With the worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19, leaders across a range of industries are turning their attention to the unique problems it presents. One example of this is work from David Schmidt, the CEO of LifeWave, a leading health and wellness company. He has used his perspective as an inventor and researcher to help provide people with information relevant to staying safe during these uncertain times. We’ve reviewed information from a recent webinar by the company leader to help our readers gain the benefit of his insights.
Disclaimer
Before diving into the information itself, it is prudent to provide the following disclaimer so that this content can be viewed in the appropriate context. The CEO of LifeWave is not a medical doctor and the insights he has provided are only intended for informational purposes. This information should be used in conjunction with direct input from a qualified healthcare professional. Products from LifeWave cannot be used to cure, treat, or prevent the coronavirus. If you become infected with the virus, contact a doctor to determine the next steps that should be taken.
About the virus
Since there is so much misinformation concerning this pandemic, let’s first take a look at the virus itself to better understand what it is and the unique concerns associated with it. The virus that causes Covid-19 is a coronavirus. This virus type is quite common and can cause many different types of diseases including the common cold, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The virus that causes Covid-19 is new and distinct from these other viruses, however, so it is known as a novel coronavirus.
Symptoms of the disease can include fever, fatigue, dry cough, shortness of breath, aches and pains, sore throat, and more. Carriers of the virus may also exhibit no symptoms at all. The disease has an incubation time of two weeks or more, during which a carrier may exhibit no symptoms but may still be contagious. This is one of the factors that has contributed to the spread of the disease, since infected individuals may spend extended periods of time interacting with others and spreading the disease without realizing they are contagious. This is also one of the reasons that social distancing has been one of the primary methods of slowing the spread of the pandemic.
Virus transmission
While the spread of the virus by asymptomatic individuals is contributing to this pandemic, there are also other factors that may contribute to its spread. The novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 is estimated by some experts to be 10,000 times more infectious than other coronaviruses that are more commonly seen. This is due, in part, to the size of its viral colony and how many particles of the virus may be exhaled in the course of normal respiration. This spread can be intensified by coughing or sneezing by infected individuals.
While a major source of virus transmission is through respiratory droplets in the cases presented above, there are other transmission vectorsthat should be considered as well. Individuals can become infected if they come into close contact with an infected individual. Transmission can also occur when individuals touch a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touch their mouth, nose, or eyes. The virus can live for varying time periods depending on the type of surface upon which it rests. For instance, the virus can survive up to 3 hours on copper, up to 4 hours on cardboard, and up to 3 days on stainless steel.
Increased risk
As noted in the webinar hosted by David Schmidt, while everyone should remain informed and take all necessary precautions concerning the virus, it is also important for individuals to understand what factors may place them at an increased risk of contracting the disease. Those who are in an increased risk group may want to take additional precautions or engage in actions to reduce their risk, if possible.
One of the additional risk factors for contracting and developing serious symptoms from the disease includes age. While people at any age can contract the virus, those with an impaired immune system, such as older individuals, have a greater potential to become seriously ill. Obese individuals, individuals with autoimmune conditions, and individuals who consume excessive amounts of alcohol are also at an increased risk due to impaired immune function. Since Covid-19 is a respiratory illness, those with impaired respiratory function, such as smokers, are also at a higher risk of developing serious symptoms if infected with the novel coronavirus.
Additional precautions
While social distancing is one of the primary ways of helping to slow the spread of the coronavirus, there may also be some additional actions that individuals can take to help reduce their chance of becoming infected. One method touched upon by the CEO was the use of hydrogen peroxide, which has been shown to inactivate the novel coronavirus in concentrations of as little as 0.5%. Pharmacies typically sell 3% solutions of the liquid that can be diluted and used as a gargle to prevent viral infection. This practice may help combat viral particles that have become lodged in an individual’s throat during respiration or food consumption.
Ozone has also been shown to be helpful in destroying viruses. This fact can be beneficial for those in situations where they share space with other individuals, such as in an office or shared living setup. In this context, an ozone purifier can help to clean the air and reduce viral load in one’s immediate environment. It is important to take note of the type of ozone air purifier that is being used since some units are intended for disinfecting purposes only. In this case, it is important to find a unit that can operate while people are in the general vicinity.
Diet
Diet may be another useful ally for those seeking to improve their wellness at this time. An optimal diet may help bolster one’s immune system and generally improve one’s chances of preventing infection. Healthy fats can be a key part of a nutritious diet, Omega 3 fatty acids being one of the most useful fats in this regard. These fats have been shown to provide proteins and antioxidants that can play an important role in maintaining a high-functioning immune system. These fats can be found in many different sources such as fish oils, seeds, and nuts.
