My husband is 50 yrs old and has asthma. It is well controlled with Advair and with a few flare ups from time to time that His rescue inhaler will take care of. He hasn’t required a breathing treatment in many yrs. We are scheduled to go on a cruise in May. I am concerned considering he has asthma and I know there is so much still to be learned about this virus. Neither of us have any other underlying health conditions and are healthy otherwise.  He would still like to go but I am uncertain at this time. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Ellie89 posted:

I too am desperately looking for hints on what to do in the Covid-19 situation as someone with Asthma.

From what I understand, I am not more likely to contract the virus, but it is likely that it will affect me more strongly once I do. Given the fact that at this point, we're mostly talking about "when" we will all be infected, rather than "if" - shouldn't it be the logical next step to quarantine everyone who's part of the higher risk demographic?

I have a job that I could potentially do from home, however my bosses are rather reluctant to allow it. As of now, every article and every website contains slightly different information - again, even though the common ground already seems to be that the absolute majority of people will in fact be infected. As long as there is not one unified opinion on this, or even an official statement recommending people that are at a higher risk to stay home, what do I tell my bosses? Or do I just continue to get on public transport and walk around the office, all while hoping for the best? I just can't believe there's no better way to deal with this.

Thanks in advance for your replies

My husband has adult-onset asthma and controls it with daily medication, however, I am still concerned what would happen to him if he contracted coronavirus, since I've seen him battle numerous sinus infections and suffer considerably. He is a college instructor and is exposed to many people on a daily basis. I do not have asthma, but also want to avoid becoming ill so I don't infect him, so we are both on a daily vitamin regimen of immune-boosting vitamins, including D3, C, fish oil, B2, B12, and a multivitamin that includes recommended daily doses of other immune-boosting vitamins. I have taken all of these vitamins regularly, but my husband hasn't until the past week. We also eat mostly plant-based foods and avoid processed foods and excess sugar. I also asked my husband to start exercising regularly. We exercise together for motivation. I know that 100% grape juice (3 8oz. glasses/day) also boosts immunity. I learned about it when researching how to increase immunity several years ago when I was also teaching. Taking the vitamins and grape juice and exercising at least 3 days/week enabled me to avoid becoming ill when I previously contracted an illness every quarter I taught. I have never heard anyone at the CDC or WHO recommend vitamins to boost immunity, recommend maintaining regular cardiovascular exercise, or recommend a healthy diet, but based on recommendations from our family physician and reading other physicians' advice, I feel that all of these are imporant to include into our regular regimen to avoid becoming ill in the first place. I want us to do everything in our power to stay healthy. BTW - I have not yet heard that the majority of people living in the U.S. will become infected, so I hope that is not an absolute. All the best!

That article that supposedly shows that people with asthma are at low risk had NO people with asthma in it!  They presume that since asthma rates in Wuhan are low, that people with asthma aren't at risk. How did that get past empirical review?

Lorene posted:

Shea posted:

I just think that N95 masks can be helpful. They found the size of the corona virus and those masks block that size particle and yes it needs a tight seal but that is perfectly possible to teach people what that is. It can help. And high-risk population should know this and have time to irder and waut fir one before it gets widespread. And its possible to make enough for everyone including healthcare workers. And it doesnt need to be mandated fir everyobe, it usnt 100 percent, but it can help...   I feel it is deceptive and inappropriate and lowers trust for the CDC and WHO and surgeon general to tell the public it wont help them. Yes you have to remove it correctly. Yes you have to get the right size and not have a beard probably. Just give us the real facts and information that yes it can be helpful:

"N95 masks fulfill the filtering efficiency criteria of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and are approved for protection against droplet and airborne transmission of 95% of particles greater than 0.3 microns in size. N95 masks, which must be fit tested, are believed to offer protection against the contact and droplet spread of the coronavirus."

https://www.apsf.org/news-upda...oronavirus-covid-19/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/w...QFKAGwASA%253D#ampf=

https://smartairfilters.com/en...s-n95-surgical-mask/

 

Hi @Shea N95 masks may provide a layer of protection, but they may be hard to breathe through when you have asthma or an infection. They can also be hot, and often masks lead to people touching their face more in an effort to make the mask most comfortable. Wearing a mask can't hurt, but hand washing and sanitizing are going to be our best bet for protection. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. 

