Calming the Cytokine Storm
Recently, I helped put together Myvitadoc.com. There is a built-in immune assessment, a strategy to follow based on your score, and the opportunity to speak with trained Well Aligned doctors if you are at high risk and want to do all that you can to optimize the function of your immune system.
More than anything, I hope we can return to a place where we feel certain our bodies can handle any pathogen, are confident in the strength of our own immune system, and can go out and courageously live our lives. That is certainly how my family and patients are looking at this or any time in history.
IMMUNITY
Immunity is an arc; you get exposed to a virus or other pathogen and the body reacts in an inflammatory process to get it under control.
In a healthy body, the reaction is quick, effective, and then the inflammation arcs back down to your normal, pre-infection levels.
In an unhealthy body, rather than inflammation working like an arc, it takes off like a rocket ship. When inflammation goes out of control like this following infection from a virus or pathogen, they call it the “Cytokine storm.”
CYTOKINE STORM
The first known citation in the medical literature with the term “Cytokine storm” was in an article by Ferrara et al. way back in 1993 on the effect of a cytokine (interleukin-1). 1 This storm refers to the aftermath when a living body “hosts” a virus and a there is a massive, body-wide release of cytokines that can shut down your body’s entire system.2-4
During a cytokine storm, which can be potentially lethal, more 150 inflammatory markers can be released throughout the body.5 Covid-19 is not our first major battle with a cytokine storm. We dealt with this during the SARS (“severe acute respiratory syndrome”) ins 2003 and with H1N1 outbreak in 2009.6-7
The current studies on who has no issue shedding the virus, who struggles, and who can die show a great deal of our immunity is managing this inflammatory arc (Avoiding the cytokine storm) and maintaining healthy vitamin D levels (Vitamin D plays a major role in regulating immunity).
THE BEST MASK IS NOT ON YOUR FACE, IT’S IN YOUR BODY
While the value of masks and the efficacy of a vaccine are even being questioned within the medical and scientific community that subscribes to this way of thinking and prescribes their use, the only real protective measure we have is our own immune systems.
We do Covid-19 testing and I met with a nurse who became infected despite wearing the full protective gear required by the hospital; masks, shield, gloves, and scrubs. Where we once believed we could quarantine in our homes and avoid this virus, we now have come to the realization that at some point we are going to run across it – and no amount of masks or drugs will provide you with full protection. The best mask is your own immune system.
DON’T BE CAUGHT BY SURPRISE
Many people who get sick, quickly find themselves fighting for their lives for week, battle with long term issues, or sadly pass away. Many who thought they were relatively safe. On the other hand, you can be pro-active and not get caught.
A PRO-ACTIVE APPROACH
- Manage inflammation and hinder the Cytokine Storm: It is well documented that inflammatory markers (Cytokines) concentrations can be brought down to manageable levels through an immune assessment and subsequent changes to lifestyle.
- Vitamin D levels: As Vitamin D is a major immune regulatory, this only makes sense. Additionally, studies specific to Covid-19 throughout Europe have found an inverse relationship between adequate Vitamin D levels and infection or death from Covid-19.
Millions of people are now taking supplements to support their immunity. The problem is, they don’t know the best ones to talk, how much, or how frequently.
Recently, I helped put together Myvitadoc.com. There is a built-in immune assessment, a strategy to follow based on your score, and the opportunity to speak with trained Well Aligned doctors if you are at high risk and want to do all that you can to optimize the function of your immune system.
Take a pro-active approach and work with those that want to give you certainty, confidence, and courage. As they say, “Life is not a dress rehearsal.” Get on with living your lives.
Have fun saving the world
Dr. Ben
- Ferrara JL, Abhyankar S, Gilliland DG: Cytokine storm of graft-versus-host disease: a critical effector role for interleukin-1. Transplant Proc. 1993;25(1 pt 2):1216–7.
- 9. Kruttgen A, Rose-John S. Interleukin-6 in sepsis and capillary leakage syndrome. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2012 Feb;32(2):60-5.
- 10. Lotze MT, Buchser WJ, Liang X. Blocking the interleukin 2 (IL2)-induced systemic autophagic syndrome promotes profound antitumor effects and limits toxicity. Autophagy. 2012 Aug;8(8):1264-6.
- 11. Ye C, Choi JG, Abraham S, et al. Human macrophage and dendritic cell-specific silencing of high-mobility group protein B1 ameliorates sepsis in a humanized mouse model. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Dec 18;109(51):21052-7.
- Li Y, Chen M, Cao H, Zhu Y, Zheng J, Zhou H. Extraordinary GU-rich single-strand RNA identified from SARS coronavirus contributes an excessive innate immune response. Microbes Infect. 2013 Feb;15(2):88-95.
- Theron M, Huang KJ, Chen YW, Liu CC, Lei HY. A probable role for IFN-gamma in the development of a lung immunopathology in SARS. Cytokine. 2005 Oct 7;32(1):30-8.
- Available at: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/
news-perspective/2013/08/ study-shows-cytokine-storm- fatal-2009-h1n1-cases. Accessed October 17, 2013.
