There’s More to Know About COVID-19

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Someone just sneezed in an enclosed area such as an office or a plane. We know the potential for any virus to be in a droplet, especially if someone is sick. How many individual viruses do you have to inhale to get sick? In theory, just one will do it. After reading more details, it’s likely to take more than that, depending on the virus and with COVID-19, we just don’t know yet.

Are we toast? No, because it gets complicated. It depends on the strength of your immune system, and that includes whether you’ve had a coronavirus from a regular cold that was similar enough to have made antibodies to it. Then the virus has to penetrate cells to replicate; they can’t replicate by themselves. How many cells get infected will, in part, determine whether you get sick or not after exposure. Once the infection begins, your body will produce mucus to try to expel the virus, and thus the potential for infecting others continues, whether you get symptoms or not.

What’s the best thing to do? Keep your immune system strong. Take the supplements you typically use to boost your immune system, and don’t forget the probiotics (check out Immune Boost 1-2-3 on my Health Info page). Get enough sleep. Try to get your stress under control—like that’s easy—but most of us can find at least one stressor to eliminate or postpone, especially now when we have the perfect excuse to cancel. Slow and easy exercise. If you’re starting to feel sick, stay home if you can. If you’re sick and you must leave the house, that’s the time to wear a mask—to protect others. And for goodness sake, wash your hands with soap thoroughly and frequently. That seems to be the universal advice.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

P.S. This is the last week to get 20% off on The Optimal Performance CD Set and Workbook, so check it out now.

How Many Viruses in a Single Droplet?

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All news sources are reporting on the COVID-19 virus. We’ve had the first six deaths in the U.S. and people are concerned. I understand; as someone who travels for a living and meets with groups of people locally and around the country, the thought crosses my mind. Of all the things we can do, the most important is to try to limit the spread of the virus person to person. That’s not going to be easy.

In doing some research for an Insiders Conference Call, I wanted to know how many viruses could be in a single droplet expelled from a cough or a sneeze. With viruses being so small, even in relation to bacteria, I knew it had to be a lot, and it is.

In one droplet expelled by a cough, there may be 3,000 or so droplets. In a sneeze, the droplets could be as many as 40,000 or so. That’s a lot, but that isn’t the whole story. The question was how many viruses could be in a single droplet. For someone is symptomatic and infectious, there could be as many as 200 million viruses in a single droplet. So 40,000 x 200,000,000; you can do the math from there. It’s a lot of viruses if you happen to have droplets lodge in your sinus cavity or in your mouth.

But wait! There’s more—and I’ll tell you that on Thursday.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Lots of Updates at DrChet.com

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Thank you for reading what I write. Paula and I also want to thank you again for all your prayers, kind words, and best wishes during her recent Adventure. They mean a lot. As we ramp up and return to full speed, I want to give you an update on the status of projects I committed to before life happened.

For Everyone, Reader or Not

The Nutrition for the 21st Century seminar in Massachusetts was great. People commented that they learned a lot about diet and supplementation.

Everyone in the Atlanta area—and by that I mean within a few hours drive—can go to the next seminar in Atlanta. If you don’t live in that area but have family or business partners that do live there, they can check it out at this link.

One of the things that I didn’t do on the DrChet.com survey in November was request contact information (that was intentional). But it also means I can’t directly contact those of you who live in an area. So if you’re eager to see me in a region of the country, let me know where.

A new Basic Health Info has been posted that explains the change in units for dietary supplements. I mentioned it in a Memo, but this will give you the tools to calculate the amounts yourself.

Members

Two Straight Talk On Health audios have been posted for you to listen to. One covers in more detail the studies I’ve mentioned in Memos on vitamin C and mortality, and vitamin D, calcium, and fractures. The other is about omega-3s as anti-inflammatories, and caffeine and memory. There will be more posted every month so be sure to check. Both Members and Insiders get these audios free; be sure to log in first.

Insiders

The January conference call has been posted on the Insiders page; that’s the page that greets you when you log in as an Insider. You may ask “What conference call?” Due to our unusual circumstances, I recorded the conference call based on questions I’ve gotten from you since the last call plus info on preservatives used in skin and haircare products.

The February conference call will also be recorded and will be posted next week. February topics will be an update on the coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as the best form of zinc and a few of your questions. Soon I’ll be sending out the Insiders Newsletter with the dates of our conference calls through June. They will be live again!

