Can Spirituality Play A Role In Dealing With COVID-19

CAN SPIRITUALITY PLAY A ROLE IN DEALING WITH - COVID-19?

To be blessed with profound contentment. Have faith in God and put in your best efforts Honestly in the beneficial work of society”………“A firm faith in God is the only ray of hope that penetrates the gloom of fear and ignorance”.- Rig Veda

“Let us praise the victorious, all-pervading powerful God, Who leads us on the right path, and prolongs the days of our life”

- Sama Veda

The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. I expect a sizable jump in (COVID-19) cases in the next few weeks.

------- Los Angeles Time, 28Feb, 2020

Corona virus is an infective agent which causes COVID-19 (corona virus disease 2019). It causes respiratory tract infection. COVID-19 started recently from Wuhan province of China and now has involved more than 150 countries.

COVID-19 spreads by droplet in air and by contact. Social distancing is the basic factor to contain the virus. Common symptoms are fever, cough with coryza, headache and bodyache. It can also have throat pain and shortness of breath and neglected cases can develop pneumonia. If the disease is not in control then it can eventually lead to multiple organs failure and death. The symptoms are usually mild and common, which leads to negligence and delayed diagnosis. Death rate at present is 3.4% but it can reach upto 15% if the patient has some comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, heart and kidney diseases.

Respiratory droplets are produced during coughing and sneezing which affects other persons. The time taken from exposure to infection and development of symptoms is about 2 day to 2 weeks but at an average is 5 days.

Diagnosis of COVID-19 can be done by following ways:

1. Clinical features of the disease.

2. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR)

3. CT Scan of chest showing pneumonia

There is no curative treatment of COVID-19 so prevention is the only goal.

Following preventive measures can protect you.

1. Hand washing with soap and water frequently. Wash hands for 20 seconds. To count 20 seconds just say slowly, “Happy Birthday to You” three times. Soap layer on the surface of virus breaks the fat covering and destroys the virus and then water washes the remains out to drain.

2. Cleaning of hands with sanitizer. Alcohol also destroys the virus like soap but soap is better than alcohol. CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends alcohol in sanitizers should be atleast 60%.

3. Social distancing – maintaining distance of atleast 1 metre from others. Keep distance, stay connected.

4. Avoid touching face.

5. Using mask when going to crowded places or by a suspected person or care giver. General population do not require use of mask.

6. Travel restrictions.

7. Covering the month with elbow when coughing

8. Incoming passenger’s restrictions.

9. Screening at airports and train and bus stations.

10. Namaste instead handshake.

11 Closure of schools and colleges.

12. Closure of shopping malls, theatres and game stadiums.

13. Self isolation – Any suspected person or who travelled to a country recently with wide spread disease should be kept in self-isolation at home for 14 days from the time of last possible exposure.

Don’t fall prey to superstitious beliefs as happened in Bangladesh on 18th March, 25,000 people gathered in an open field to recite healing verses from Quran to rid of deadly virus. A man in Varanasi was claiming that his mantras could cure COVID-19. Don’t believe fake news and WhatsApp messages of suspected sources.

There is no treatment or vaccine so far for COVID-19 only following measures are required:

1. Treatment of symptoms.

2. Isolation or quarantine

3. Supportive care

4. Use of mask by suspect as well as care giver.

The virus can remain alive and can cause COVID-19 for 3 days on a common surface such as plastic and iron i.e. railings handles and push buttons of lifts.

The COVID-virus has special affinity for lung tissues so the primary organ is lung to be affected by virus. Virus invasion occurs through the enzyme ACE-2 which is abundant in alveolar cells of the lungs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic and a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 11 March 2020. As of 20 March, 2020, more than 2,53,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in alteast 180 countries and territories, resulting in more than 10,400 deaths and 89000 recoveries.

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in china was in a 55-year old man who fell ill on 17 November 2019, in Wuhan, Hubei. In December and January, cases increased and it was found on investigation that Human Seafood Wholesale Market was involved and so a Zoonotic origin of COVID-19 established.

Spiritual practices help to reduce distress and panic in COVID-19 patient and others. It also focuses on unannounced questions such as what is purpose of our lives. During self isolation or quarentine read spiritual and inspirational books which may fill your heart, and soul with positive thoughts and courage. Reading of spiritual scriptures, prayer and meditation, deep abdominal breathing and visualization will help you to calm down and develop strength to fight with COVID-19. Spiritual practices also help to strengthen the immune system. The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide states that some studies have found that therapies aimed at reducing stress may boost the function of certain immune system cells.

