A Virus’s FAVORITE Season?
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted September 28, 2020
Which season is your favorite?
Some people love summer and others prefer winter.
But did you know viruses and bacteria also have their favorite season?
In fact, one of season may be better for COVID-19 — and other respiratory viruses — to thrive…
Maybe you’ve been following the news about COVID-19 and countries like Sweden.
Sweden has seen a dramatic drop in COVID-19 death rates through the month of August. In fact, at the time of this writing, the death rate in Sweden for most days in August was one or two people per day.
This suggest two things:
Either Sweden’s approach (to mostly ignore the advice to lock down the entire country) was the right thing to do, or it is summertime and the virus doesn’t care for the heat.
We’ve known for a long time that respiratory viruses, like COVID-19, the flu, and the common cold, are much less common during summer.
This is mostly due to the fact that people are spending a lot of time outside, along with changes in humidity and light exposure.
For reasons not completely understood, laboratory studies have shown that virus fall apart at higher temperature and increased humidity. Direct sunlight (UV exposure) also inactivates virus.
Summer is the perfect time to drop virus spread.
A recent study, published in the journal Jama Network Open, investigated climates in eight cities around the world and compared COVID-19 infection rates with weather.
The study team a found relationship between COVID-19 cases and temperature, humidity levels, as well as hours of daylight.
A few other studies have shown similar relationships.
But what does this mean?
There is no doubt that changes in humidity, temperature, and light exposure can have an effect on COVID-19, but probably not as much as these studies suggest.
Are the summer months better for you and worse for COVID-19? Undoubtedly, but more people are adhering to the advice of health experts: wearing their masks, staying away from others…
And doctors are learning how to treat it better (so there are fewer deaths).
Until we know more, it’s best to stay vigilant and focus on protecting your overall health as this is your best bet to avoid this (or any other) virus.
This is especially true since we’re approaching flu season, so continue to use hand sanitizers, wash your hands, and keep your immune system extra strong. Find out how to keep your immune system at top notch, here.
P.S. Our immune system weakens as we get older, which is why older folks are usually hit hardest by diseases – including COVID-19. The good news? There’s a way to make your immune system YOUNG again, go here to read all the details.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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