Lorene 

Shea - I agree with you. I live in NYC and travel to work on the subway and wearing a n95 mask would greatly decrease my chances of contracting the virus where I am in close proximity to strangers. I do understand that the CDC and WHO are trying to quell the general population from buying/wearing masks when basic hygiene would be more helpful in the long term but they are not protecting those the with the 'underlying health conditions' that they continually mention. This is a situation where you must take your own health and well-being in your own hands. I have n95 masks and carry one in my bag daily and will not hesitate to use it when I feel unsafe.  The CDC's guidelines are too broad and general and do not speak to me, an asthmatic specifically and how can they when the response about specific conditions are - not enough data! 

Hi Ellie and welcome! The situation is continuously evolving and not all areas are impacted the same right now. Social distancing, including working from home, are coming from local health departments.

There are several topics on the forum discussing how to prepare - https://community.aafa.org/topic/566946312539943977

I too am desperately looking for hints on what to do in the Covid-19 situation as someone with Asthma.

From what I understand, I am not more likely to contract the virus, but it is likely that it will affect me more strongly once I do. Given the fact that at this point, we're mostly talking about "when" we will all be infected, rather than "if" - shouldn't it be the logical next step to quarantine everyone who's part of the higher risk demographic?

I have a job that I could potentially do from home, however my bosses are rather reluctant to allow it. As of now, every article and every website contains slightly different information - again, even though the common ground already seems to be that the absolute majority of people will in fact be infected. As long as there is not one unified opinion on this, or even an official statement recommending people that are at a higher risk to stay home, what do I tell my bosses? Or do I just continue to get on public transport and walk around the office, all while hoping for the best? I just can't believe there's no better way to deal with this.

Thanks in advance for your replies

WillFinnerty posted:

Can coronavirus mask itself in positive tests for FluA or FluB? If a person were to test positive for either of those influenza viruses are they clear of corona? 

The testing for COVID-19 is based on looking for specific gene sequences unique to that virus. Those are gene sequences that do not appear in other similar viruses.

How do the new coronavirus tests work?

PCR tests work by detecting specific genetic material within the virus.

These 100 nucleotides include two genes in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. A sample is considered positive if the test finds both genes, inconclusive if just one gene is found, and negative if neither gene is detected.

Updated to add: you theoretically could have both viruses in which case you will test positive for flu A/B.

Fraser posted:

So I don’t use any asthma meds day to day as i haven’t needed them for years. Should I start using a preventer due to the covid-19 virus to protect myself or just keep a reliever just in case? 

I had asthma as a kid and was hospitalised, it went away a few years later.

I had an asthma attack 25 odd years later after a bad chest infection caused by smoking, again after a few months I didn’t need any inhalers etc. 

So now I’m 8-10 years on from that attack thinking if I should start taking a daily preventer? 

Hi! It's great that your asthma is so well controlled that you don't need to take a daily controller/preventative medication. A preventer medicine will not keep you from getting COVID-19. 

I recommend you talk to your health care provider about your concerns. Let them know as soon as possible if you have any asthma or flu-like symptoms. It is important to identify and treat any virus as quickly as possible. 

Lorene 

So I don’t use any asthma meds day to day as i haven’t needed them for years. Should I start using a preventer due to the covid-19 virus to protect myself or just keep a reliever just in case? 

I had asthma as a kid and was hospitalised, it went away a few years later.

I had an asthma attack 25 odd years later after a bad chest infection caused by smoking, again after a few months I didn’t need any inhalers etc. 

So now I’m 8-10 years on from that attack thinking if I should start taking a daily preventer? 