Prayer is talking, meditation is listening. Western science has only just begun to study the effects of meditation and visualization on diseases. East is experiencing and doing this for centuries. Alberto Villoldo of San Francisco State College showed that regular meditation and self-healing visualization improved WBC response and immune system functioning.

According to Philip T. Hagan, MD, Mayo Clinic, USA, technique like guided imagery, meditation, muscle relaxation and relaxed breathing can help in relaxation. It lowers heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension.

For the past 20 years, western medicine in the United States of America has been exploring uncharted territory: The healing power of spirituality. Now, many medical colleges include classes on spirituality as it boosts immune functions and enhances and accelerates the healing process beyond conventional medical treatment. Dr. Puchalski, the founder and director of the George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health, says, “People who practice spirituality tend to recover from depression a little sooner than those who don’t.

Scientists believe the world runs on natural laws, which can be influenced by prayer for health gains. Physicians believe that supernatural healing occurs through auto suggestion and by combining the power of the body, mind and spirit.38 Belief in spirituality, religion and God has strong roots in India, with 95 per cent of Indians believing that their prayers will be answered.

Meditation is a safe and simple way to balance a person’s physical, emotional and mental states. It is easy to learn and can be useful for treating stress and pain. It keeps the attention focused o the present. It is neither about reacting to past events or being preoccupied with future places.4

Interest in meditation has increased phenomenally worldwide due to its health benefits. At the Maharishi University School in lowa, USA, students are required to regularly meditate twice a day. Celebrities like Goldie Hawn, Shania Twain, Heather Graham, Richard Gere and Al Gore have, at some time or the other, practiced meditation regularly. Being role models, they encourage friends and fans to take up the practice too.

Meditation is for everybody. Age or sex is no bar. One can meditate from childhood to old age. It is not a religion-based practice since people of all faiths can do it. Moreover, meditation can be achieved through speech, by listening to the sounds of speech or breathing by concentrating on breathing process.

Martin E. P. Seligman, Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, mentions in his book “Learned Optimism” that optimists do better than pessimists in almost every aspect of life, including the functioning of their immune system. Optimism can be learned. Images can influence behavior and thus prompt a cure, which is why visualization is being used by psychotherapists to treat their patients.

Prayer can be defined as a conscious relationship with God or whatever one recognizes as the creative and organizing force of the universe. Prayer is the psychological boost of knowing that God or a supernatural power is on your side. Intercessory prayer is one which is done for another’s benefit.

Fear, anxiety and panic response are common among COVID-19 suspects, COVID-19 patients and caregivers and family members and friends. This stress can lead to fear and, extreme worry, altered sleeping patterns, eating disorders and enhanced alcohol consumption. Such degree of stress, can even worsen the preexisting comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and renal problems. In COVID-19 indirect emotional trauma, fear and stress can lead to mental and physical problems.

Spirituality and its practices increase courage, determination, will power and concentration, which such situations require.

A Dutch author, Esther ‘Etty’ Hillesum, Jewish girl who was in 1943 deported to Auschwitz Concentration Camp, Poland and killed. She had tremendous faith in God and wrote in her diary which she maintain in concentration camp. Her diaries describe the spiritual development and deepening faith in God. She wrote, “Sometimes when I stand in some corner of the camp, my feet planted on your earth, my eyes raised towards your Heaven, tears sometimes run down my face, tears of deep emotion and gratitude…. For once you have begun to walk with God, you need only keep on walking with God and all life becomes one long stroll, a marvellous feeling”.

What you can do at home during self-isolation?

1. Talk to family members and explain about COVID-19 and that it is a preventable disease.

2. Become a role model for family by eating well, sleeping well and exercising well.

3. Eat a satwik diet (plenty of fruits and vegetables and low fat balanced diet).

4. Do not allow negativity to affect you and your family.

5. Talk in positive and encouraging manners.

6. Reassure that everybody is safe.

7. Do meditation, yoga and visualization and teach family members.

8. Pray together.

9. Do not allow family to see only COVID-19 talks all the time on TV. See comedies and laughter shows also.

The patients of COVID-19 and even suspects are disturbed and live in fear of death, the media in using COVID-19 news on every channel which has increased the fear among public more than the knowledge. The patients of COVID-19 can be helped by spirituality and compassion. Patient’s spiritual belief can provide peace and healing with the help of physician. If a patient believes in prayer and looks towards it with positivity for healing, physician should not contradict it as it may be having placebo effect.