Next week will also be the first of the Do Your Job audios. There will be one posted every week for 26 weeks to help you achieve your health goals. This is free and exclusive to Insiders. If you want to work on both the mental as well as mechanics of losing weight, getting fitter, lowering BP or bloodsugar, and any other health goal, you’ll want to listen to these audios.

Members: You can upgrade to being an Insider by logging in at DrChet.com and going to Membership on the Store page; your cost will be automatically prorated (let me know if it isn’t).

Memo Readers: This is your chance to take advantage of all the benefits of being an Insider as well changing your body as well. Check it out.

The first lifestyle and supplement recommendations for conditions will be added to the Insider benefits within 10 days. I’ll be adding more every month. Yet another reason to be an Insider!

Whether you’re a Memo reader, a Member, or an Insider, thank you for trusting me to give you the most current health information based on research and science. I look forward to serving you in 2020 and beyond.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

2020 Supplement Facts Labels

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Supplement Facts labels can be confusing to say the least. How much of each substance is in a product? Is the source of the supplement natural or synthetic? And what exactly is an International Unit (IU) anyway? I’ve noticed that supplement labels have eliminated IUs and replaced them with weights in milligrams (mg) and micrograms (mcg). What’s going on?

In 2016, the FDA modified the rules for indicating label amounts and gave companies until January 1, 2020, to comply. The RDAs were changing and they wanted to standardize the units of measurement. The IU represented the biological activity of the vitamin, but the source of the vitamin could impact the actual amount of the vitamin in the supplement and thus, the biological activity.

For example, if a product contains natural vitamin E, to find out the mg, the IU would be multiplied by 0.67; but if it was synthetic vitamin E, it would be multiplied by 0.45. That means that a label that indicated 100 IU would now say 67 mg if it were natural vitamin E but 45 mg if it were synthetic. The label would also have to give the form of the vitamin.

The changes impact most of the fat-soluble vitamins and phytonutrients. It’s going to take time to get used to it and understand it, but I see it as a positive move that will help us all understand supplements better.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: http://bit.ly/2HSQ1Jm

Vitamin C and the Coronavirus

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A long-time reader and Insider asked me to check out an article titled “Vitamin C Protects Against Coronavirus.” It was sourced from the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service. I read it, and I read some of the other blog posts from their website on vitamin C and the coronavirus. They claim to have inside information about how vitamin C is being used via infusion in studies that are starting in China.

The article talked about vitamin C in general and how research shows it can be beneficial against viral infections. There’s some truth to that. However, vitamin C in supplement or IV form has not been proved to be effective against any form of the coronavirus. The article was misleading and was contradicted by the “insider information” because those studies in China have not begun.

I’m sorry to say this is the worst form of scientific misinformation that gets passed around the Internet—no evidence of any kind, just irresponsible suggestions that give people false hope. It doesn’t mean that boosting the immune system isn’t a good idea, but to say that it will prevent or cure the coronavirus just isn’t true.

If you want to boost your immune system, go to the Health Info page at drchet.com and check out “Flu Season: Reducing Your Risk” in the Basic Health Info section. No cures. Just the best science has to say right now.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

You’re Invited to a Live Dr. Chet Seminar in Atlanta!

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The next stop on the Dr. Chet tour is going to be in Atlanta, GA, to talk about Nutrition for the 21st Century.

I’ll start with the most important question: what’s the best diet? The keto craze is in full swing, with Paleo right behind. The opposite side is going vegan, an all plant-based diet. What’s best for weight loss? For more energy? For weight maintenance? I’ll let you know the pros and cons of each approach so you can make the right choice for you.

Second, no matter which diet you choose to follow, will you get adequate nutrients? No matter how healthy the diet, there will always be gaps because of the way our food is grown and processed. This time around, it’s not just getting the right nutrients for your body but also your microbiome, the microbes in your digestive system that are critical to your immune system. They require healthier choices as well. I’ll cover the basic nutritional supplements for adults and children to lay a good foundation.

How do you decide on a quality manufacturer? There are new companies being started every day, and I’ll give you specific criteria you can use to evaluate supplement manufacturers. If you’re going to put supplements in your body, you want to be certain they’re safe and effective. I’ll let you know how to do that.