AG posted:

Ronl posted:

AG posted:

I have asthma but it is well controlled with medication. My 4 year old son also has mild asthma that is typically aggravated by colds. He is too young for control medications at least based on his pattern of symptoms. He uses a nebulizer when he is sick. We are traveling in a few weeks and I am very concerned about him. I am trying not to be paranoid but, it is hard when so little is known. He is 4 so handwashing is a constant battle. I feel like I should put a mask on him at least on the plane? I don’t know what to think or do at this point. 

How old is your child? Both of my children displayed symptoms of asthma around age 2. They were both put on preventative medication. This was not easy to accomplish as the newer standards require them to be older then 4. If they are around that age group I would suggest getting very involved with their pediatrician. Simple cases of bronchiolitis had my children staying in children’s hospital for days. (Each visit was to the tune of 24k, for them to supply oxygen) This was extremely frustrating since I was about 99% sure what was going on. Asthma goes back at least three generations on my side of the family. And every time they finally gave my children the steroid we got to go home ( this usually took 3 days or better before they would listen) after expressing these experience with older doctors and not students, as well as our children's pediatrician the proper medicines were finally prescribed. This has greatly improved things for my children. The usual small viruses are no longer emergency visits and several day stays at the hospital

He is 4.5. He has had bronchiolitis multiple times. He has never been hospitalized but each bout seems to get a little worse. It also seems to take him longer to recover. Often when I’ve taken him in to the doctor, although he has a lot of mucus, there’s no wheezing. I was rushed to the hospital multiple times as a child with blue lips. This is one of my biggest fears with him. Thankfully we have never experienced this. I’ve been on prednisone many times in the past with respiratory illnesses. I also lost my best friend to a severe asthma attack in 1996. The ptsd from those experiences and all the news on covid-19 has my anxiety through the roof. 

I wouldn’t worry too much he may be at risk but if he has not been hospitalized for it before it may not make thing much worse then if he had no history. I would invest in a pulse oximeter though, they are surprisingly inexpensive. They can make sure he is getting enough oxygen and cut down on unnecessary visits to the doctor. 

Kathy P posted:

Argos1w posted:

After reading your article it appears that people w asthma that’s controlled are no more at risk that general population - would it be the same for people that have a tendency to get bronchitis when they get sick?

@Argos1w - Because this is a new virus, researchers are still collecting data about the risk for people with asthma. Keeping your asthma under control reduces the risk of complications from any type of respiratory illness. 

It’s important to note this article is talking about transmission, not affect or severity. 

MikeD posted:

Ronl posted:

MikeD posted:

I am struck by how “experts” keep reassuring the general public that there is no alarm if you’re healthy and then in passing mention the elderly and those with underlying issues are at higher risk -  like we don’t need reassurance.  Very little time is spent on these groups when talking about Coronavirus.  There are countless people that fall into these categories - lung disease, heart disease, cancers, etc. It is hard not to panic or have anxiety with the 24/7 coverage.  So i wash my hands constantly and worry about someone coughing or sneezing around me- not much you can do to protect from that other than significant social distancing and isolation.

Yes they have said these people are at greater risk of complications. That really is just a foregone conclusion. What they are all, including all the coverage you see on tv is transmission. Just because you are of compromised health does not mean you are at greater risk of contracting the illness. The current focus is on preventing the spread of the virus. It’s important to weigh what you see in the coverage, very little study has been done on the severity due to the rapid spreading. The initial data points to more severity in the elderly only because the deaths are more prevalent there. But with age comes compromised health. This is rough data based how short of time the virus has been active. If you have health complications your mortality rate is going to be higher as with any illness. It’s to early to have a proper study. And personally prevention has already been lost. Next year or so if a vaccine has not been made I’m sure there will be more information. When a vaccine is made these studies will factor into who needs immunization as a priority. if you have respiratory complications a respiratory virus is going to affect you more. If you’re looking for percentages your wasting your time. 

I’m not looking for percentages.  I’m just expressing thoughts here.  Nothing more....

The information on severity and who and how it affects is not in yet. Until they can say precisely I doubt they will. 

