SARS-CoV-2 and the Immune System

In early 2020, the world was paralysed as the SARs-CoV-2 (coronavirus) pandemic spread rapidly around the globe. Countries were ill-prepared for this new highly contagious virus, and many countries (particularly America) ignored early warnings to take fast measures for containment.

Once reality hit the masses, people everywhere raced to purchase sanitizing products, masks, gloves, “immune boosting” supplements, medical supplies, essential goods and more in preparation for the government issued shelter-in-place orders.

Once in quarantine, the world conducted endless online searches about the virus and were glued to television news programming about the pandemic. Thankfully, through some of this information, millions developed a new level of understanding of (and appreciation for) the power of the body’s own immune system and its outstanding ability to protect us – when functioning optimally.

Coronavirus Death Rates and Risk Factors:

After three months of self-quarantine in effect, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 428,000 deaths were attributed to SARs-CoV-2 globally, with almost one-quarter of the fatalities in the United states – where obesity is rampant.

The Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now identified obesity as one of the top risk factors in contracting the coronavirus, second only to old age. Several studies revealed that obesity not only increases the risk of getting coronavirus, it also makes it difficult for the body to fight the virus without the aid of hospitalization and/or use of a mechanical ventilator.

Everyone who has ever had a bad cut has witnessed the immune system’s inflammatory response to protect the body from infection. This is seen and felt in the warm red area that develops around the injury.

The reason the coronavirus can cause severe respiratory issues is because the body detects that it’s being hit by a cataclysmic invader and reacts by causing massive amounts of inflammation in an attempt to kill it. This extreme amount of inflammation irritates the lungs, which in the obese are already inflammed from the immune system’s constant efforts to fight a host of health hazards often caused by the lifestyle choices of the obese.

What causes death from the coronavirus?

Most people know that if someone is very sick with the coronavirus, they need to be hospitalized, given antiviral medications and intubated (a tube inserted down the windpipe to enable breathing) or given a masked ventilator to help them breath. What most don’t know is what actually causes death in patients with SARs-CoV-2.

Coronavirus related deaths are caused when the immune system is unsuccessful in obliterating the virus. After launching every killer cell and engaging every mechanism, acute respiratory distress syndrome sets in – which prevents the lungs and the body from getting enough oxygen to live.

At this point, the immune system is much like the red alert state on a spaceship in a science fiction movie – careening out of control, causing inflammation and damage in its wake. As inflammation spreads throughout the body, organs and systems start to fail and ultimately shut down.

Your immune system is your best defense against SARs-CoV-2.

With a vaccine months,  if not years away, we are pleased to see that people all around the world are taking measures to mitigate their chances of contracting the coronavirus by making new lifestyle choices shown to help regulate the body’s immune system so it can function optimally. These choices include eating whole foods, getting 7 – 8 hours of quality sleep each night, and engaging in some form of regular exercise.

As anyone with a chronic medical condition or a compromised immune system knows, there are many potential health risks associated with having a weakened immune system, including the risk of contracting SARs-CoV-2. These “underlying health conditions” referred to so often are equally responsible for the global wearing of masks, as everyone strives to stay healthy and ensure they don’t put others at risk.

As a medical practice and research facility that specializes in chronic illness, the Seraph Medical and scientific teams are as aware of our patients disease(s) as we are the state of their immune systems. When creating treatment plans for our patients, we pay equal attention to effectively modulating the body’s own immune system to help heal our patients from disease and keep them healthy.

If you are living with a chronic illness, your own immune system can be your best ally. Please contact us to schedule a consultation to learn how our team of medical professionals and scientists can help.