By Karina Villeda, UIC Dietetic Intern
Only a few months ago, the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly flipped everyone’s world upside down, and many Latino communities nationwide have been disproportionately affected. Shortly after my university announced a transition to online only courses for the rest of the Spring 2020 semester, my entire building contracted the virus. All but one person has fully recovered; he is now home after two months in the hospital with oxygen under hospice care due to permanent damage to his lungs. He is lucky to be alive, but many others have not been. People of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity are reported to make up as much as 42% of the covid-19 cases in Illinois even though we only make up 17% of the population1. Minority groups have less access to healthcare in their local communities, but are also at risk for higher exposure to the virus due to overcrowded housing and their continued work in essential jobs. Many in my family, for example, have had to work in construction, hospitality, and retail during the national quarantine. Some families are struggling with members being undocumented and the very real fear of repercussions for seeking medical attention. Others may simply be uninsured and unable to afford healthcare or unaware of where to get it for no cost.
If you are a Hispanic/Latino, chances are you have heard of an herbal remedy from someone in your family. Our cultural practices are hard to forget, and many still live by those recipes today. While several herbs have not been found to be harmful, that may not be the case with covid-19. Many Hispanic/Latinos are attempting to prevent infection of the coronavirus or improve their odds at recovery by taking home remedies or over the counter medicine instead of seeking medical assistance. Here is where we need to be really careful! Immune systems are unique to each person, and what may work for someone else, may not necessarily have the same effect in your body. Without regular health exams from a primary care physician, there is no knowing if there are any underlying conditions that could be worsened by these remedies or the virus itself. One remedy claiming to help cure, prevent, or alleviate symptoms of covid-19 is circulating among many Latinos in Chicago. Variations of the aspirin lemon tea consist of 1 to 3 cups of water boiled with 1 to 3 aspirins, a large lemon or lime, and optional ginger or honey. Aspirin is a blood thinner that is normally only taken by high risk cardiovascular disease patients when prescribed by their doctors2. Although some may not take this aspirin lemon tea long term, there is no clear-cut recipe on how to make it, how much to take, or when to stop. Since there is no known cure to covid-193, choosing this remedy instead of calling a doctor to discuss symptoms can mean the difference between life and death for some.
As many states dial back on their quarantine regulations and reopen, it is extremely important that all of the neighborhoods with a heavy minority population be given as much attention as possible to prevent further unnecessary cases for our most cherished, but vulnerable loved ones. Ask anyone in your family to seek medical attention early if experiencing symptoms of covid-19. In the city of Chicago, many clinics are taking walk-in patients, including those who are undocumented, and are even free of charge4. It is our duty as the children of Hispanic/Latino immigrants to not only understand and empathize with our relatives and their cultural beliefs, but also to explain the facts about this pandemic to them in a respectful and meaningful way!
- RACIAL DATA DASHBOARD THE COVID TRACKING PROJECT RACE & ETHNICITY DATA https://covidtracking.com/race/dashboard
- AHA GUIDELINE FOR PREVENTION OF CVD https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678
- COVID19 ADVICE FOR THE PUBLIC: MYTH BUSTERS https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
- CITY OF CHICAGO: FIND A COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdph/provdrs/health_services/svcs/find_a_communityhealthcenter.html
