Covid-19 Update: Swiss Cheese Layers of Protection is Missing a Layer

RVAchironeuro • April 26, 2021

Hello again:

  As this pandemic rolls along and everyone gains more experience with this virus, many interesting ideas are emerging. One that makes sense is the Swiss Cheese Model of protection put forth by an Australian virologist. This is a short article that explains how no single effort is proving to be 100% effective, and thus we need multiple layers to obtain maximal protection. (1) Please quickly review this article and then proceed to the Bottom Line.

  Bottom Line:

What this means for all of us is that we need to put multiple layers of protection in place. This certainly makes sense; however, they have left out a very important layer of protection that fits in well with the entire Swiss Cheese model. Where is the published narrative from our public health authorities about the fact that the primary risks of getting serious Covid-19 infection directly relate to your current state of health? The facts are widely known: the leading risk factors are being older, being overweight or obese, not exercising, blood sugar issues, hypertension, Vitamin D deficiency and more. All of these co-morbidities are modifiable, except age. The key word is MODIFIABLE, meaning that they can be improved with either life-style upgrades, medications or both. This is critical when we look at the following statistics:

  • Obese individuals have a 40% to 133% higher risk of hospitalization, 74% higher risk of needing intensive care.
  • Over 82% of Covid-19 patients are Vitamin D deficient or insufficient.
  • Only about 1 person out of 10 is metabolically fit.
  • Those who had exercised the most leading up to contracting SARS-CoV-2 were least likely to be hospitalized or die from the infection. (2)
  • The least active among us are 2.5-fold more likely to die than those in the most active group and 30 percent more likely to die than those in the moderately active group.  (2)

We simply need all of the layers of protection that we can get, from vaccines to vitamins, as this Swiss Cheese virology model clearly illustrates. For example, we could all get our Vitamin D levels checked and optimized. We could start exercising outdoors, eating cleaner and better and use this pandemic as a steppingstone to better protection and health for now and for our collective and individual future. It is important to know that you are not helpless and there are positive things you can do to reduce your risks and improve your odds and your overall health. What are you waiting for??? Remember this from the Swiss Cheese scientists: “…even in places with widespread vaccine coverage, we need to continue using multiple measures to stop the Swiss cheese’s holes aligning and letting the virus through.”

 

 

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