Ronl posted:

MikeD posted:

I am struck by how “experts” keep reassuring the general public that there is no alarm if you’re healthy and then in passing mention the elderly and those with underlying issues are at higher risk -  like we don’t need reassurance.  Very little time is spent on these groups when talking about Coronavirus.  There are countless people that fall into these categories - lung disease, heart disease, cancers, etc. It is hard not to panic or have anxiety with the 24/7 coverage.  So i wash my hands constantly and worry about someone coughing or sneezing around me- not much you can do to protect from that other than significant social distancing and isolation.

Yes they have said these people are at greater risk of complications. That really is just a foregone conclusion. What they are all, including all the coverage you see on tv is transmission. Just because you are of compromised health does not mean you are at greater risk of contracting the illness. The current focus is on preventing the spread of the virus. It’s important to weigh what you see in the coverage, very little study has been done on the severity due to the rapid spreading. The initial data points to more severity in the elderly only because the deaths are more prevalent there. But with age comes compromised health. This is rough data based how short of time the virus has been active. If you have health complications your mortality rate is going to be higher as with any illness. It’s to early to have a proper study. And personally prevention has already been lost. Next year or so if a vaccine has not been made I’m sure there will be more information. When a vaccine is made these studies will factor into who needs immunization as a priority. if you have respiratory complications a respiratory virus is going to affect you more. If you’re looking for percentages your wasting your time. 

I’m not looking for percentages.  I’m just expressing thoughts here.  Nothing more....

MikeD posted:

I am struck by how “experts” keep reassuring the general public that there is no alarm if you’re healthy and then in passing mention the elderly and those with underlying issues are at higher risk -  like we don’t need reassurance.  Very little time is spent on these groups when talking about Coronavirus.  There are countless people that fall into these categories - lung disease, heart disease, cancers, etc. It is hard not to panic or have anxiety with the 24/7 coverage.  So i wash my hands constantly and worry about someone coughing or sneezing around me- not much you can do to protect from that other than significant social distancing and isolation.

Yes they have said these people are at greater risk of complications. That really is just a foregone conclusion. What they are all, including all the coverage you see on tv is transmission. Just because you are of compromised health does not mean you are at greater risk of contracting the illness. The current focus is on preventing the spread of the virus. It’s important to weigh what you see in the coverage, very little study has been done on the severity due to the rapid spreading. The initial data points to more severity in the elderly only because the deaths are more prevalent there. But with age comes compromised health. This is rough data based how short of time the virus has been active. If you have health complications your mortality rate is going to be higher as with any illness. It’s to early to have a proper study. And personally prevention has already been lost. Next year or so if a vaccine has not been made I’m sure there will be more information. When a vaccine is made these studies will factor into who needs immunization as a priority. if you have respiratory complications a respiratory virus is going to affect you more. If you’re looking for percentages your wasting your time. 

I am struck by how “experts” keep reassuring the general public that there is no alarm if you’re healthy and then in passing mention the elderly and those with underlying issues are at higher risk -  like we don’t need reassurance.  Very little time is spent on these groups when talking about Coronavirus.  There are countless people that fall into these categories - lung disease, heart disease, cancers, etc. It is hard not to panic or have anxiety with the 24/7 coverage.  So i wash my hands constantly and worry about someone coughing or sneezing around me- not much you can do to protect from that other than significant social distancing and isolation.

Ronl posted:

AG posted:

I have asthma but it is well controlled with medication. My 4 year old son also has mild asthma that is typically aggravated by colds. He is too young for control medications at least based on his pattern of symptoms. He uses a nebulizer when he is sick. We are traveling in a few weeks and I am very concerned about him. I am trying not to be paranoid but, it is hard when so little is known. He is 4 so handwashing is a constant battle. I feel like I should put a mask on him at least on the plane? I don’t know what to think or do at this point. 