Set an example to world by handling well the COVID-19 with our inner strength, firm determination and labour. We have to stand as one united nation.

Use your left hand for opening doors, cars, lifts etc. if you are right handed then vice versa. Clean your car keys and mobile with alcohol swabs.

You will see number of infected patient increasing and deaths also but don’t panic. Everybody with positive COVID-19 does’t die.

Be careful, not fearful

80% persons with COVID-19 will require no treatment as such and will recover on their own 20% may be hospitalized. Only a small percentage of persons will require admission in ICU.

This disease can affect person of any age. The infection is generally mild in children. Older person (above 65) and persons with pre-existing comorbidities i.e. diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, lung disease, cancer are at high risk.

Consult physician if you have respiratory symptoms and have history of travel to a corona-virus affected area or have close contact with a COVID-19 patient.

You can not get treatment for COVID-19 but can prevent it.

The Country is well prepared and equipped with facilities to tackle COVID-19 patients.

Myths about COVID-19:

1. COVID-19 can be transmitted by eating eggs, chicken and meat.

No, its not true. Properly cooked food cannot transmit the disease.

2. COVID-19 can be transmitted through pets.

No, it is untrue.

3. Alcohol consumption kills virus.

No, it is not true.

4. Sunlight kills virus.

No.

COVID-19 doesn’t differentiate between countries, religions, gender, rich and poor and educated and uneducated. Famous people like Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Roody Gobert, Sophie Trudeau (Wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau), Prince Elbert II of Monaco are suffering with COVID-19.

Junta Curfew on 22nd March 2020 is a scientific and logical event. Corona virus lives usually for 9 to 12 hours on any surface and curfew will be for 14 hours (7 am to 9 pm), so this will break the chain of transfer of virus from objects to human beings. Secondly, this will be a practice drill for future.

When a doctoral student at Princeton asked, ‘What is there left in the world for original dissertation research?’ Albert Einstein replied, ‘Find out about prayer. Somebody must find out about prayer.’ The psychiatrist Gerald C. May observed, ‘After twenty years of listening to the yearnings of people’s hearts, I am convinced that human beings have an inborn desire for God. Whether we are consciously religious or not, this desire is our deepest longing and most precious treasure’.

‘My secret is a very simple one: I pray,’ wrote Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a modern master of the skill:

Prayer is simply talking to God.

He speaks to us: we listen.

We speak to him: he listens.

A two-way process:

speaking and listening.

Dr. Brand coined a new word, ‘pneumapsychosomatic’, adding the Greek word for ‘spirit’ to acknowledge the role of the spirit in health. A person experiences maximum health when all three, body-soul-spirit, are aligned in a way that expresses the will of the Designer. Brand comments. Those who pray for the sick and suffering should first praise God for the remarkable agents of healing designed into the body, and then ask the God’s special grace to give the suffering person the ability to use those resources to their fullest advantage. I have seen remarkable instances of physical healing accomplished in this way.

The people in distress pray because they have nowhere else to turn. Prayer is to the sceptic a delusion, a waste of time. To the believer it represents perhaps the most important use of time. God listens our prayers or not. Can be proved or disproved, no it cannot be proved or disproved. Only believed or disbelieved. Absence of peace in the form of stress, fear, tension or worry, endangers, physical health as much as a disease microbe.

COVID-19 is probably there to teach us that we have drifted far away from the right ways of life. We are away from nature’s laws and even destroying it.

It has been confirmed that meditation strengthens the immune system. In a research conducted by Dr. David Cresswell, University of California, USA, 67 HIV patients were studied, where 48 patients practiced regular meditation. The study included male, African, American, homosexuals, unemployed and those not on ARV (Anti Retro Viral) medication. They followed a stress lowering program called “Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Meditation”. The more frequently volunteers meditated, the higher was their CD4T-cell count.

Larry Dossey, MD, feels that immunity enhancing practices such as prayer, meditation and guided visualization should be a part of the treatment strategy of all prognostically poor and chronic disease.18 Dr. Brent, MD, Director, Mayo Clinic is doing research on complementary and alternative care. The mind body connection treatments are based on the idea that the two function as a unified field. The principle of meditation works on the premise that stress is the outcome of a restless mind. Meditation observes the flow of thoughts without judging them, a process that helps the mind to slow down naturally.

Carry home message is that, “stay at home, stay connected, take precautions, exercise well, eat well, think positive, meditate and pray for yourself and others”.