COVID-19 Rubberband Man: Surgeon General Uses Simple Stretch Method for DIY Face Mask

Jerome M. Adams, the surgeon general of the United States, says facemasks can be made using common household items.

BY VW

TO the rescue with a DIY face mask solution during the COVID-19 crisis is Jerome M. Adams, the surgeon general of the United States.

Recently, the nation's doctor demonstrated how to make a face mask using common household items like rubberbands, T-shirts and scarves.

Over the last few days, increasing numbers of medical experts have recommended that people wear face coverings as a mitigation measure when they go out. Do keep in mind, experts say, that the coverings do not inoculate wearers against COVID-19, though they can prevent carriers from spreading it. All previously recommended mitigation practices, particularly social distancing, should still be followed.

Though experts encourage the use of face coverings and masks, they discourage the public in the strongest terms from buying medical face masks and N95 respirator masks to prevent shortages among medical personnel, first responders and other essential workers on the frontlines of fighting the deadly and highly contagious COVID-19.

The novel coronavirus cases and deaths are rising faster in the United States than in most other parts of the world.

Meanwhile, a few COVID-19 reminders from CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention):

DIY face mask made from piece of fabric and elastic.

Symptoms
Some symptoms that may appear two to 14 days after exposure (based on the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses):
Fever
Loss of smell
Loss of taste 
Cough
Shortness of breath

Where to get tested
Contact the state or local health department or a medical provider. 

Emergency warning signs
If you or someone for whom you are caring develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include:
Difficulty  breathing
Persistent chest pain or pressure 
New signs of confusion 
Difficulty in waking someone
Bluish lips or face

Visit the CDC and WHO websites for the COVID-19 information and updates:

http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/

http://https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

You'll Know You Have a Good Heart When ...

Exercise does a body, including the heart, a world of good. Archive photos.

EXERCISE. Eat right. Extinguish those cigarettes.

Make these three simple lifestyle changes and significantly reduce the risk of developing (or worsening) cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly heart disease, according to a noted cardiologist.

“If you smoke, you will knock off seven years of your life,” asserts Judith Mackall of Cleveland, Ohio's University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center. “And, if you have cardiovascular disease and you smoke, you’ll die 15 years sooner than you would otherwise.”

In the United States, February is American Heart Month and 29 Sept. is World Heart Day.

Though it is March, it is not too late or too early to hear and heed such good advice. And with good reason. Heart disease, one of a number of cardiovascular diseases, is the No. 1 killer of people around the world, according to the World Heart Federation. Not HIV/AIDS. Not cancer. Therefore, it cannot be stressed often enough the importance of avoiding and or reducing this killer.

Do your heart a favor and cut the cigarettes.

According to the World Heart Federation, cardiovascular disease is a broad term for a range of diseases that adversely affects the heart and blood vessels. That includes heart attack, stroke, heart failure, angina, high blood pressure and pulmonary embolism.

JM's advice is common in the cardiovascular community. It is also uncommonly palatable. So often, heart health prevention/reduction advice comes with a long to-do list that can easily discourage a body. But suggest that said body start moving by walking, for instance. Or trading in cheese sticks for carrot sticks. Or make a concerted effort to stop smoking. Well … it's easier to make a start.

And the rewards are great. Imagine embracing the by-now familiar “Five Rule,” which JM highly recommends. It's pretty straightforward. Eat at least five fruits and vegetables every day as part of a balanced diet and experience a reduction in blood pressure and decrease in inflammation in the body, preventing risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.

Junk food is not heart-smart.

Similarly, exercising 30 minutes a day – even if broken up in 10-minute intervals, says JM – and a body will drop pounds, high cholesterol and experience lower blood pressure. An improvement in all of these areas takes the pressure off of the heart, promoting cardiovascular health.

After mastering JM's three-prong heart health plan, a longer list such as the one recommended by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) may seem surmountable.

Recognizing that cardiovascular disease is a costly affair in the United States – more than $300 billion a year in health care costs, medication and lost productivity – the agency suggests starting slowly. The idea behind this thinking is that a body should get into a routine rather than going full throttle at the outset, then quitting in burned-out frustration after only a few weeks.

The CDC advises a cutback back in alcohol consumption, consistently monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol, managing diabetes, properly taking medicine and working with a health care team.

To inject a bit of fun in heart health, CDC threw in with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (http://www.cms.gov/) to create the Million Hearts initiative. The three-year-old plan focuses on reducing heart attacks and strokes by 2017. To that end, it encourages Americans to know their heart health ABCS and to encourage others to do so by sending ABCS e-cards (http://www.1.usa.gov/1lTUgEC).

Fruits and vegetables are heart-smart foods.

ABC, in other words:
A: Take Aspirin as directed by your health care provider.
B: Control your Blood Pressure.
C: Manage your Cholesterol.
S: Don't Smoke.

One Two Threes, then ABCS. Heartfelt advice, no?

Visit http://www.cdc.gov/features/heartmonth/ to learn more about cardiovascular health issues at the CDC; visit to learn more about World Heart Day and cardiovascular health issues at http://www.world-heart-federation.org/

Do What You Need to Do Before Flu Gets You

The nasal spray flu vaccine was designed to treat seasonal outbreaks of the virus. Photo by James Gathany/CDC.

WHAT’S to be done about the flu?

Flu season. It’s on and in the United States at near epidemic levels in early 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The agency has created a weekly map called "Flu View" that shows the progression of reported cases of flu, dating from October 2012. Red, rust and orange mean high levels; lime to kelly green signifies minimal levels. Visit the following link to see the weekly flu reports, http://www.1.usa.gov/9N0L14).

The map shows the U.S. flu report for the week ending 5 Jan. 2013. Image from CDC.

Flu aka influenza is the highly contagious virus with myriad symptoms, from fever to fatigue. Yours Truly can attest to this. Flu customarily attacks the respiratory system – lungs, nose, throat, so sufferers can expect breathing difficulties. It’s no surprise that those who have asthma will have a devil of a time with the flu.

The flu can be mild to murderous, and it can be especially merciless to the young, old and infirm. (See CDC video below of families sharing lost of children from the virus.)

What to do, then, about the flu. While there is not yet a cure, there are measures that can offset some of the effects of the flu. Three simple prescriptions from the CDC.

1. Get a flu vaccine, though there is a shortage in some places.
Still give it a try. That goes double for high risk, i.e, aforementioned, plus pregnant women.

2. Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs.
Three quickies. Try to avoid sick people; cover the nose and mouth with a tissue if the need to cough or sneeze arises; wash hands with soap and water.

Take care to cover both nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing. Photo from CDC.

3. Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.
These drugs can lessen the severity of the virus. Incidentally, they are only legitimately available by prescription, so don’t show up at CVS without one.

Be in good health.

Visit http://www.cdc.gov/features/fluactivity/ and http://www.cdc.gov/flu to learn more about the flu and steps to take to against it.