How old is your child? Both of my children displayed symptoms of asthma around age 2. They were both put on preventative medication. This was not easy to accomplish as the newer standards require them to be older then 4. If they are around that age group I would suggest getting very involved with their pediatrician. Simple cases of bronchiolitis had my children staying in children’s hospital for days. (Each visit was to the tune of 24k, for them to supply oxygen) This was extremely frustrating since I was about 99% sure what was going on. Asthma goes back at least three generations on my side of the family. And every time they finally gave my children the steroid we got to go home ( this usually took 3 days or better before they would listen) after expressing these experience with older doctors and not students, as well as our children's pediatrician the proper medicines were finally prescribed. This has greatly improved things for my children. The usual small viruses are no longer emergency visits and several day stays at the hospital

He is 4.5. He has had bronchiolitis multiple times. He has never been hospitalized but each bout seems to get a little worse. It also seems to take him longer to recover. Often when I’ve taken him in to the doctor, although he has a lot of mucus, there’s no wheezing. I was rushed to the hospital multiple times as a child with blue lips. This is one of my biggest fears with him. Thankfully we have never experienced this. I’ve been on prednisone many times in the past with respiratory illnesses. I also lost my best friend to a severe asthma attack in 1996. The ptsd from those experiences and all the news on covid-19 has my anxiety through the roof. 

AG posted:

I have asthma but it is well controlled with medication. My 4 year old son also has mild asthma that is typically aggravated by colds. He is too young for control medications at least based on his pattern of symptoms. He uses a nebulizer when he is sick. We are traveling in a few weeks and I am very concerned about him. I am trying not to be paranoid but, it is hard when so little is known. He is 4 so handwashing is a constant battle. I feel like I should put a mask on him at least on the plane? I don’t know what to think or do at this point. 

How old is your child? Both of my children displayed symptoms of asthma around age 2. They were both put on preventative medication. This was not easy to accomplish as the newer standards require them to be older then 4. If they are around that age group I would suggest getting very involved with their pediatrician. Simple cases of bronchiolitis had my children staying in children’s hospital for days. (Each visit was to the tune of 24k, for them to supply oxygen) This was extremely frustrating since I was about 99% sure what was going on. Asthma goes back at least three generations on my side of the family. And every time they finally gave my children the steroid we got to go home ( this usually took 3 days or better before they would listen) after expressing these experience with older doctors and not students, as well as our children's pediatrician the proper medicines were finally prescribed. This has greatly improved things for my children. The usual small viruses are no longer emergency visits and several day stays at the hospital. 

JonS posted:

Can I suggest that you refer to the actual text of the Chinese report at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.co...ll/10.1111/all.14238 rather than the summary linked on this page. It provides much more detail and explanation of their findings in the Chinese study. It shows that the prevalence of asthma, COPD and allergy in the study was, surprisingly, lower than in the general population. Good luck to all.

Could this be because the prevalence of asthma in China is lower? Or at least it’s left undiagnosed more often, and that would skew the results of a study. 

Can coronavirus mask itself in positive tests for FluA or FluB? If a person were to test positive for either of those influenza viruses are they clear of corona? 

Argos1w posted:

After reading your article it appears that people w asthma that’s controlled are no more at risk that general population - would it be the same for people that have a tendency to get bronchitis when they get sick?

@Argos1w - Because this is a new virus, researchers are still collecting data about the risk for people with asthma. Keeping your asthma under control reduces the risk of complications from any type of respiratory illness. 

Can I suggest that you refer to the actual text of the Chinese report at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.co...ll/10.1111/all.14238 rather than the summary linked on this page. It provides much more detail and explanation of their findings in the Chinese study. It shows that the prevalence of asthma, COPD and allergy in the study was, surprisingly, lower than in the general population. Good luck to all.

Hi - my asthma comes about mostly when I get a cold and at times (3-4 times in last few years) it has developed into  bronchitis and walking pneumonia. Also I have animals which I am allergic to and of course I have that has developed into asthma and shortness of breathe.  I use an Inhaler prior to working out as a precautionary measure bc at times I develop shortness of breathe.  I also have a disc.  After reading your article it appears that people w asthma that’s controlled are no more at risk that general population - would it be the same for people that have a tendency to get bronchitis when they get sick?

