Survival Medicine

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rampage throughout the known world, killing close to 100000 and ruining the economies of whole nations. There is no proven treatment, cure, or vaccine, a common but deadly problem whenever a new virus emerges. The lack of an option leaves scientists scrambling to find a medicine that works, immediately if not sooner. Dr. Joe Alton discusses a new treatment using an old anti-malarial drug, an antibiotic, and zinc. In infectious disease outbreaks, mundane chores like food shopping may become much more exciting (but not in a good way).  Yet, these activities are necessary to keep a family going. How can you avoid getting infected in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic? Joe Alton MD discusses CDC opinions and gives some of his own. Plus, how to deal with laundry if you're taking care of a COVID-19 patient at home. Guidelines exist that will decrease the chances of infection. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD Hey, learn more about viral diseases in our new book "Alton's Pandemic Preparedness Guide", available on Amazon and at store.doomandbloom.net...

COVID-19 tests are now available in larger numbers in the U.S. and the numbers of positives are jumping as a result. That means that it’s the testing that identifying the numbers that are there already, not that there are necessarily factors that are making the virus more contagious. Dr. Joe Alton and Amy Alton ARNP discuss numbers relating to cases and death rates, plus what it will take for Chloroquine, alone or in combination with other drugs or minerals, to be considered an effective remedy against the virus.  Plus, a discussion of official guidelines for caring of COVID-19 patients at home. Yes, even the government understands that overcrowded and understaffed hospitals may not be the best place for some of the milder cases of COVID-19, so they've put together advice that will help the home caregiver give sick patients the best chance of recovery. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad,   The Altons Hey, check out Nurse Amy's supplies and medical kits at store.doomandbloom.net! You'll be glad you did.

Well, we’re in the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., with close to 1000 cases and 30 deaths. Other countries like Iran, Italy are a lot worse off, but the U.S. hasn’t hit its peak, and probably we can expect thousands and maybe tens of thousands more. Old folks like me are advised to stay away from crowds, and we might have to deal with more restrictions before things get better. All because of a bug that’s measured in billionths of a inch…How did we first figure out that viruses exist? Dr. Joe Alton takes you through the first scientific steps to identifying a major killer all the way to the current pandemic. All that and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad!  Don't forget to check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits, personal protection gear, and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

In the last few weeks, we have found ourselves challenged by a new virus from a family that is known for being very unfriendly to humans: Coronaviridae. The coronavirus family mostly causes common colds, with four different strains accounting for 15% of more cases reported worldwide. Until very late 2019, there were only two other known coronavirus strains: SARS and MERS. These viruses, however, didn’t just give you a cold; they could kill you. Now, the current virus, called SARS-CoV2, is making the rounds of more than 60 countries and the disease it causes (COVID-1he9) is causing community-wide outbreaks in multiple regions of the globe. Amy returns from her Mystical Warehouse of Mystery to give her thoughts and to discuss the virus with Dr. Joe Alton. Can we expect more outbreaks? For sure. Can we control it? Maybe. Find out more in the latest episode of the Survival Medical Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, The Altons If you're in need of medical kits and supplies, check out Nurse Amy's entire line at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll be glad you did.

The latest viral epidemic has been given an official new name! Instead of 2019-nCoV, it’s now COVID-19. World Health Organization officials wanted a name that doesn’t refer to a geographical location, animals, an individual or a group of people, so I guess they’ll be changing the name of the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 one day in the name of political correctness. That’s ok, since that flu didn’t start in Spain but in Asia. Now you know there’s someone who being paid a salary to come up with catchy names for viral epidemics. There are currently 60,000 confirmed cases, almost all in China. 60,000 cases, that is, if you believe the Chinese government. It’s obvious that there are several times the amount of cases. Dr. Joe Alton puts the number likely to be well in the hundreds of thousands, and it could end up with millions of people getting sick. Dr. Alton tells you his thoughts in this podcast. Plus, what about COVID-19 in animals? Theories of viral lab accidents or deliberate release aside, there are coronaviruses that affect dogs, cats, bats, and many other animals, and they're all for sale (for slaughter) in live markets in China. Dr. Alton tells you about the risk to your pets from COVID-19 and other members of the coronavirus family. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe Alton MD (Nurse Amy is out making personal protection gear kits for her store at store.doomandbloom.net.!

