Viral Respiratory Infections: An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure

David Patchett; Juan Yang; Jane Northern; Manisha Salinas; Brent A Bauer

doi:10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2020.12.008

Viral Respiratory Infections: An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure

Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2021 Apr;5(2):480-485. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2020.12.008. Epub 2021 Feb 6.

Authors

David Patchett^{1

2}, Juan Yang³, Jane Northern⁴, Manisha Salinas⁵, Brent A Bauer³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ.
² Department of Integrative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ.
³ Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
⁴ Department of Women's Health Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ.
⁵ Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL.

Abstract

The sudden outbreak and global spread of COVID-19 demanded a tremendous amount of attention for viral respiratory infections (VRIs) in modern times. Evidence accumulated over the past few decades increasingly suggests the importance of recognizing the background and context of lifestyle factors in the prevention of VRIs recurrence. The focus of attention has specifically been on how to optimize respiratory barrier function and immune function during the period of the pandemic outbreak. This viewpoint discusses the impact of a healthy lifestyle on VRIs and demonstrates a practical approach to preventing the occurrence of VRIs based on contemporary evidence.

Keywords: COVID-19, Coronavirus disease 2019; IL-6, interleukin 6; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; VRI, viral respiratory infection.

Publication types

Review