity is surprisingly ancient - Science News Magazine - January 27th, 2025
- Immunology - The Scientist - January 27th, 2025
- Opinion: Immune System And Ageing Why We Get More Vulnerable As We Age - ABP Live - January 27th, 2025
- 'Forever chemicals' (PFAS) may weaken immune function in children, leading to more frequent infections - U.S. Right to Know - January 27th, 2025
- Cellular Signals That Wreak Havoc in Sepsis are Revealed - LabRoots - January 27th, 2025
- New Combination Immunotherapy Targets Melanoma and Breast Cancer with Promising Results - Inside Precision Medicine - January 27th, 2025
- New Research in The Journal of Poultry Science: Trained Immunity Offers Novel Poultry Disease Prevention Strategies - PR Newswire - January 27th, 2025
- Scientists uncover how cancer cells hijack T-cells, making it harder for the body to fight back - Medical Xpress - January 27th, 2025
- MiNK Therapeutics Targets Immune Reconstitution to Combat - GlobeNewswire - January 27th, 2025
- Mitochondria may be a promising therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases - Medical Xpress - January 27th, 2025
- Explainer: What is Guillain-Barr Syndrome and how it affects the immune system - Mathrubhumi English - January 27th, 2025
- Yes, Some Vaccines Contain Aluminum. Thats a Good Thing. - The New York Times - January 27th, 2025
- You Are What You Eat? MD Breaks Down The Science Of The Gut Microbiome - mindbodygreen - January 27th, 2025
- Potential gamechanger: Researchers discover basis for immunotherapy-induced myocarditis - Healio - January 27th, 2025
- Ozempic and Wegovy may boost health, from addiction to dementia - BBC.com - January 27th, 2025
- Neutrophil diversity and function in health and disease - Nature.com - December 6th, 2024
- Harnessing the Power of the Immune System for Breast Cancer Treatment - Breast Cancer Research Foundation - December 6th, 2024
- Study Examines Neoantigen Landscapes and Their Role in Immunotherapy Efficacy - Consult QD - December 6th, 2024
- The 5 Best Teas to Support Your Immune System This Cold & Flu Season - EatingWell - December 6th, 2024
- Engineered immune cells may be able to tame inflammation - Medical Xpress - December 6th, 2024
- Hybrid model of tumor growth, angiogenesis and immune response yields strategies to improve antiangiogenic therapy - Nature.com - December 6th, 2024
- Opioids interfere with cancer immunotherapy, but another type of drug could help - Medical Xpress - December 6th, 2024
- RANKL cytokine restores thymus cells in old mice, reducing tumor growth and improving T cell immune response - Fierce Biotech - December 6th, 2024
- Predictive role of neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and systemic immune-inflammation index for mortality in... - December 6th, 2024
- Immuno-Oncology Strategic Industry Research Report 2023-2024 & 2030: Approval of Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and Nivolumab (Opdivo), which Target... - December 6th, 2024
- Study cracks the cold case of immunotherapy resistance - News-Medical.Net - December 6th, 2024
- New immune therapy improves survival and reduces tumor burden in glioblastoma - News-Medical.Net - December 6th, 2024
- Identification of immune-related hub genes and potential molecular mechanisms involved in COVID-19 via integrated bioinformatics analysis - Nature.com - December 6th, 2024
- Immune Cell Breakthrough: Scientists Discover a Hidden Ally in the Fight Against Cancer - SciTechDaily - December 6th, 2024
- Rising temperatures impact the immune system of wild monkeys - Earth.com - December 6th, 2024
- Study declaring Alzheimer's to be a "brain disease" proven to be fabricated - Earth.com - December 6th, 2024
- Warming temperatures impact immune performance of wild monkeys, U-M study shows - University of Michigan News - December 6th, 2024
- New study explores heart risks of cancer immunotherapy - News-Medical.Net - December 6th, 2024
- 'Incredible' way to boost your immune system naturally and ward of colds and flu this winter - The Mirror - December 6th, 2024
- Tis the Season to Boost Your Immune System - Mix93.3 - December 6th, 2024
- A mathematical model simulating the adaptive immune response in various vaccines and vaccination strategies - Nature.com - October 14th, 2024
- Fox Chase Cancer Center Researchers Find Gene That Triggers Immune Response in Treatment-Resistant Small-Cell Lung Cancer - Fox Chase Cancer Center - October 14th, 2024
- What Does It Mean to Be Immunocompromised? - The New York Times - October 14th, 2024