Shea posted:

I just think that N95 masks can be helpful. They found the size of the corona virus and those masks block that size particle and yes it needs a tight seal but that is perfectly possible to teach people what that is. It can help. And high-risk population should know this and have time to irder and waut fir one before it gets widespread. And its possible to make enough for everyone including healthcare workers. And it doesnt need to be mandated fir everyobe, it usnt 100 percent, but it can help...   I feel it is deceptive and inappropriate and lowers trust for the CDC and WHO and surgeon general to tell the public it wont help them. Yes you have to remove it correctly. Yes you have to get the right size and not have a beard probably. Just give us the real facts and information that yes it can be helpful:

"N95 masks fulfill the filtering efficiency criteria of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and are approved for protection against droplet and airborne transmission of 95% of particles greater than 0.3 microns in size. N95 masks, which must be fit tested, are believed to offer protection against the contact and droplet spread of the coronavirus."

https://www.apsf.org/news-upda...oronavirus-covid-19/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/w...QFKAGwASA%253D#ampf=

https://smartairfilters.com/en...s-n95-surgical-mask/

 

Hi @Shea N95 masks may provide a layer of protection, but they may be hard to breathe through when you have asthma or an infection. They can also be hot, and often masks lead to people touching their face more in an effort to make the mask most comfortable. Wearing a mask can't hurt, but hand washing and sanitizing are going to be our best bet for protection. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. 

Lorene 

Candace posted:

The title of your article is misleading; there is no information in your article specific to people suffering from asthma. Contracting coronavirus and having asthma as an underlying condition has been highly publicized as leading to critical health issues or fatalities. Your article offers nothing specific to asthma. You should consider changing the article title to: Coronavirus: What You Need to Know, since the content is general information for the public, until you actually have content for an article pertaining to coronavirus with asthma as a comorbidity. Very disappointed.

Hi @Candace - we appreciate your feedback. Have you checked out the latest update? There is a Q&A with Mitchell Grayson, M.D., FAAAAI, FACAAI, allergist/immunologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital and chair of AAFA’s Medical Scientific Council. He specifically addresses asthma and COVID-19.

Lorene  

AG posted:

I have asthma but it is well controlled with medication. My 4 year old son also has mild asthma that is typically aggravated by colds. He is too young for control medications at least based on his pattern of symptoms. He uses a nebulizer when he is sick. We are traveling in a few weeks and I am very concerned about him. I am trying not to be paranoid but, it is hard when so little is known. He is 4 so handwashing is a constant battle. I feel like I should put a mask on him at least on the plane? I don’t know what to think or do at this point. 

Hi @AG - I don't blame you for being concerned for your little one. According to the CDC, there is no evidence that children are more susceptible to the virus. In fact, most confirmed cases reported from China have been in adults. 

The CDC says "Children and their family members should engage in usual preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory infections, including covering coughs, cleaning hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and staying up to date on vaccinations, including influenza.  Additional information on prevention measures can be found here (Prevention for 2019 Novel Coronavirus)." 

Masks are only being recommended at this time for those with the disease to stop it's spread. Wiping the seating area on the plane with disinfectant wipes may provide some protection as well. 

Lorene 

Julio Feria posted:

i suffer from seasonal allergies & it’s been bad especially in NYC ... my doctor 🥼 gave me a cortisone shot on the buttocks to i believe reduce my allergies symptoms  & told me i won’t have to do it again till next month... my question is , if the cortisone shot weakens the immune system was it a smart decision to trust my doctor while the corona virus is out & around my state & actually my county ... i can’t imagine why he wouldn’t take that into consideration & discuss it with me before giving me the shot. i work with people everyday & i feel exposed & anxious now that i have this shot & i have to go to work & possibly be exposed to a virus that can be deadly. please i hope anyone can guide me or help me with this.