Consuming high levels of fruits and vegetables can also provide a key source of antioxidants that can contribute to immune function. A variety of these foods can help to balance one’s dietary intake and provide a range of different phytonutrients. Seeking out different colors and fruit and vegetable types can help to ensure a more complete nutritional representation in one’s daily consumption.
Other foods that could contribute to immune function include liver and dark chocolate. Both foods contain high levels of copper, which has been shown to boost immune function. Adequate hydration is also important for those seeking to keep their immune system functioning at the highest level possible. Finally, intermittent fasting can be employed in conjunction with diet to improve immune response. A typical schedule in this regard is 8 hours of eating followed by 16 hours of fasting.
Supplementation
The LifeWave CEO also pointed to the use of nutritional supplements as a way to help support the body’s natural immune functionality. Here again, copper plays a part in his suggested things to consider. Copper glycinate can be effective in daily doses from 2 – 5 mg, although some people may be at risk for an adverse reaction. Vitamin C is another related supplement here, with its use connected to elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide in the body. Combining copper and Vitamin C has been shown to have an inactivating effect on the HSV virus.
Garlic extract is another supplement with intriguing properties. Garlic has been shown to have a positive effect on immune system function, an effect that also may become more pronounced when combined with Vitamin C supplementation. While this is encouraging, caution should be used when supplementing garlic. There may be some undesirable telomere effects related to garlic supplementation, so it may not be appropriate to take daily.
Other supplements that may be of use in this area include melatonin, colostrum, ginger root, zinc gluconate, and Vitamin D. All of these supplements have been connected to enhanced immune system properties and/or a reduced inflammatory response. This may be beneficial when seeking to promote overall wellness.
Sleep
Sleep is also extremely beneficial for promoting an optimally-functioning immune system. Most sleep recommendations advocate for 7 – 8 hours of sleep per night to keep your body operating to the best of its ability. Melatonin, mentioned above in the supplement section, can also be helpful for individuals seeking to improve the quality and duration of their sleep. This may make the supplement doubly beneficial for those trying to improve their immune function and ward off viral threats.
Habit-building can also be a viable strategy for improving sleep quality. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day can help one’s body develop a natural rhythm for falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night. Reducing the use of electronic devices, especially those with screens, before bedtime may also be of benefit here. Other strategies that have been used to encourage overall sleep quality include adequate hydration, stress reduction, and other positive lifestyle choices.
Stress reduction
In addition to having a beneficial effect on sleep quality, reducing the level of stress in one’s life can have a positive impact on a person’s immune system. This is due to a number of factors but perhaps most significant is stress’s tendency to increase inflammation in a person’s system. Reducing stress can, therefore, have an anti-inflammatory effect and overall beneficial impact on a person’s wellbeing.
Techniques for reducing stress include increasing levels of exercise, engaging in mindfulness meditation, and controlling one’s breathing.
Exercise
Like stress reduction, exercise can also have a positive impact on a person’s immune system. This points to the interconnectedness of many of the areas of focus touched upon by Mr. Schmidt. Exercise can improve immune function by improving a person’s quality of sleep and their ability to engage in stress reduction. It can also help to mitigate some of the factors that make a person more susceptible to disease, such as obesity and reduced cardiovascular capacity.
Intense exercise can take many forms and can include strengthening work such as resistance training, weightlifting, or bodyweight exercises. Yoga, Qi Gong, and calisthenics can be used by individuals who are seeking to improve flexibility through exercise. Sprinting or other forms of high-intensity interval training can help to improve cardiovascular function. Exercising while sick has been associated with compromising the immune system, so individuals who are dealing with active symptoms should contact a medical professional before making the decision to work out.
Though the novel coronavirus has now spread worldwide, affecting the global population, there still may be much that can be done on the individual level to improve wellness. Social distancing is an important part of any person’s overall wellness strategy at this time. In addition, the above information from the CEO of LifeWave can help to improve wellness and promote optimal immune function. Possible efforts here include optimizing diet, exercise, sleep, hydration, and stress management. Applying this information alongside the guidance and supervision of a qualified medical professional may be beneficial at this time.
About the company
LifeWave is a leading health and wellness company founded in 2004 by David Schmidt. The company’s founder helped create its innovative line of offerings from a lifetime of invention, product development, and work in various areas of business. The offerings for which the company is best known are its line of patented phototherapy patches. These patches are applied topically to a user’s skin in order to reflect specific wavelengths of light back into the body. Depending on patch design, this process can activate profound changes at the cellular level that can improve a number of wellness markers. The company’s patches have been used to combat aging, reduce pain, and improve overall energy levels. Due to the success of its offerings, the company has been singled out in multiple years on the list of fastest-growing companies by Inc. Magazine.
