No doubt, it's been a year since...

However, with every unfortunate thing that happens in life - is an opportunity to learn.

I always ask (and !) someone with a chronic illness, "How did you know?" 

How do these variants of covid occur?

First, let's take a quick course in virology. Viruses are the best example of our "to infinity and beyond" concept. They are the most abundant form of "life" on Earth and elsewhere! Exponential growth is an understatement. Omit trillions to the power of another few trillions.

A virus has an envelope, the capsid, which protects its viral material or genome. Some particularly resistant viruses, such as Hep C, coronavirus, herpes, and HIV, have a special protective coating called envelopes.

Virus cases hate soap, soap is their kryptonite, so washing with soap is paramount to killing the virus.

Every time a coronavirus is transmitted between humans, it picks up microscopic changes to its genetic code. The result is variants of the coronavirus, researchers observe patterns in how the virus mutates. Covid-19 appears to be a viral superstar – redefining how quickly a virus can mutate. The bottom line, we don't know how many variants currently exist, or how many there might be in the future.

Staying vigilant about preventing transmission is no less important now—it's even more important now to help stop the potential for mutations.

Handwashing with soap, masks, distancing, testing for covid-19, following lockdowns... all are vital to harnessing this virus from further mutations. . We know that every year (actually less) our flu vaccines need to be updated. The coronavirus vaccines will require constant updates - more than any software we've ever complained about!

Evolution in action...survival of the fittest: For most viruses and disease-causing bacteria, the use of treatments and vaccines challenges them to develop ways to escape them in order to continue to thrive... These viruses appear to have an evolutionary advantage.

What can we do to proactively strengthen ourselves against these multiple coronaviruses?

Yes, we ALL have to follow the rules to prevent transmission. But how can we strengthen ourselves to minimize the risk of a fatal reaction if we come into contact with these viruses?

I have many articles here on the role of chronic inflammation in each of our chronic diseases from heart disease, diabetes, vascular disease, arthritis, depression, and cancer... Chronic inflammation is the main cause of our body's weakened ability. to shake off all the nastiness that has hit us. AKA - defense is down.

I patients with a severe reaction to the virus, the lungs are damaged and patients need supplemental oxygen. The mortality risk of these cases is more than 40%.

March 2021 Journal of Immunity: Donna Farber, Ph.D., Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Chief of Surgical Sciences, Columbia University: “Even when individuals are getting vaccinated, severe COVID-19 remains a significant risk for some individuals, and we need to find ways to treat people with who will develop a serious illness."

"People talk about patients experiencing a cytokine storm in the blood, but what we see in the lungs is on a different level. The immune cells in the lungs have switched and released these cytokines."

A very complex science. Bottom line – reducing our levels of chronic inflammation is our best defense against a drastic response to a virus. This explains why people who already have an underlying chronic illness are more vulnerable.