Usually one shot doesn't do enough to weaken your immune system. The dosage is too small and it's only a one time thing. If you were to get shots frequently and on a regular basis, it would have more of an effect on the strength of your immune system and your doctor would be required to let you know. But in an otherwise healthy individual with only one shot, you should be in the clear. This is just what my doctor told me. I'm no doctor. If you to be super thorough, call your doctors office or health insurance nurse line

I have asthma but it is well controlled with medication. My 4 year old son also has mild asthma that is typically aggravated by colds. He is too young for control medications at least based on his pattern of symptoms. He uses a nebulizer when he is sick. We are traveling in a few weeks and I am very concerned about him. I am trying not to be paranoid but, it is hard when so little is known. He is 4 so handwashing is a constant battle. I feel like I should put a mask on him at least on the plane? I don’t know what to think or do at this point. 

i suffer from seasonal allergies & it’s been bad especially in NYC ... my doctor 🥼 gave me a cortisone shot on the buttocks to i believe reduce my allergies symptoms  & told me i won’t have to do it again till next month... my question is , if the cortisone shot weakens the immune system was it a smart decision to trust my doctor while the corona virus is out & around my state & actually my county ... i can’t imagine why he wouldn’t take that into consideration & discuss it with me before giving me the shot. i work with people everyday & i feel exposed & anxious now that i have this shot & i have to go to work & possibly be exposed to a virus that can be deadly. please i hope anyone can guide me or help me with this.

I just think that N95 masks can be helpful. They found the size of the corona virus and those masks block that size particle and yes it needs a tight seal but that is perfectly possible to teach people what that is. It can help. And high-risk population should know this and have time to irder and waut fir one before it gets widespread. And its possible to make enough for everyone including healthcare workers. And it doesnt need to be mandated fir everyobe, it usnt 100 percent, but it can help...   I feel it is deceptive and inappropriate and lowers trust for the CDC and WHO and surgeon general to tell the public it wont help them. Yes you have to remove it correctly. Yes you have to get the right size and not have a beard probably. Just give us the real facts and information that yes it can be helpful:

"N95 masks fulfill the filtering efficiency criteria of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and are approved for protection against droplet and airborne transmission of 95% of particles greater than 0.3 microns in size. N95 masks, which must be fit tested, are believed to offer protection against the contact and droplet spread of the coronavirus."

https://www.apsf.org/news-upda...oronavirus-covid-19/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/w...QFKAGwASA%253D#ampf=

https://smartairfilters.com/en...s-n95-surgical-mask/

I Am Curious posted:

Thank you for the updates! Super helpful!

I just wanted to point out that the one study that found no to link to increased risk of complications in persons with asthma also didn't  study anyone with asthma. Ie none of the 140 had (or knew they had) asthma. I think that's an important detail. The wording of the study itself,  concerning asthma and allergic diseases, is misleading until you read the whole thing. Two patients had COPD and they both had grim outcomes. Take what you want from that, but, because of the lack of asthma specific information published, I'm thinking either not a lot of asthma patients have gotten it (doubtful considering air quality in some places), or there just hasn't been enough time to compile info. It's hard to be patient since it's very clear that healthcare workers and researchers are likely overwhelmed in the areas hardest hit, but we have to try. Get enough sleep, stay hydrated, eat nutrient rich foods, take supplements, stay active and avoid large crowds. Most importantly, get or keep your asthma under control and wash your hands. 

Thank you again for getting this information for us. Please continue to keep us posted with allergy and asthma specific information.

Absolutely agree with you on this.  That study is not particularly helpful and I’m unclear ho they came to the conclusion they did without the direct study of asthmatics.  It’s hard not to panic.

Thank you for the updates! Super helpful!

I just wanted to point out that the one study that found no to link to increased risk of complications in persons with asthma also didn't  study anyone with asthma. Ie none of the 140 had (or knew they had) asthma. I think that's an important detail. The wording of the study itself,  concerning asthma and allergic diseases, is misleading until you read the whole thing. Two patients had COPD and they both had grim outcomes. Take what you want from that, but, because of the lack of asthma specific information published, I'm thinking either not a lot of asthma patients have gotten it (doubtful considering air quality in some places), or there just hasn't been enough time to compile info. It's hard to be patient since it's very clear that healthcare workers and researchers are likely overwhelmed in the areas hardest hit, but we have to try. Get enough sleep, stay hydrated, eat nutrient rich foods, take supplements, stay active and avoid large crowds. Most importantly, get or keep your asthma under control and wash your hands. 

