Autumn is upon us, and that means one thing. Viruses, even Covid. If you are reading this, you’ve probably been trying very hard to get your sense of smell back, and the thought of another infection is one that makes you shudder.
Time to get ready for the flu and Covid season. In this article, I will outline some important things to keep in mind–and keep you as healthy as possible. Covid is of course a virus, so all the information here is applicable, whether you have Covid or the common cold. Remember, a simple cold can also affect the sense of smell.
Getting prepared
- Are you up to date with your vaccines? At least here in the UK, flu jabs and Covid boosters are available for some age groups. All the evidence shows that these vaccinations make illness less severe. That is so important! As the Covid virus mutates, the early infections from 2020 that sometimes featured smell loss and nothing else are not so common. It seems reasonable that a less severe illness is going to mean less chance for further damage to your sense of smell. There is not yet any scientific literature on the rate of second and third infections leading to loss of smell. In the ckos/AbScent forums we hear that recovery happens even after 2 or 3 infections.
- Do you have what you need in the house? I continue to mask where there are large groups of people such as public transport, flying, shopping malls and cinema. How much or whether you mask is up to you, but again, all the scientific evidence shows that masking is a good way to lower your risk. Here’s what I have on my shopping list:
- High protections masks such as N45 or FFP2
- Hand sanitiser for when you are out
- A supply of tests (I do this for my own peace of mind)
- Over the counter remedies in case I come down with something (for instance paracetemol/Tylenol, cough drops, etc)
What to do if you get Covid or another virus
- It’s important not to panic. Over and over we see that in the short term, viruses can cause temporary smell loss, but overall we hear that things improve to the starting point before the virus. So just hang in there and try to distract yourself with things that put you in a positive frame of mind.
- You need rest. Worrying about what will happen with a new infection isn’t rest!
- Clear the virus from your body as efficiently as possible. The things I’ll describe below will not cure any temporary smell loss, nor will they cure the virus itself, but clearing the virus from your system is what your body is trying to do. Help it with these tips:
- From the moment you feel a scratchy throat, use an antiseptic mouthwash according to directions on the bottle. Look for mouthwashes that contain cetylpyridinium chloride, which has been shown effective in killing the Covid virus. One brand available in the UK is Dentyl. I know mouthwash with this ingredient is also available in the US. Read the label to find out which is right for you.
- Take care also to floss, use interdental brushes and keep your toothbrush clean. The virus can live in these places. Give your tongue a brush too–the virus likes the many folds and crevices of the tongue.
- Drink plenty of water and eat the best diet you can
- Use nasal rinsing, twice a day. The virus is living in the nasal cavity as well as the mouth. Twice daily rinsing clears this out, and has been shown beneficial for prevention and clearance. As a preventive measure, nasal rinsing is very good. In winter, I do it regularly.
Seeing a doctor?
I’m not sure there is anything to be gained from seeing a doctor unless you start running a high fever and really become unwell. But if it’s just a mild form of illness, seeing a doctor won’t change things much. Especially for Covid, there are–according to what I just heard in Dresden–no drugs on prescription that are recommended generally. The antiviral that was developed for repeated cases is not available in the UK, so I don’t have anything on that.
Each of you is different, and this is not meant to be medical advice. So it is up to you to think about the recommendations and make your choices.
If food is medicine, what to eat?
I’ve got a freezer full of things to eat that I keep handy for when I feel ill. This includes plenty of cooked fruit (applesauce, plum compote), soups (chicken broth, vegetable soups), and in my pantry I keep easy things to snack on like nuts and crackers. I also keep a mixture of ginger, coriander/cilantro/fresh chili, which I process into a paste and freeze in chunks, for adding to chicken broth. The ginger and chili give my senses a blast and I really appreciate the flavour boost. If you haven’t tried any of my umami boosting tips, try adding miso paste, tamari sauce, and any of the many asian inspired condiments that now seem to be available everywhere. And crispy chili too! Finally, fresh fruit and veg, especially citrus.
This Patient Microguide for new Covid infections also has some good tips.
Stay safe and well!
