Cara Natterson's Blog, page 8

Stories of Worry Proofing

First, some newsworthy science…

Does coronavirus discriminate based on gender? Global data points to many more deaths among men than women. But why? It is likely due to a combination of factors, ranging from… READ MORE

Worry Proofing from Behind a Mask

To mask or not to mask, that is the question. Like everything else during this pandemic, when I educate myself enough, I tend to shift my opinions. So while I wasn’t the one donning a mask and gloves to the market last week, I will be doing so going forward thanks to a bunch of data and videos like this one.

Even the CDC is starting to change its tune, thanks to new data that suggests a quarter of all people have no symptoms of their coronavirus, so they may be spreading the virus unknowingly…READ MORE

Testing Your Worry Proofing-- March 30, 2020

From the Medicine + Science P.O.V.:

Coronavirus tests in the US have been plagued by problems since day one – here’s a great review of what went wrong. And this is an excellent piece from Wired about everything you need to know about coronavirus testing…READ MORE

 

Still Worry Proofing - March 27, 2020

What is the social distancing exit strategy? Here’s a great piece from STAT about when we can  ease up on current restrictions  and resume life as usual (spoiler alert: the answer is debatable). Want a current moment example? Here’s what happened in  Hong Kong  when strict stay-at-home restrictions were lifted – and mind you, that’s in Hong Kong, where the average person takes infection control fairly seriously to begin with.… READ MORE

Worry Proofing from 6 Feet or More

A new symptom? Looks like  loss of smell or taste  may be a hallmark of coronavirus infection and a reason to self-isolate.

The FDA just approved the first  rapid coronavirus test . The tests should be available beginning March 30, and when a person is tested results can available as quickly as 45 minutes later – a vast improvement over...READ MORE

Worry Proofing From Home

Hi all… I have decided to try to throw together a list every few days with the best COVID-related info I have stumbled across – feel free to forward/share with anyone you like. Some are articles about the virus, others about its spread. Some are about collateral damage and others about how communities are pulling together. Many of these links have been forwarded to me by friends, so big thanks to everyone and please keep passing along good content. And despite how stifling it may feel, thanks for staying home and washing your hands like crazy! 

Is it safe to take out food? How about receiving delivered groceries? Docs have fielded many food-related questions over the past few days. This Atlantic piece covers the issue, as does this one from the Wall Street Journal.

 

Two articles about coronavirus in young people, with a bold-face message that younger folks can still get infected and become quite ill. The first covers the ways in which the illness looks different in kids and adults. The second looks at early COVID-19 cases in the US and the surprising number of hospitalized adults ages 20 – 54. While the death rate is far less in younger populations, they can still become gravely ill.

 

One of my closest friends asked me the other day to weigh in on the UK’s decision to go its own way, skipping major closures in favor of a policy that will result in more people becoming sick with COVID-19 faster in order to achieve herd immunity quickly. The New England Journal of Medicine said it better than I ever could. Oh, and PS, Boris Johnson began backtracking on March 16 and completely reversed the policy this weekend.

 

Yale University’s most popular class is called The Science of Well-Being. Basically, it’s a class in how to be happy. And now it’s available free online to anyone who wants to take it.

 

There are definitely silver linings to this epidemic. Lots of parents are posting about deep bonding thanks to all this new family time. And then there are the environmental benefits of staying home, namely less pollution because we aren’t driving nearly as much and many workplaces are currently shut down.  

 

And because every one of these newsletters needs to include at least one funny moment, I am giving you two. The talking dog video was sent by a friend last night; the bottom image comes courtesy of McSweeney’s:

Worry Proofing Against Coronavirus

Hi all…

I have decided to try to throw together a list every few days with the best COVID-related info I have stumbled across – feel free to forward/share with anyone you like. Some are articles about the virus, others about its spread. Some are about collateral damage and others about how communities are pulling together. Many of these links have been forwarded to me by friends, so big thanks to everyone and please keep passing along good content. And despite how stifling it may feel, thanks for staying home and washing your hands like crazy! 

The Washington Post has a very helpful explanation about flattening the curve.

Yesterday the New England Journal of Medicine posted this piece that suggests the virus is far more airborne than originally thought. A slightly less medical version that may be more readable for most can be found here. According to this study, coronavirus can live in the air for 3 hours and on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for up to 72 hours.

This STAT article walks through all the terminology that is pinging around these days – read to understand the difference between quarantines, lockdowns, and sheltering in place and what could happen depending upon whether we act as a country or decisions are left to cities and states.

If you were wondering where this novel coronavirus came from in the first place, this paper explains why it wasn’t manufactured in a laboratory as some conspiracy theorists have argued.

Michael Levitt’s math (he’s a Nobel laureate and expert number cruncher) will make you feel better about this epidemic.

In Italy, they are now 3D printing some hospital supplies and it’s game changing. Anyone in the US who has the ability to 3D print on a mass scale, take note, because we know our supply lines will run short in a few weeks.

Chris Martin played an impromptu concert to ease fears and remind people that we are all in this together. Thank you Chris – you have a heart of gold!   

 And from my brother and sister-in-law, a little humor:

Here's What We Don't Know

I resisted writing about the new strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, because it’s either that or politics at the moment, and wouldn’t it be nice to read about something – anything – else?! But the COVID-19 landscape is rapidly evolving, and it feels untrue to the core of my doctor-self to not address the flurry of texts I have received. Besides, dealing with  this  particular  virus feels a whole lot like… READ MORE

Viral Post

Abdu Sharkawy is an infectious disease specialist at the University of Toronto. This past weekend, his Facebook post about COVID-19 went viral. And for good reason. An epidemic of this proportion has not been seen in our lifetime, fanning the flames of the 24/7 news and social media cycle to disseminate information faster, even, than the transmission of this infection. But as images of wailing…READ MORE

2 Parts Aloe, 1 Part Alcohol

I have never been a believer in hand sanitizer over soap, which is why I don’t own any. Soap simply works better. It grabs the oils off the skin in a way that alcohol-based sanitizers don’t. It also removes basic dirt and a wide variety of germs, from viruses to bacteria. Plus, when we rub our hands together to make soap foam, the friction ejects germs trying to hang on. Ask any kid I have ever taught in a health class, and they will tell you how loudly I sing the praises of soap! 

These days, standing on this soapbox has left me feeling a little foolish. While I firmly believe in good old-fashioned hand washing, it’s not very feasible on the go. And with COVID-19 in the community, we all need a portable option. You know what else isn’t very feasible? Forking over $100 for a bottle of Purell (which, by the way, isn’t even going to arrive for another two weeks if you are buying online... and if you’re lucky).    

Turns out, there are lots of homemade hand sanitizer options. Google DIY hand sanitizers – you'll find a ton of recipes. You’ll also get all sorts of disclaimers, including a hilarious one (joking, not joking) from Tito’s vodka imploring people not to use their alcohol for hand-sanitizing purposes because it’s not strong enough. If you want more info, including recipes and best strategies for use (rub for 20 seconds!) 

Denatured alcohol can be used to strip floors and make shellac, but don’t put it in your homemade hand sanitizer to fight the COVID-19 coronavirus.The Internet has exploded with homemade sanitizer recipes as it becomes harder to find Purell and other hand sanitizer brands, even in Ohio, where there are no confirmed cases of the illness. Akron-based GOJO Industries, which makes Purell, is ramping up production to try and meet demand as people stock up ahead because of coronavirus worries. READ MORE