SPONSORED BY HEALTH SECTOR NEWS
Can Far Infrared heating help combat COVID-19?
Technology company, IOBAC, is calling for help to explore the potential for Far Infrared (FIR) heating to help prevent and fight RNA viruses, including coronavirus (COVID-19), following its recent investigation into the availability of scientific studies on ‘the proven health benefits’ of FIR.
The company said: “This research unearthed a landmark pre-print study from En-Jing, Li (from the Office of Environmental Protection and Office of Radiation Protection, Peking) and Wei- Hong Huang (of the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology), published in February, ‘Instability of Nucleic Acids in Airborne Microorganisms under Far Infrared Radiation’. The study, which will potentially be published in a journal in June for peer review and analysis, investigated FIR radiation’s effect of on inhibiting airborne microorganisms.”
Infrared radiation is an invisible form of electromagnetic energy, with a wavelength longer than that of visible light. The human body experiences its energy as a gentle radiant heat, able to penetrate up to 4 cms beneath the skin. IOBAC said: “Its benefits include enhancing the immune system by stimulating the body’s metabolism, and producing white blood cells to help fight infections.”
Infrared radiation does not heat the air, so all the radiation’s energy is used on heating any objects and surfaces in the
‘Drive-through’ COVID-19 testing facility in Porto
infrared radiation zone. IOBAC explained: “Viruses may simply overheat in infrared radiation and die. Indeed, previous research on the SARS virus showed that ‘heating and UV irradiation can efficiently eliminate the viral infectivity’.
Paul Woolvine, IOBAC’s CEO, said: “We are not suggesting FIR is the silver bullet for fighting COVID-19, but as this this preprint study suggests, its ability to act as a complementary therapy in the fight against airborne microorganisms must warrant serious consideration. We’re thus calling for any potential partners able to put this technology through the necessary tests and clinical trials, with the aim of (hopefully) putting it to good use in the fightback against RNA viruses, including COVID-19.”
As well as fighting RNA viruses, IOBAC says research suggests that FIR can help to reduce joint pain and inflammation – by improving blood circulation via deep penetration of the skin and underlying tissues.
When Unilabs, a European diagnostic services provider, set up a ‘drive- through’ facility in Porto in Portgual to collect samples from suspected COVID- 19 patients, it was believed to be among the first of its kind in Europe. “The opening of this temporary drive- through facility allows us to serve the urgent needs of our community, and takes the pressure off hospitals struggling with the flood of patients requiring sample collection and analysis,” said Luis Menezes, CEO of Unilabs Portugal. “The key benefit is safety.”
After making an appointment, patients drive to the collection point, where they roll down their windows to be tested by trained medical staff in protective clothing. By remaining in their vehicles throughout, patients minimise contact with other people, ‘reducing the risk of infection for everyone’.
The system is allowing some 400 daily tests to be performed in the first phase, with the number tested expected to risie to nearly 700 day ‘over coming days’. The facility is being kept safe by local law enforcement.
May 2020 Health Estate Journal 17
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