- Scientist hopes to cure Type 1 diabetes by disguising stem cells - The University of Arizona - October 14th, 2024
- Watching an infection unfold with a sphingolipid probe - Drug Discovery News - October 14th, 2024
- The cells that protect your brain against infection could also be behind some chronic diseases - BBC.com - October 14th, 2024
- On Nutrition: Foods that help strengthen the immune system - LimaOhio.com - October 14th, 2024
- An integral T cell pathway has implications for understanding sex-based immune response - Medical Xpress - October 14th, 2024
- Immune Response Linked to Lewy Body Formation - Neuroscience News - October 14th, 2024
- Are vaccines the future of cancer prevention? - Genetic Literacy Project - October 14th, 2024
- The Gut Microbiome and Autoimmunity - Inside Precision Medicine - October 14th, 2024
- Researchers discover how oral cancer cells may block the body's immune response - News-Medical.Net - September 21st, 2024
- Are Vaccines More Effective When You Believe in Them? - Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley - September 21st, 2024
- Researchers discover immune response to dengue can predict risk of severe reinfections - Medical Xpress - September 21st, 2024
- Texas Researchers Find Acid Walls That Shield Cancer Tumors from Bodys Immune System Response - DARKDaily.com - Laboratory News - September 21st, 2024
- Lysosomes in the immunometabolic reprogramming of immune cells in atherosclerosis - Nature.com - September 21st, 2024
- A new way to reprogram immune cells and direct them toward anti-tumor immunity - MIT News - September 21st, 2024
- Unravelling the many mysteries of the immune system - Cosmos - September 21st, 2024
- Long COVID patients maintain robust immune memory two years after infection - News-Medical.Net - September 21st, 2024
- Nutraceuticals and pharmacological to balance the transitional microbiome to extend immunity during COVID-19 and other viral infections - Journal of... - September 21st, 2024
- Which adults benefit from the pneumococcal vaccine? - Mayo Clinic Press - September 21st, 2024
- UAMS receives $2.2 million grant to study immune response to eye disease - talkbusiness.net - September 21st, 2024
- Low oxygen levels in tumors could enhance some of the body's immune responses against cancer - Medical Xpress - September 21st, 2024
- Overview of the Immune System - The Merck Manuals - March 18th, 2024
- What are the organs of the immune system? - InformedHealth.org - NCBI ... - January 17th, 2024
- Mom who homeschools her children reveals she lets her one-year-old play in and EAT mud - but insists it is goo - Daily Mail - November 26th, 2023
- The limits of nutritional supplements: they dont cure or prevent ailments, nor are they harmless - EL PAS USA - November 26th, 2023
- Here's how your gut affects your mental health, immune function and even cardiovascular health - indulgexpress - November 18th, 2023
- From fear to freedom: Anchor Paul LaGrone shares his story of sudden hair loss & the disease that caused it - ABC Action News Tampa Bay - May 9th, 2023
- Strengthen Your Immune System With 4 Simple Strategies - May 1st, 2023
- Immunodeficiency Awareness Month: What Is The Science Behind These Diseases? Know Warning Signs - ABP Live - May 1st, 2023
- Nearly 90% of patients with rare skin cancer respond to therapy that prevents tumors from evading the immune - cleveland.com - April 23rd, 2023
- University of Cincinnati researchers helping develop 'vaccine' to fight aggressive cancer - WKRC TV Cincinnati - April 23rd, 2023
- Sana Biotechnology Highlights Preclinical Hypoimmune Data for its Allogeneic CAR T Platform and Advancements with its In Vivo Fusogen Platform with... - April 23rd, 2023
- Immune System: Parts & Common Problems - Cleveland Clinic - March 21st, 2023
- Disorders of the Immune System | Johns Hopkins Medicine - March 21st, 2023
- Sometimes 15 Minutes Are More Than Enough To Improve Immune System, Sleep Quality And Depression - Revyuh - March 13th, 2023
- People produce endocannabinoids similar to compounds found in marijuana that are critical to many bodily functions - The Conversation Indonesia - February 24th, 2023
- Spending more time with your kids, grandkidsand their germsmay lower risk of a severe outcome from Covid-19, recent studies show - CNBC - December 20th, 2022
- Published in Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer: Using Single-Cell Analysis to Assess the Effects of an Anti-OX40 Monoclonal Antibody in Its... - November 17th, 2022