The pandemic of COVID-19 continues but we now have a greater understanding of its nature and prevention.
The most important factor to understand is that the average person who is taking sensible precautions is unlikely to contract this virus, and I have friends in both Madrid and Milan who are virus-free.
However, we should at this time concentrate on three prime factors in maintaining our health.
Firstly, we should diligently continue to self-quarantine as this is the most effective way of avoiding contact with the virus. Try to limit contact with others and use sensible distancing when shopping, if you have to travel either walk or do so by private transport.
Secondly, it is important to maintain good physical health and to make sure your physical and immune systems are working optimally, for those with anemia, diabetes, blood pressure, low vitamin D levels, and other problems, it is important that these are well-controlled and can be checked at any American Medical Centers clinic. We offer free advice about such checks at all of our clinics. Our immune systems are depressed by alcohol, stress and poor sleep and we should try to control these factors. Smokers should now think about stopping or radically reducing their habit as good lung function helps to combat the virus.
Thirdly, this is a very stressful situation and we should take all the necessary steps to maintain our psychological health. Some of this stress is driven by anxieties about health care, both routine and related to the virus.
American Medical Centers has worked very hard to create a safe environment for both our patients and staff so we continue operating in a normal way.
In addition to our normal services we now have a fully operational online consultation service, for which our physicians have been specially trained. Furthermore, insurance companies will support these consultations.
We also offer free advice about COVID-19, an assessment of any symptoms and diagnostic support. Many patients have written to me expressing anxieties about care in the state system.
Although it was probably correct that, initially, the Ministry of Health managed all cases through the state hospital service, private facilities are now being licensed to care for patients with the virus.
American Medical Centers will offer daily support to any COVID-19 patients in either state or private facility – liaising with medical care and insurance companies. Finally, there are a number of disease control factors that should be adopted by us personally, and in our households to limit the chances of contracting the virus and I have set these out in summary.
I hope this letter goes some way to help you, our patients, through this very difficult time and please be assured that American Medical Centers are very prepared to help with any of your health problems or anxieties about the virus.
PREVENTING VIRAL INFECTION
• Self-quarantine
• Keep a distance of 1.5 – 2 meters away from people
• Avoid public transport
• Shop infrequently and at less busy times
• If possible wear mask and gloves in public places
• Do not use public toilets
• When outside use your non-dominant hand for door handles, ATM machines — you wll not touch your face with this hand
• Use stairs not lifts
• When returning from outside wash your hands immediately, drink some warm water
• Avoid touching your face
• Wash your hands and nails frequently for 20 seconds with soap that foams
• Dispose of shopping packets safely
MAINTAINING PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH
• Realize this is not a personal problem but one outside of your self that has to be dealt with objectively in a disciplined and organized way
• Exercise regularly at a safe time and distance
• Be creative – cook read, tidy, sort, write, organize
• Invest in relationships
• Keep contact through social media
• Try to sleep well (8 hours) and practice sleep hygiene
• Take pride in your management of this situation
• Use alcohol in small quantities have some alcohol-free days
• Avoid confrontation
• Discuss any health-related anxieties or worries about COVID-19 with an American Medical Centers physician
PHYSICAL HEALTH
• Maintain exercise and good psychological health
• Ensure your health is optimal, discuss for free a check with a physician
• Make sure any health condition you have is well-managed
• Stop smoking
• Report any COVID-19 symptoms (dry cough, fever, breathlessness, muscle pains) to a physician
Dr. Richard Styles is the chief medical officer of the American Medical Centers group.
