Coping with COVID-19: Insights for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Chronic Illness, and Biologic Medications

The connection between coronavirus and chronic diseases.

Many of my patients ask me what about inflammatory bowel disease and COVID-19, especially for those on medication to reduce the effect of the immune system.

So let's start with some facts:

Every year, the regular flu virus is responsible for millions of hospitalizations worldwide and for hundreds of deaths.

In the year 2020 alone, more than 16,000 deaths from the regular flu were reported in the US.

COVID-19

The coronavirus, known by its scientific name COVID-19, is transmitted by droplet infection, for example by sneezing or coughing.

Most cases of infections are mild (more than 80%) and include flu-like symptoms such as: fever, cough, muscle aches and diarrhea, in rare cases.

The incubation period of the disease does not exceed 14 days and therefore the recommendation is to isolate for this period of time when exposure to the disease is suspected.

The death rate is relatively low (between 2-4%) and this occurs especially in elderly people and people with chronic diseases.

As for Crohn’s disease, Colitis, and Irritable Bowel System – there is no evidence that coronavirus increases the risk of disease severity.

 
In children and adolescents, COVID-19 is mild.
 
And as for patients treated with immunomodulatory medications (such as azathioprine, furintol, methotrexate), corticosteroids or a biologic drug of the type tofacitinib – they are slightly more exposed to viral diseases.
 
Other biological drugs such as Remicade, Yomira, Symphony, Simisia, Antibio or Stellara are considered not to increase the risk of viral diseases.
 
Treatments from the 5ASA family, such as Fantaza, Rafasal, Asacol and Salozopyrin do not suppress the immune system at all and are considered safe in any case.
 
 

To summarize

Do not stop or change treatment without a doctor’s recommendation. It is important to know that in any case, the risk is very low at this stage.

If we maintain the rules published by the health department, such as: avoiding shaking hands, frequent hand washing with soap and water, avoiding exposure to patients or people returning from abroad, and avoiding crowded gatherings, we can easily protect ourselves.

And to raise our natural immune system, be sure to stay happy and optimistic (studies have found that the immune system in optimistic and happy people is 80% higher than in pessimistic people).

Meditate once a day for 20 minutes.

Go out to nature and enjoy the beauty of the gorgeous bloom.

Eat healthy, read a fun book, watch a movie at home and thank the universe and creation for all the good and wonderful things you have in life.
This raises optimism and hence the immune system.

I would like to emphasize that I am not a doctor, but rather assists in healing through meditation and guided imagery, and the above statements are only a recommendation. If necessary, you should be examined by a physician.

I wish you good and strong health,

 

את/ה בטוח/ה?

לא תהיה לך גישה למדיטציות עד שתתחבר שוב.

Are you sure?

You won’t have access to your meditations until you connect again.