Thank you again for getting this information for us. Please continue to keep us posted with allergy and asthma specific information.

Aetzel Griffioen posted:

Thank you for updating your article with specific advice regarding yesterday's comments placed below.

You are welcome, Aetzel. Thank you for your patience while we continue to update the article as more information is made available. 

Lorene 

Thank you for updating your article with specific advice regarding yesterday's comments placed below.

The title of your article is misleading; there is no information in your article specific to people suffering from asthma. Contracting coronavirus and having asthma as an underlying condition has been highly publicized as leading to critical health issues or fatalities. Your article offers nothing specific to asthma. You should consider changing the article title to: Coronavirus: What You Need to Know, since the content is general information for the public, until you actually have content for an article pertaining to coronavirus with asthma as a comorbidity. Very disappointed.

CoachBW posted:

We need a practical article that will be radically honest and realistic about how to survive this as immune-compromised people. What concrete steps should we take WHEN (not “if”) this virus spreads to our community? For example, I am doing the following: procuring an N95 mask to use in public when the virus becomes pervasive; filling all prescriptions I may need if I get sick (inhalers, prednisone, etc.); getting the pneumonia vaccine to prevent the secondary infection if I can; stocking  up on goods in case I need to quarantine myself from the outside world for either protection or illness; meeting with my doctors for input; and starting an elimination diet to reduce the load on my immune system PLUS getting good sleep and exercise and increasing nutrient-dense foods. LET’S GET SPECIFIC PLEASE.

I absolutely agree with you CoachBW.  I've been all around the internet looking for solid advise.  I thought this would be one place where i could get some specific advice.  Hoping better answers come sooner than later.

Welcome CoachBW - we are working on getting the blog updated and have asked our medical advisors specific questions.

Your plan follows many of the CDC recommendations for how to prepare your household for a possible COVID-19 outbreak.

One reminder about masks is that they are most effective when worn by someone who is sick to prevent the spread of the virus through cough droplets. In general, masks don't provide much protection to someone who is not sick. You'd have to be directly coughed/sneezed on by someone who is sick for the mask to help. This is why healthcare workers wear them - they are in close proximity when treating a patient. If your mask does become contaminated, you can spread the virus to your hands when removing it.

The droplets containing the virus are heavy and land on surfaces that are then touched transferring it to your hands. I know people are sick of hearing it, but this is why handwashing is the #1 defense against this or other respiratory viruses.

We need a practical article that will be radically honest and realistic about how to survive this as immune-compromised people. What concrete steps should we take WHEN (not “if”) this virus spreads to our community? For example, I am doing the following: procuring an N95 mask to use in public when the virus becomes pervasive; filling all prescriptions I may need if I get sick (inhalers, prednisone, etc.); getting the pneumonia vaccine to prevent the secondary infection if I can; stocking  up on goods in case I need to quarantine myself from the outside world for either protection or illness; meeting with my doctors for input; and starting an elimination diet to reduce the load on my immune system PLUS getting good sleep and exercise and increasing nutrient-dense foods. LET’S GET SPECIFIC PLEASE.

Thank you all for submitting your questions! We are working on updating our blog above with updated numbers and recommendations. We have also sent a list of questions to our Medical Scientific Council and will share the information as soon as we hear back from the council.

Stay safe and keep washing your hands!

Welcome Evita - those are all great questions! We are currently working with our medical scientific council to update the blog based on the lastest information known about the virus. 

I just read an article today that stated do not take steroids for the corona virus.  It makes it worse.
1. is this true?

2. nebulizers and rescue inhalers are essentially steroidal.  Does this also apply to them?  
3. should we try to avoid using this if we contract the virus?