Ebola

Guest Blogger: Carly Rodgers, M.S.

Ebola. It’s a term we’ve all become far too familiar with, especially within the recent weeks, as this deadly virus has made its way into the United States. It’s nearly impossible to open a newspaper, listen/watch the news, let alone check your Facebook or Twitter, without at least one mention of the term. The media has created mass fear and panic that has been fueled by misinformation.

Ebola, also referred to as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus strains. The signs and symptoms of Ebola include: fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal (stomach) pain, and unexpected hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising). These symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola, with the average at around 8 to 10 days.

According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) (2014), the total number of cases is just under 9,000 (with 5006 laboratory-confirmed cases) and the total number of deaths is 4493, with the majority of these being isolated to West Africa. The truth it Ebola is scary, however, being (properly) informed about what Ebola is and how it is spread is crucial. Ebola is not spread through the air, water, or in general, by food.  Rather, Ebola is spread through: direct contact with blood or bodily fluids (e.g., urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) or a person who is sick with Ebola; infected animals; and objects (needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the virus. The likelihood of Ebola becoming a widespread epidemic is very unlikely, based on the way the virus is spread.

Ebola can kill you, but so can a number of other things. It is more likely an individual will die from heart disease, cancer, traffic accidents, guns, the flu, ISIS, and even your own furniture (yes, tripping over furniture is more likely to kill you). Being afraid and worrying excessively over Ebola can be detrimental to your health. Worry is biologically identified as stress, one that the body interprets as a mini fight-or-flight response. Stress that lasts for more than several days becomes damaging to our health.  Chronic stress has been shown to raise blood pressure and increase the risk of cardiovascular problems and also suppresses the immune system (making it more likely to catch infectious diseases or get sicker). Mood is also heavily impacted by (chronic) stress, and is strongly associated with clinical depression. The old adage still holds true, knowledge is power, and in this case knowledge also means a sense of relief and comfort. Be sensible. Being alert is fine (and normal), but within reason. Learning the basics and protecting your own health can help protect yourself from fear and undue stress.

Carly Rodgers received her Master's in Clinical Psychology in 2009 and is currently completing her pre-doctoral training in Portland, Maine.  She endorses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles and teaches resiliency skills with Dr. Breazeale.