Leone: If we get a news of any new disease, there are many instant doctors in social media who will come up with their ideas. Among them one viral hack is, if we drink hot water once in 20 minutes corona virus in the throat will die and go to stomach. Is this true? Dr. Jaya: If at all this SARS Covi 2 will die by drinking hot water why scientist will do research for so many medicines. We can simply boil the water and drink water and there will not be any pandemic. So everyone should know that this virus will not die by drinking hot water. Some people talk about taking steam inhalation. They say if we take steam virus in the nasal will die. Even we dont know the authenticity of this. Until we do a research on it we can tell whether its true or not. But somehow what we have in our hand is social distancing, face mask, hand washing. So dont believe such rumours. Leone: We would like to thank Dr. Jayalakshmi on behalf of gram vaani's all cell phone radios for giving information, awareness, myths and realities of corona virus. Thank you Doctor. Dr. Jaya: Thanks to all gram vaani listeners. Leone: Listeners, if you have any doubts or need any advice from Dr. Jayalakshmi then press 3 and record in our cell phone radio. We will get the answers from doctor.
Leone: Starting from kids to elders, educated and uneducated people more than virus they are scared whether they will get infected with this virus and die because of it and what their families will do if it happens. What is your positive message for them to motivate them and give them hope. Dr. Jaya: There is no need to get scared of Corona virus unnecessarily. There is no need to get scared if you are wearing mask, maintaining social distance, washing hands and took 2 doses of vaccination. Also understand one thing that there are 2to5% in hundred people are only are getting severely affected and they are pushed for intense treatment. Among them only few are dying. So the number of people undergoing hospitalization is very less. For more than 95% people there is no need of going to hospital. They can take home care by isolating at home and supply healthy food, hot drinking water, paracetamol is more than enough. And there is no need of any other medication and actually there is no other medicine for this. Only 3% of people are pushed to severity and intense treatment and among them 1-2% people may die. So 98% people will not face any issue. But we will be able to pass the infection to other people. So not wearing mask, going for work, talking with others, going to market, coughing on others, all these causes risk to our community because of us. You will be able to find whether you have this virus or not by taking test. Sometimes even if people are tested positive they will not have any symptoms. They will be perfectly fine. They are called as Asymptomatic. That is actually very risky. They can spread the virus to others. Because they roam outside. So if anyone in your family is infected you better go and test yourself. Neighbors and colleagues should also go and test themselves. Whatever may be the result whether its positive or negative please do maintain social distancing, wearing mask, washing hands and taking vaccination should be done. Only then we can fight this virus.
Leone: Doctor, by drinking alcohol whether the virus will be killed? Dr. Jaya: I must tell a story in this situation. A doctor went to village to create the awareness. Maximum villagers were alcohol addicts. So farmers used to get drunk and hit their wives and illtreat their children. And used to spend the saved money. Since the situation was worst, the Doctor started the awareness. Everyone were sitting and he wanted to say that this habit is life-threatening, so he poured alcohol in a glass cup and asked what is this? People answered that its alcohol. In that he dropped an earth worm. Immediately that worm struggled to death. Immediately everyone stood up. for that the Doctor asked where are you all going? they said we are going to buy alcohol. You said that if we drink alcohol the worms in our stomach will die. So we are going there. So I must say this is a wrong message. This alcohol will affect our liver, mental health and also affects our well being and our family. Its completely a lie that by drinking this it will kill virus like medicine. Leone: Overall drinking alcohol will affect our liver, mental health and also affects our well being and our family not the virus. Dr. Jaya: Of course yes. Leone: Starting from kids to elders, educated and uneducated people more than virus they are scared whether they will get infected with this virus and die because of it and what their families will do if it happens. What is your positive message for them to motivate them and give them hope.
Leone: Okay Doctor, you are saying we must wear mask. But if we are wearing mask for so many hours there are rumors in social media that we will get respiratory issues. Is it true? Dr. Jaya: By wearing mask your life is getting saved from SARS Covi 2. Not only that it safeguards you from Respiratory germs. So face mask is must. For example if a person has cold and he sneezes even that virus will not enter you because of the mask. So by wearing mask it gives your protection from Respiratory germs, normal cold virus. If you wear this mask for a whole year also this will not cause any adverse effect. You can wear it for hours. But if you are feeling irritated or feeling a bad odor you can change it and wear a fresh one. No problems will be caused because of this. If anyone is facing itching on skin, just see the fabric of your face mask. Nylon, Polyester, or material with dye will cause some issue to your skin. Other than that if you are using a normal cottona mask with triple layer of cotton material you will not face any issue. You can wash it and use it. Have 4-5 in your pocket if you are going out for long time. If he mask is becoming wet or dirty you can change it. Leone: Govt has banned the opening of school, theater, malls where more number of people are are gathering. But the same Govt has opened TASMAC shops and allowing for the gathering of people. So people started believing that by drinking alcohol it kills the virus in throat. So Govt is allowing it. Will corona virus die by drinking alcohol?
