Month: September 2020

People get vitamin D naturally from sunlight and certain foods, but health experts say three-fourths of people don’t get enough, and when you are vitamin D deficient, you're more susceptible to infections.Saint Luke's Health System cardiologist Dr. James O'Keefe, who studied the effects of vitamin D for years, says it makes sense to watch your levels during the COVID-19 outbreak.“If you're vitamin D deficient, you're more likely to come down with COVID,” O'Keefe said. “If you’re vitamin D deficient, especially if you're really deficient, you're much more likely to have a severe case.”O'Keefe said he takes vitamin D supplements himself and recommends them to his patients. He also said it's a good idea to get a blood test first to know exactly how much to take.“Most people need to tak...

Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have isolated “the smallest biological molecule” that “completely and specifically neutralizes” the virus that causes coronavirus. RECOVERING CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS EXPERIENCING JAW PAIN AS SYMPTOM The antibody component is 10 times smaller than a full-sized antibody, and has been used to create the drug Ab8, shared in the report published by the researchers in the journal Cell on Monday. The drug is seen as a potential preventative against SARS-CoV-2. Researchers are also “thinking outside the box” for how the drug could be administered, stating it may be able to be inhaled or through a superficial injection, instead of an IV. (iStock) According to the report, the drug has been “highly effective in preventing...

Press release from the Humboldt County Joint Information Center: A sixth Humboldt County resident diagnosed with COVID-19 has died. This individual, in their 70s, had been hospitalized for COVID-19 symptoms. Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich expressed her sympathies, saying her heart goes out to this person’s loved ones and everyone who is mourning this loss. Twenty-six new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since Friday, bringing to 473 the total number of county residents who have tested positive for the virus. “The recent increase in case counts is very concerning,” Dr. Frankovich said. “If we continue at this pace, we are at risk of moving to the ‘Substantial’ or Red Tier in the new state framework. This increase not only has implications for the healt...