Unless you just got back from a trip to Mars, you probably know that there’s an epidemic going on in China. I first reported on it briefly in my article on “A new pneumonia” on Jan. 7, 2020, when there were only 60 known cases of an infection of unknown origin. It turned out to be a virus. Viruses are tiny, much smaller than bacteria, and barely meet the definition of a living organism as it must enter the cells of a host to activate and reproduce. Yet, they are able to cause the downfall of organisms much more advanced and complex than they are. This virus is in the family coronaviridiae, or coronaviruses. It's named 2019-nCoV, and it appears to be highly transmissable and kills about 2% of those that are infected. Just in the last 24 hours, there are 2500 new cases.  In this episode, Joe Alton MD (Amy's off making Pandemic kits for store.doomandbloom.net) tells you all about 2019-nCoV and a lot more you don't know about viral epidemics. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD

Survival Medicine Podcast Reports from Yosemite National Park in California reveal that at least 170 visitors and personnel have experienced a mysterious intestinal ailment. Lab studies have identified a virus called “Norovirus” as the culprit in at least two cases, with most of the rest consistent with the illness. Find out what you need to know about the most common cause of the stomach flu in the U.S. Also, Dr. Alton discusses the first new antiviral flu drug approved by the FDA in years: Xofluza. Xofluza is a one-day treatment that is meant to decrease symptoms and duration of influenza illness. Learn more about a drug that deals with a lot of flu symptoms, usually with one dose. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, find out about norovirus, the flu and 150 other medical topics in the award-winning Third Edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook, your guide for when help is Not on the way!

Health authorities in China are reporting 60-70 cases of a previously unknown viral pneumonia that has put dozens in the hospital. Officials note that victims exhibit fever up to 105(!), difficulty breathing, and abnormal findings on chest X-rays.   Nothing gets my attention like a mysterious, probably viral, pneumonia showing up in some foreign land. The word “pneumonia” is defined as a lung inflammation usually caused by bacterial or viral infection. Occasionally, fungi or parasites may give rise to it. It’s a very general term and doesn’t identify the specific microbe that’s causing the problem.In the last decade or so, killers like Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) have entered the scene.  Dr. Joe Alton discusses the "new pneumonia" and tells you what you need to know about pneumonia in general: symptoms, treatments, how to tell pneumonia from regular flu symptoms, and natural remedies, plus preventative strategies... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don't forget to fill those holes in YOUR medical supplies with kits and individual items from Nurse Amy's entire line at store.doomandbloom.net!

Survival Medicine Podcast You know, the world isn’t getting any safer these days, and that means that, more than ever, you should be prepared for disasters, whether they be natural disasters or man-made. The family medic must assess their level of preparedness well before a disaster occurs, and now is as good a time as any. We refer to this as a "status assessment”. When performing this assessment, a number of questions must be asked and answered that clarify your job description and your level of readiness.   Dr. Alton (aka Bones) and Nurse Amy discuss the survival medic's job description, basic duties, considerations relating to the type of disaster, and misconceptions regarding the number of supplies and people that must be cared for in times of trouble... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD     Amy Alton ARNP Hey, don't forget to subscribe to DoomandBloom.net and check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

We often talk about trauma and infection, but less so about chronic diseases. We have to face the fact that in some settings, namely those without some of modern medicine’s miracle technology, some people will long-term issues may end up having life spans similar to those of their ancestors a hundred or more years ago. One category of patient that has less options off the grid are those with COPD, also known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis cause real damage to lung tissue from cigarettes and other reasons.Folks with these conditions may have trouble with stamina and work efficiency in tough times, especially in austere settings. In this episode, Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP talk about what you need to know about COPD and what strategies, if any, are helpful for those with severe cough, mucus production, and lack of oxygen intake.  Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Don't forget to check out our HSA/FSA-eligible medical first aid kits, plus our books and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!