Next, there are some conditions that may be the result of a lack of adequate nutrients. Supplements don’t cure diseases, but the right nutrition may help your body help itself. I’ll cover some common conditions.

I’ll also have time to answer your questions. The goal is to provide you with enough information for you to make healthy choices every day. Please join me to get the latest information to do exactly that.

Who should attend? People who find themselves confused by the nutrition information available; one day something’s good, the next day it’s bad. I’ll clarify that for you. If you’re concerned about your personal health or that of your family, or you’re a business owner who wants to understand supplementation and diet better, you should be there. Everyone will walk away with something that will help them make healthier choices.

Nutrition for the 21st Century
March 22, 2020, 2 – 5 p.m.
Dunwoody Country Club
1600 Dunwoody Drive
Atlanta GA 30350

$29.95

Important note: Country club rules say you can’t buy tickets at the door, but you can buy them on your smartphone in the hallway or on your way there by going to drchet.com; please complete your purchase by 1:45. Your name will be added electronically to the list.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Paula’s Adventure: What Happened and What Can We Learn?

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Before we explore the cause and what lessons we can learn, Paula and I want to thank you for your support and prayers for us. I know that some of you were very concerned, especially because of the way I presented it one piece at a time. I’m sorry. It just seemed logical to me to keep each piece contained and keep the reading to less than two minutes for the Tuesday and Thursday Memos. Next time, and I really hope there’s no next time, I’ll let you know the outcome and then tell you the story.

What Caused the Sodium to Drop to Dangerous Levels?

The physician in charge thought the cause was a diuretic Paula had been taking for edema (fluid retention) since her 20s. He concluded that she became over-sensitive to it and it began to eliminate too much sodium. That leads to hyponatremia, low sodium levels. That happens to runners when they drink only water while training in hot weather; that’s why sports drinks have electrolytes, and why sports drinks (or Pedialyte for kids) are a good addition to your diet when you’re very ill and vomiting or not eating.

I can’t say for certain—it’s not my area—but I think factors involved with that chronic cough, the OTC drugs we used, and not eating and not drinking enough contributed to the problem. The altering of our taste buds happened to both Paula and me; nothing tasted normal, let alone good. Lower intake of fluids and food also lowered sodium intake. As for the OTC drugs, guaifenesin found in Mucinex helps reduce coughing, but it can also contribute to dizziness and drowsiness. Then we add the benzocaine and menthol in the throat lozenges and the acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and doxylamine succinate in Nyquil, and who knows what all that adds up to when combined with everyday meds? While the primary cause was the diuretic, the other factors probably helped bring it to crisis level.

What Can We Learn From Paula’s Adventure?

The Rule and Some Additions
You’ve heard me say, “When in doubt, check it out!” Do it immediately if you think it’s related to your heart, or after two weeks if it’s a chronic condition that doesn’t go away. Paula saw the doctor after 10 days, and I happened to have my physical about the same time.

Here’s the addition: do what Paula did. Write out every symptom that you noticed since it began, plus the medications you take, the OTC medications you may have added, and any supplements you take. If you’re experiencing anything, write it down. If Paula hadn’t written about her blurry vision and hearing sounds that weren’t there, they may not have sent her to the ER. She could have had something more serious happen such as a seizure. Write everything down and call the doctor’s office!

Review All Medications and Supplements at Your Annual Physical
Once every year or so, you should review your medications with your physician to see if there are any known interactions. Maybe a symptom is related to too much or too little of something you’re taking. That’s why a yearly physical with a thorough blood test is important for everyone, but especially as we get older. Another factor we discovered from Paula’s many blood tests was that her thyroid medication was working too well, so the doctor reduced her dosage.

It may be that you should consult a pharmacist. They deal with a wider variety of drugs, and they hear first about whether there are known interactions. Remember, there’s no research on interactions between medications or supplements. Physicians and pharmacists report it to the adverse effects hotline and it gets added to the list, but I’m not sure how widely that info is spread.

The Bottom Line

Paula wants to say how grateful she is for the exceptional care she received at Blodgett Hospital; we feel very fortunate to have excellent medical care here in West Michigan. She’s still recovering, and her energy levels are lower than normal.

