Coronavirus Prevention Tips

Hello everyone!

I hope this post finds you happy and well!

As I am sure you are all very well aware, the escalating spread of the Coronavirus has us all thinking of what we can and should be doing to ensure our health and safety. Though I don’t feel there is a need to panic, I do feel that we should be more proactive to enhance and protect our health. As such, we are writing to let you know what additional steps we are taking in response to the recent news of the Coronavirus in our area as well as some recommended prevention tips.

Naturally, our main goal is to continue to provide a safe and healing space for each and every one of you. Our ability to do this greatly depends on all of us working together. We have compiled some coronavirus prevention tips to help support our health and wellness as information evolves.

Here is what we have implemented thus far:

• If you are experiencing any symptoms of a cold, flu, chills, fever, feel ill, and/or have any respiratory distress, we ask that you stay home and reschedule your appointment. We now can schedule a 15-minute phone appointment for you if you are seeking advice with regards to herbal remedies and/or supplements.
• If you feel that you may have been exposed to or have the Coronavirus, we suggest that you call your primary care doctor or the Suffolk County Department of Health Services at (631) 854-0000.
• Upon entering our office, we are requesting that you wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds prior to entering the treatment area. As you know, this is one of the easiest and most important things you can do to stay healthy and stop the spread of bacteria and viruses such as colds and flu and perhaps even the coronavirus.
• Though we take great pride in maintaining the cleanliness of our office, we have enhanced our cleaning and disinfecting routine throughout the office to ensure that all surfaces are safe.

Prevention is key!

The good news is that there is much we can do to enhance our health naturally!

Here are a few of my coronavirus prevention tips:

• Wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your face. Did you know that the average person touches their face approximately 20-25 times per hour? Viruses that affect the respiratory system enter the body through mucosal membranes which are found in the nose, oral cavity, and lips. With poor hand hygiene, it’s easy to acquire a viral infection this way.
• If you are sneezing and/or coughing, be sure to use a tissue and cover your nose and mouth. Throw the tissue away and wash your hands.
• Get plenty of rest – Getting adequate sleep is one of the best ways to stay healthy.
• Hydrate well – that means approximately half your body weight in ounces. Weigh 150? Consume 75 ounces of water.
• Consume nutritionally dense and healthy foods – Clean proteins, adequate fruits, vegetables, and good fats. Remember the less you eat out of a box, the healthier you will always be. Your plate should be filled with a variety of colorful foods to ensure that you are getting adequate nutrients. Avoid sugar and excessive amounts of simple carbohydrates including bread, pasta, and baked goods.
• Exercise – Yes, yes, I know some of us love it, some of us don’t. Do your best to get moving! After all, life is about balance.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff — Did you know that stress is a big immune killer?
• Be conscious of your breath — Are you a breath holder? Then, this one is for you…. Check in throughout the day and take several deep lower abdominal breaths. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your lower abdomen. Breathe in slowly through your nose, letting the air in deeply, towards your lower abdomen. The hand on your chest should remain still, while the one on your lower abdomen should rise. Tighten your abdominal muscles and let them fall inward as you exhale through pursed lips. This will flood your body with oxygen and help decrease stress.
• Meditate daily and practice gratitude – Incorporating daily meditation and gratitude is also a great way to check-in with yourself and reduce stress. Have difficulty meditating? Me too!  One of my favorite apps is the Insight Timer app. It is a free app that is literally filled with thousands of meditations for stress, sleep, health, happiness and so much more!
• Laughter is the best medicine – be sure to allow enough time in your schedule to do the things you love with the people you love!
• Supplements and herbal remedies can be helpful in maintaining a healthy immune system. Here are a few of my favorite immune-building supplements. As always, it’s best to schedule a consultation to discuss your herbal and supplements needs prior to starting any new supplements.
  • Vitamins D, A & C
  • Zinc
  • Selenium
  • Probiotics
  • Medicinal mushrooms
  • Astragalus
  • Various Chinese herbal remedies including Andrographis

Last, but not least, if you are not experiencing any cold, flu, or respiratory symptoms, then there is no better time than now to schedule your acupuncture tune-up and immune-boosting session.

As always, feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions and/or to schedule an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you and can also be reached at (631) 653-5314.

Be well,

Dr. Michelle Iona, DACM, L.Ac.
Doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine,
Functional Medicine Practitioner (IFM Candidate)
Healing Points Acupuncture & Wellness Center
www.healingpoints-acu.com
(631) 653-5314