COVID 19: Sarasota Elephant

COVID-19 has charged into our lives with giant footprints. In fact, we quote that the Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists, FLASS, has termed the coronavirus and COVID-19 “the elephant in the room.”

And at Altiora Plastic Surgery and Medspa, we agree. We are in agreement because the phrase elephant-in-the-room symbolizes something that everyone is either talking about–or trying very hard not to talk about. Thus, even in Sarasota, we cannot really talk about sports, politics, or life events in our communities without the COVID-19 elephant intruding.

And this elephant has stomped into the room, into our home with the recent report of 25 COVID-19 cases in Florida.

COVID 19 is the Elephant in the Room

Like an Elephant in the Room, COVID 19 has Disrupted Our Lives.

Right here in our Sarasota, the elephant has closed schools, canceled concerts, film festivals, and sporting events. There used to be an old story about some hungry people that wanted to eat a rogue elephant. And someone asked how could a person eat an elephant? At the end of this blog, find out “how” we plan to “eat” that rogue elephant or rather, defeat COVID-19.

In Sarasota, We Recognize a Numbers behind the Rogue Elephant

By now, because of COVID-19, everyone in your life has told you to wash your hands, avoid touching your face and stay home if you are sick with flu symptoms. Altiora Plastic Surgery and Medspa would feel remiss if we did not update information on it. We are focused on your health and well-being, especially in times of crisis.

As we publish this article, the numbers behind this elephant have grown significantly:

There have been 168,074 cases of COVID-19 worldwide,
Additionally, 6,479 deaths have occurred.

However, Altiora asks that you note these statistics also indicate 77,235 people who have recovered from the virus. And perhaps when we look at it that way, we can turn panic into preparation.

Preparation for the C0VID-19 Pandemic Does Not Mean Panic

With Social Distances Mandated, Families are Finding Other Ways to Connect.

We know you are probably keeping up with the current coronavirus news. This elephant is hard to avoid. The CDC has a constantly updating online resource to help you.

Thus we have advice for you, summarized from the CDC.

Home Delivery, Anyone? You might need to have some extra supplies on hand.
Personal Space: Keep a distance between yourself and others. When you go out in public, remember to avoid others who are sick.
Please limit close contact. (Will you choose the toe touch, elbow bump or the Vulcan hand sign greeting?)
High-Risk Groups: Senior Citizens should take additional precautions.

It is vital that we realize that our senior citizens are the most vulnerable groups of people at this time. According to the CDC, “We know that this virus most threatens people over 60, especially those with underlying health issues.”

This includes older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and of course, lung or respiratory disease.

“If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or because you have a serious long-term health problem, it is extra important for you to take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease.”

Fighting the Elephant COVID-19

If you are in a high-risk group, Altiora urges you to talk to your doctor about monitoring your health closely.

Did you know that many people will recover at home from COVID-19? That’s why it might be very wise to have over-the-counter medicines to treat fever and other symptoms.

So, you should have enough household items and food in your home. That doesn’t mean we advise you to hoard all the food you can pack into your home. We just advise a little preparation, not panic-shopping. (And of course, you should leave some supplies for everyone: Again, it is not panic.)

Sarasota: Sweet Solo Walks on the Beach and Calmness in Your Heart

A Quiet Moment on the Sarasota Beach Can Calm You in the Time of Corona Virus.

Authorities at Johns Hopkins give a strong voice to calmness while we confront COVID-19. “The possibility of having a contagious illness is scary, but doctors, nurses and other caregivers are learning more about COVID-19 every day. They are working together with national and international agencies to identify and provide care to patients while avoiding the spread of the illness in the community.”

The Symptoms, Signs, Feelings of COVID-19

During this pandemic, FLASS doctors and staff recommend that you pay close attention to symptoms in both yourself and your loved ones.

It is not a panicky reaction to monitor yourself if you develop fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Of course, call your doctor.
If you are elderly and you have a caregiver, be sure you make a plan about what you will do if he or she becomes ill and cannot take care of you. It’s smart to have a backup plan.
If that shortness of breath or difficulty breathing persists or if you are feeling persistent pain or pressure in the chest, you might have progressed to emergency symptoms.
If you register a new type of new confusion, that might an emergency symptom.
And, of course, if, along with any of these symptoms, your lips or face turns bluish, that is an immediate sign of an emergency.

Reach Out To Friends and Family

We know isolation and anxiety can breed fear and depression. Therefore, this is an important time to make connections with your friends and family by phone and email. Covid-19 casts an elephant-sized shadow of worry and sadness.

Altiora asks that you re-focus if social distancing or cabin-fever begins to overshadow your joy. Perhaps you could contemplate the words of Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. He officially termed COVID-19 “pandemic.” Then, he stated, “There’s been so much attention on one word.” And he added, “Let me give you some other words that matter much more, and that are much more actionable:

Prevention…
Preparedness…
Public health…
Political leadership…
And most of all, people…”

The elephant in the Room… We Can Defeat It.

Finally, he concluded, “We’re in this together, to do the right things with calm and protect the citizens of the world. It’s doable.”

As always, we thank you for reading the Altiora Plastic Surgery and Medspa blog. This was an unusual edition, focused on health instead of specific Plastic Surgery or medspa topics. During our time of social distancing, we prescribe: