On the Coronavirus & COVID-19

Dr. Pastore shares the science and latest research behind coronavirus, how it differs from COVID-19 and what makes it so dangerous. As he is actively treating those with the virus, he covers the lesser-known symptoms, the genetic polymorphisms (gene errors) that put some more at risk than others beyond age and pre-existing medical conditions, the current status of treatment for COVID-19 and what you can do to keep you and those around you safe.

SHOW NOTES

Review of Dr. Pastore’s qualifications [0:20]

• PhD Biomedical informatics, nanomedicine and clinical informatics from Rutgers University, School of Health Professions
• • Expertise is understanding biomedical sciences, human genetics & RNA mechanisms, disease processes & systems, nanomedicine, drug discovery
• Graduate degree in Human Nutrition, Certified Nutrition Specialist 

All of the information today is backed by science [3:00]

What is the Coronavirus and what is COVID-19 and how does this compare to SARS [3:45]

• Coronavirus - simply type of virus, under microscope has pointed structure looks like it wears a crown 
• • Been exposed to coronavirus for a long time - cold, mild upper respiratory tract infection where bodies fight back - no cure 
  • 200+ different types
  • “Novel” coronavirus = newly identified coronavirus type, no resistance against it 
• SARS 2003-2004 [6:20]
• • Severe acute respiratory syndrome, caused by a novel coronavirus at the time
  • Jumped from animal kingdom to humans, which is what is believed to have happened with the new 2019 coronavirus 
• COVID-19 [7:05]
• • The upper respiratory infection some people develop after contracting the novel 2019 coronavirus (hence the name COVID-19)

• You can be exposed to the coronavirus, be a carrier of the coronavirus, potentially exhibiting zero symptoms ever, transmit the virus to someone else and they can develop COVID-19 symptoms [7:30]

• Coronavirus is spreading faster than SARS in 2003 [8:00]
• • Less severe of an illness in the majority of those infected when compared to SARS
• Those with strong immune systems may only ever feel incredibly mild cold/flu symptoms or nothing at all, yet are giving the coronavirus to others with weaker immune systems [9:40]
• • There are some individuals who do not feel sick, infect others, and then  develop COVID-19 symptoms 

What makes the coronavirus so dangerous? [10:50]

• Spreading faster than any other virus in history 
• Those that have passed away from COVID-19 experienced a “cytokine storm” [11:30]
• • Mutli-factorial hyper-inflammatory process 
  • Over-stimulates the immune system factors, causing the lungs to shut down the normal process of breathing 
• Genetic polymorphism (genetic expression) in gene ACE2 can allow COVID-19 to get deeper into the lungs, greater chance of developing cytokine storm requiring hospitalization & ventilation [13:25]
• As of April 9, 2020, 25% of people walk around asymptomatic (constantly changing) [17:00]
• • was 17.3% March 20th, 2020
  • People need to behave like they have the infection

Less-known/more rare symptoms of the coronavirus beyond cough/fever/chills [18:00]

• 3% of carriers present with pink-eye, can be the only symptom
• Diarrhea & other gastrointestinal/digestive complaints can be your only symptoms, don’t assume it’s a stomach bug or bad food 
• Loss of taste or smell 
• Sudden confusion - potentially caused by reduced blood-oxygen levels

What causes the more co