Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => COVID-19 => Topic started by: EvaH on 04/02/2021 12:44:24

Title: Could staying at home increase your danger from the virus when you encounter it?
Post by: EvaH on 04/02/2021 12:44:24
Steve asks:

It's been proposed that people can get really bad covid symptoms from a massive viral load which makes me think that sheltering at home for weeks/months could be counterproductive as the first time you venture and experience the virus it might affect you greatly, and that the people that have been out more might have built up some resistance. Think for how alcohol might affect a non-drinker compared to a regular drinker. Any thoughts?


What do you think?
Title: Re: Could staying at home increase your danger from the virus when you encounter it?
Post by: Bored chemist on 04/02/2021 12:53:13
You can't "build up resistance to" a virus before the first time you encounter it.
(Other than by vaccination, obviously).
Title: Re: Could staying at home increase your danger from the virus when you encounter it?
Post by: set fair on 04/02/2021 13:59:45
It is possible (but unproven) that your first exposure is to such a low dose that you don't become infected but do produce an immune response - perhaps making specific t-cells. Then repeated you could end up with enough of an immune response that when you get infected with a full dose, you are less likely to get seriously ill. But staying home would not make it more likely that your first exposure would be to a high dose.
Title: Re: Could staying at home increase your danger from the virus when you encounter it?
Post by: set fair on 05/02/2021 21:31:05
Steve asks:
It's been proposed that people can get really bad covid symptoms from a massive viral load


The viral load is a measure of the amount of virus in your body. So I'm not sure exactly what you mean.
Title: Re: Could staying at home increase your danger from the virus when you encounter it?
Post by: charles1948 on 05/02/2021 22:56:58
Steve asks:

It's been proposed that people can get really bad covid symptoms from a massive viral load which makes me think that sheltering at home for weeks/months could be counterproductive as the first time you venture and experience the virus it might affect you greatly, and that the people that have been out more might have built up some resistance. Think for how alcohol might affect a non-drinker compared to a regular drinker. Any thoughts?


What do you think?

I think that drinking alcohol regularly, may help ward off the virus.  Because the virus doesn't like alcohol.  Isn't that why "hand sanitizers" contain alcohol.  It kills the virus. So if you have alcohol in your body, it will kill the virus.

On the subject of smoking.  I think this also may help to protect against the virus. Because if your lungs are gnarled, blackened, and pitted from years of cigarette smoking, they will offer a less hospitable environment for the virus.

The virus wants young, pink, healthy lungs.  To infest and thrive in.  It can't thrive in black smoked lungs.

This is how I reason.   Do you dispute my reasoning?
Title: Re: Could staying at home increase your danger from the virus when you encounter it?
Post by: Petrochemicals on 05/02/2021 23:24:31
A small dose seems to be beneficial as compared to a great thumping  infusion if we go by the cases of overworked doctors and bus drivers who have succumbed . But that is counter to your point of staying home. If you venture out on busses all day you will surely have a greater viral load when infected versus popping out once in a while in a guarded manner.

Your question seems to be asking is a small exposure to the virus favourable in the long run, once you get it you get it, so isolation is not the problem. If however you spent your life in a sterile environment and where released into the population you would have no natural immunity to most viruses or bacteria. Your immune system may also be out of practice.
Title: Re: Could staying at home increase your danger from the virus when you encounter it?
Post by: evan_au on 06/02/2021 20:44:05
Quote from: charles1948
I think that drinking alcohol regularly, may help ward off the virus.  Isn't that why "hand sanitizers" contain alcohol.  It kills the virus.
You have been paying too much attention to Donald Trump.

Effective hand sanitizers have > 70% alcohol content.
- Alcohol intoxication is fatal when the alcohol content in your bloodstream is > 1%. This would not kill the virus, but would kill the patient.
- Most people catch SARS-COV2 via their lungs. Pouring the alcohol into your lungs will immediately tell you why this is a bad idea.

Quote
On the subject of smoking.  I think this also may help to protect against the virus. Because if your lungs are gnarled, blackened, and pitted from years of cigarette smoking, they will offer a less hospitable environment for the virus.
- One of the things that proves lethal in COVID-19 is an inability to get enough oxygen through the scarred lungs.
- If you already have scarred lungs with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or other chronic diseases, you will die sooner.

Quote
Do you dispute my reasoning?
Yes, I don't think you are reasoning at all.
I think you are trolling.
Title: Re: Could staying at home increase your danger from the virus when you encounter it?
Post by: vhfpmr on 06/02/2021 22:29:06
staying home would not make it more likely that your first exposure would be to a high dose
But it would mean fewer repetitions.