Dr. Jaya: Such issues will happen to 1 in a lakh people. Why media is blowing this is, there is no news channels without covid news. So every steps taken by scientist, everything said by politicians, how general public is behaving everything we are watching on daily basis. So media is micromanaging and covering the news related to covid so we are getting to know about it. Okay among 1 lakh people one person faced this issue. But naturally there is a chance of side effects for English medicines and affecting other cells. So risk is always there. Even before this vaccine the risk was there and even after this vaccine risk will be there. These vaccines like Covaxin, Covishield, Pfizer, Johnson and johnsons there are many vaccines which are coming in market. Leone: Doctor, even after taking vaccine people are getting corona. Why is it so? Dr. Jaya: Everyone should know one thing about these vaccines is, what these vaccines are preventing. These vaccines will not prevent us from getting the infection. Please understand this. If a person sneezes or coughs , and if we are going near to that person without maintaining social distancing or not wearing mask we will get the infection. Leone: Then what are these vaccines preventing? Dr. Jaya: These vaccines helps our immune system by preventing the virus from doubling in numbers. And prevents us from getting the disease. So this vaccine is not prevent from infection but to prevent from disease. Once the virus enters our body the vaccine prevents our body from making it severe and it keeps it under control and there may be slight effects. We can prevent from rushing to hospital, and avoid the emergencies. So this vaccine is a blessing for all these. This vaccine will prevent death from SARS Covi 2.
Leone: Please tell us on how this corona vaccination works in our body. Dr. Jaya: By taking this vaccine more number of anti bodies will be created in our body. And it will enter other cells of our immune system so that it will be ready to face this virus. So by taking this vaccine our immune system will get the power to face this virus. So taking this vaccine is important and there is no need to be scared of vaccination. Leone: We are getting to hear that by taking vaccination many people are getting heart attach, blood clot, getting fainted and few people are losing there lives. Dr. Jaya: One thing you have to understand is, whatever medicine or vaccination it is everything has a small amount of risk. When this vaccine is given to old people and they are dying by within few weeks or a month of vaccination one thing we have to think is, even without taking this vaccine there might be a chance of their death. So normal death rate itself can be the same. They took the vaccine and they died. So there is no relation between vaccine and death. So what we have to see is, the age of death among those who have taken vaccine if it is between 85 to 95 even if they take vaccine or not they will die at that age. So there is no need to get scared. Next thing is blood clot. In Europe country Oxford AstraZeneca's Covishield was suspended because after taking this vaccine many people faced blood clotting and a person died and few people faced serious issues. So it was suspended.
Leone: Even after taking vaccination if we are getting corona infection, what are the precautionary steps we should take? Dr. Jaya: What everyone says is take 2 dose of vaccination and even after taking 2 doses of vaccination wash your hands, maintain social distancing, wearing mask is must. Only then we can break the chain of corona infection spread. Only then we can defeat this virus. So prevention is better the cure is the best thing we should remember. Leone: Thank you Doctor for giving information about corona infection and vaccination. We still do have some doubt. My 1st question is can people with diabetics and high blood pressure take this vaccination? Dr. Jaya: Covid infection is severity is seen among people with high blood pressure, Diabetes, heart patients, old people, obese people. So people with all these disease should take this vaccination on priority basis. Even cancer patients should be under treatment even such people can take this vaccine. Leone: If a person's sugar level is more than 200-250 and if he takes vaccination will he face any side effect or can he go ahead with the vaccination? Dr. Jaya: Surely they can take vaccine. Leone: Those who have block in heart and those who have taken treatment for heart block can they take vaccine? Dr. Jaya: Heart patients, people with blood pressure, diabetics, cancer even people with HIV, if they are taking antiretroviral treatment they can take vaccination. If you are really weak and with high BP consult your doctor and then take vaccine.
Leone: Doctor is there any treatment which can be given immediately to corona patients? Dr. Jaya: Till now we dont have a one shot medicine for SARS Covi 2 - Covid 19 disease. So prevention is better than cure is the best medicine. So since it spreads through air from one person to other, social distancing is the best thing. Talk by maintaining social distancing, also wear face mask. Many people are thinking that wearing costly N95 masks will only give protection. But triple layer that cotton masks which has 3 layers of cloth and it shouldnt be loose which allows the entry and exit of air will give the best safety which is equal to N95 mask. Always go out after wearing the mask. If anyone at house is infected with this virus, isolate them and other family members should also wear mask at home. Mask plus social distancing other than these 2, we have to wash our hands cleanly. Because while sneezing and coughing the germs will be near them. For example if they are at kitchen, when the infected person sneezes he will spread the virus on kitchen counter top and vessels, bed, sofa around the house. Everything will be cleaned by using spray and keep it clean. So washing hands regularly, wearing mask, social distancing, if we follow all these 3, the virus will not come near us. If we ourselves go voluntarily and invite the virus in our body they will enter our body. If we follow all the rules we will surely not get infected with this virus. Another weapon which will help us to prevent ourselves from this virus is, vaccine! In India we have mainly 2 vaccines given as of now. One is Covishield which is from Oxford AstraZeneca company another vaccine is from our own Indian company Bharath Biotech and its Covaxin. Both the vaccines are really good. Infact latest reports says that our Indian vaccine is better than Covishield. Vaccines should be taken in 2 doses. From one month to six weeks gap upto 8 weeks gap can be given. Who all can take this vaccine? People above the age of 18 can take this vaccine. Even 100 year old grandma can also take this vaccine.
Leone: Please tell us more about what all will happen in our body due to SARS Covi 2. Dr. Jaya: Another effect due to SARS Covi 2 is, our blood is naturally flowing in our blood vessels. We have small small platelets in our blood. Other than we have clotting factors in our blood. Due to SARS Covi 2 freezing system of our blood is getting affected. Due to this microthrombi happens in our body which is small clots in blood and this will go through blood vessels and this will block the small blood vessels which smaller than our hair and which is in your eyes or other parts of body and clots the blood. In case if these clots block the blood vessels which are in our brain their body may get paralyzed. If this blood clot blocks the blood vessels in you heart they may get heart attack. Leone: Is there any treatment to stop the blood clots? Dr. Jaya: To stop clots the doctors will give blood thinning tablets based on the condition of the patient. Now other some medicines are being researched. If i am or you are getting SARS Covi 2 infection, as i told you our immune system will create anti bodies. All the anti bodies will cover the virus and prevents from entering into cell. So if a person gets SARS Covi 2 and after their recovery they will have so many anti bodies to fight SARS Covi 2. We take blood donation from such people and purify the blood and take the anti bodies and give the plasma to patients of SARS Covi 2. Their immune system will take some time to build anti bodies so we are giving the anti bodies which is produced by some other person so that they will get instant energy to fight SARS Covi 2. This is a difficult treatment because we have to take blood donation from many people then we have to purify the blood and then we have to give. So for only few cases we are giving convalescent plasma or plasma therapy to patient. Leone: Doctor is there any treatment which can be given immediately to corona patients?
Leone: So does it means that covid virus is not the reason for life threat among people. Dr. Jaya: Not the virus. But the hyper production of Cytokine chemical is the reason water secretion in lungs and lead to breathlessness and we will be unable to breath. Leone: So, for what the doctors are giving treatment? Dr. Jaya: Doctors are giving steroids to those who are struggling to take breath. Steroids' is an anti inflammatory which reduces the anxiety of immune system. By giving steroids the lungs can be protected to some extent and breathlessness will be reduced and their life will be saved. Leone: This medicine is given to calm down the lungs. Alright, is there any medicine to control corona virus? Dr. Jaya: Across the Globe many researches are happening to find out that Antiviral. So far we dont have any Antiviral to kill SARS Covi 2 virus. So by next year or in forth coming years if the research goes well we may get a good antiviral. Leone: Cant this virus e controlled with this antibiotic tablets? Dr. Jaya: If we have cold or diarrhea, we are buying antibiotic tablets to kill bacteria's. Doctors are prescribing and we ourselves are going to pharmacy and buying it. Self prescription in wrong but still we are taking it. Those medicines kills just bacteria but it will not help in killing virus. Especially it will not be helpful in killing SARS Covi 2 virus. Leone: Please tell us more about what all will happen in our body due to SARS Covi 2.