Humidifier to ease Coronavirus cough?

Hang on [brain fog]. Does that mean that it's better to be in a damper environment but, if so hygiene standards must be higher because the virus can survive better on surfaces?

Researchers have found that the corona virus survives better on surfaces at 20 per cent humidity rather than at 50 per cent. Thus a humidifier may be helpful, but they do have to be kept scrupulously clean otherwise they may cause more problems than they relieve.

www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/03/13/2000488/0/en/Humidity-helps-in-the-fight-against-COVID-19-virologists-report.html

I have a humidifier in my bedroom and I am very careful to follow the instructions exactly.

He said the only time a fever was dangerous was if a patient had a brain or spinal injury. And that, when a patient presented at A&E the first question would be had they taken pain relief because it was difficult to monitor how they were if the pain/temperature had been reduced by medication.

He's my lifeline at the moment*. Panicked a bit because he hadn't done a blog for a few days but today I found several. Phew. Although he doesn't hold back in how dangerous the situation we're in is he gives you the sort of knowledge/information that is empowering.
*that and watching University Challenge #comfortblanket

No it wasn’t me Labaik - I thought it was you
I heard a doctor on Radio 4 saying the exact same thing - only take paracetamol if you’re in pain, not to reduce fever, because fever is the body’s way of fighting the virus.

Callistemon I think the rationale for using antihistamines is that the inflammatory response to the virus, deep within the lungs, produces fluid which blocks the airways and that is why people feel they can’t breathe. Antihistamines help to stop that fluid being produced.

An interesting blog from John Campbell; something that had crossed my mind. Taking paracetamol reduces fever and fever is the bodies way of fighting infection. In patients with flu the mortality rate greatly increased when patients took paracetamol. They felt better initially but were ill and infectious for longer. Will try to do a link. I find his advice very reassuring at the moment. I think it was Jane that first mentioned him. Also those CPAP machines could be life saving; not just for the patients but for the anaesthetists that are having to put people onto ventilators. Supposedly they've been around for years.

'may help'
Was missing in my post above

The trouble is that, if people who think they might get COVID19 and think that antihistamines, inhalers etc
start panic buying these items, those who do need them to manage their hayfever or asthma, may find they are unable to obtain them.

It depends on the type of cough, whether or not anti-histamines are beneficial or not, I think.

A dry cough may not benefit from them but a productive cough might.
They have been used to treat other Corona viruses but I'm not sure how effective they would be for COVID19

The hay fever season is upon us too, which could cause confusion.

Thank you, Janea I will take a look

I wonder if a Ventolin/ Salbutamol inhaler would help those who are housebound/ isolated with the virus but not dangerously ill ? They're cheap to buy and can't harm as they help to open up the airways and also relax the muscles that lead to the lungs making it easier to breathe.

Thank you all. Some very useful responses here. I will definitely try and get some antihistamines, to help with sleeping, and stock up on Vicks, which I use a lot for coughs anyway.

And give the humidifier a miss

Drowsy antihistamines would help you sleep, also, but I think I only have non drowsy ones here.

Callistemon This article from Patient Access briefly mentions it.
patient.info/news-and-features/covid-19-how-to-treat-coronavirus-at-home?utm_source=picallouts&utm_medium=trendingarticles&utm_campaign=1

If you follow the link in the article about treating the cough, antihistamines are mentioned as a way of managing symptoms.

Callistemon The short answer is, I don’t know.
But my guess would be that ibuprofen and antihistamines work in a different way at a cellular level.
Any pharmacologists out there?

janea

Is No 2 on your list a recommendation by the medical profession?
"2. take anti-histamine to dampen the inflammatory response"

I thought the reason ibuprofen was not recommended for COVID-19 was because it is an anti-inflammatory and I heard a medical professional on French TV say this was not recommended because the body needs an inflammatory response to fight the virus. Ibuprofen dampens down the body's immune response.

Would the same be true of anti-histamine?

Fatgran in the U.K. schools will be staying open throughout the holidays for children whose parents are key workers or who are deemed vulnerable despite being “closed” to all since Friday 20 March. I hope they can still staff them
My DD was supposed to be doing one day a week (a secondary maths teacher) , but when DGS (8) developed CV symptoms last Tuesday, they had had to self quarantine as a family for 14 days

Do not take a cold remedy such as lemsip these contain decongestant, this will dry up you mucus membranes and cause a whole host of other problems.
The best cough medicine is Pholcodine, this helps a dry unproductive cough and eases chest pain.

Don't take ibuprofen if you have the virus as it can make symptoms worse. Stick to paracetamol.

There has been success on patients in hospitals with very high doses of Vitamin C so maybe take double your normal dose at home.

I agree that sleep is the great healer, so I hope Boris and all the other big wigs are sleeping lots and not working too much, remembering their bodies are fighting a battle with the enemy.

Thanks, janea. Undesirable/Covid19 airbornes, then, not just any old airbornes. A little specificity wouldn’t go amiss in advice lists like those.

Good article Jane

www.bbc.com/future/article/20200317-covid-19-how-long-does-the-coronavirus-last-on-surfaces

There’s a link to a rather more scientific but abstruse article from the US National
Institute of Health within the BBC article.

baggs I think it means the droplets (aerosols) that are generated when a CV patient coughs or sneezes. The virus particles can survive in the air for a couple of hours, I think.
I saw an article about it yesterday - I’ll see if I can find it.

I wonder what "airbornes" means exactly. Also, in some circumstances (e.g. windy weather) wouldn't having a window open be more likely to increase the number of "airbornes"?

Not that I'm against open windows. I've been a fresh air fanatic since my teens. Fresh air is full of "airbornes", especially when trees are beginning to flower, like now.

HurdyGurdy

This advice appeared on my FB feed a few weeks ago, how good it is I’m not sure, since it wasn’t attributed to a particular source. But most of it makes sense to me.

“Simply put, if you develop symptoms
1. Take a cold remedy to stop the sneezing eg Sudafed and First Defence nasal spray
2. Take antihistamines to dampen the inflammatory response and protect the lungs
3. If you are asthmatic make certain you have your inhalers
4. In the evening it is likely you will have an elevated temperature so take Paracetamol as an anti pyrittic
5. You can only fight a virus when you are asleep so when your body tells you to sleep then rest preferably away from everyone else nicely tucked up but with the window open to reduce the number of airbornes in your room
6. Plenty of fluid and vitamins especially Vit C Zinc Vit D”
I would certainly do #6 if I had symptoms.
I agree with another poster who suggested your friend dial 999 if she’s not improving.

VQ hope you get well soon.