I hope her adventure helps you understand that our bodies are complicated. Under stress such as that severe cough and cold, our bodies may respond differently than we expect. Take what we’ve learned and apply it to your life. That would make the experience worth it.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

P.S. The next Dr. Chet Nutrition in the 21st Century is going to be in Atlanta on March 22. More details tomorrow.

Paula’s Adventure: ER and ICU

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We arrived at the ER and Paula was checked in on Tuesday morning, February 4. The cough was obvious as well as the difficulty breathing. They took her vitals, and her blood pressure was very high. Most likely because of the hallucinations, they did a CAT scan of her head, but there were no apparent issues. Also, no cats (that’s a family joke from Paula’s dad). They also took an x-ray of her lungs: mostly clear but a little sign of pneumonia in a lower lung. That seemed about all.

Then the results of her blood tests came back, and yikes. Normal sodium levels are 135-145 mEq/L; hers was 105 mEq/L. Her potassium was also below the normal range. She wasn’t going anywhere because she was in danger of having seizures, and our doctor said she’s surprised she hadn’t had one.

They immediately began to replace sodium and potassium in the ER before her admission. The trick is that it must be done slowly; if it went up too fast, she would also have been in danger of seizures and heart problems. She was transferred to a room in the ICU, because she needed constant monitoring, frequent blood draw—every two hours around the clock for the first few days—and they needed to be sure she wasn’t contagious because of the cough that was still present. (She was not.) I asked about her sodium level after each blood draw, and it consistently went up over the next five days. Once it hit 135 mEq/L, she was ready to be released.

My observation was that she was vastly improved by the day after her admission. However, that didn’t mean she was out of danger and she wasn’t going anywhere until she hit that 135 number. By that time, I had to leave for a speaking gig in Nashville. She was organizing the room, so I knew she was close to normal; still a little shaky but normal. She was on a heart monitor the whole time, and as she was organizing the room, a nurse came in and said, “What are you doing? Your heart rate’s up.” He suggested she quit futzing and sit down for a while.

She was released and brought home on Saturday by one of our pretend daughters, and I got home a few hours later.

What caused the sodium and potassium loss? More than that, what can we learn from Paula’s adventure? I’ll let you know on Saturday. I’ll also tell you when and where my next Nutrition in the 21st Century Seminar will take place.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Paula’s Adventure

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West Michigan has seen the cough and cold to end all coughs and colds. If you read “No Memos,” you know that it impacted everyone in the house. At that time, I was beginning my third week and Paula was finishing her second. By far, she had it the worst: chronic cough 24 hours a day and trouble breathing because her throat was so inflamed from coughing. She was taking OTC cough medication, ibuprofen, and throat lozenges and was on antibiotics because the nurse practitioner felt that, with such thick congestion in her chest, it had to be a sinus infection that caused post-nasal drip. Five days later, it was worse than ever.

She woke up during the night and typed out her symptoms. In addition to the cough and cold symptoms, she also had blurry vision, some dizziness, and headaches. She was walking like a drunk, and she hadn’t taken that much cough syrup! She had a couple bouts of vomiting and the chills. She then added to the list lack of focus, not remembering conversations, hearing the washing machine in the middle of the night when it wasn’t on, hearing me talking to her when I was asleep, and seeing things like a sweater on the nightstand that wasn’t there.

She called the doctor’s office and read the list to the phone nurse. When she got to the hallucination symptoms, the nurse said to go to the ER now. One thing that you don’t know about Paula is that she doesn’t leave the house unless she has at least light make-up, hair combed, and wearing appropriate clothes. Not this time; she put on a comfy dress, her coat, and was ready; something had to be really wrong and she wasn’t messing around. She had already printed out the complete list of symptoms and medications, so off we went.

The adventure continues in the ER and I’ll tell you about that on Thursday.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Watch This

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Many readers have asked me to review movies over the years such as Forks Over Knives, In Defense of Food, and Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. This time, I’m asking you to watch a series by Andrew Zimmern titled What’s Eating America, a five-part series which examines some of the country’s problems through the lens of food.

Zimmern is a chef who’s traveled the world tasting foods on a series called Bizarre Foods. This time, he’s looking at topics related to foods and food production. Just like the authors and producers of those films, it contains his opinions on his observations, and they may be as controversial as those films.

The series begins tonight on MSNBC at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. Based on what I’ve seen and heard so far, it will give another perspective on our food supply, and I think that’s valuable. It’s information we all need.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet