A Maltese doctor who was rightfully vocal about Covid 19 pandemic.
Dr.Soler kindly answered my questions for my blog and I think his answers are worth sharing.
We share very similar views and you the reader now can learn new ways of thinking , agree or bin this info..its up to you , I write for freedom so you have the freedom to agree or disagree.
Below is a RAW question and answer of me the interviewer and Dr .Soler answering the question.
What are your main tips on having good physical health?
I think it is important to love life, love oneself and the people around you. Health is important, but measures to improve your health should not interfere with your enjoyment of life. As such, healthy diet, regular exercise, regular relaxation, and being able to participate in activities you enjoy should be means to an end, and not an end in themselves. Do healthy things you enjoy, like long walks in the countryside rather than a daily workout in your washroom, or healthy enjoyable food, not eating something which tastes bland but improves your digestion. For example, I enjoy red wine, which is a healthy choice, in moderation. Recently, the regular intake of Vitamin D3 has been found to stimulate immunity, whilst controlling over-reactions by the immune system. Daily Vitamin D3 intake can be particularly important in Malta in these times of a new epidemic virus.
What is the best way to protect ourselves against COVID-19?
I think it is important to understand your risk from COVID-19 and take appropriate measures. Taking regular Vitamin D3 is useful, since vitamin deficiency has been shown to be associated with bad COVID-19 outcomes. I also think it is important to understand your real risk of bad outcomes should you get COVID-19. A risk calculator such as QCovid (https://qcovid.org/ ) can help you understand your personal risk from the disease, based on your risk parameters. If you are at increased risk from COVID-19, due to factors such as old age, health problems, or immune deficiency, it is worth considering getting an appropriate vaccine to protect you from hospital admission, or other bad outcomes. If you are already immune to COVID-19, an antibody test can help you understand your natural, or vaccine-mediated, immunity against COVID-19. You very rarely get COVID-19 twice, and COVID-19 infection provides as much protection, or more, than vaccination, and for a longer period of time.
What does freedom mean to you?
What is the value of health without freedom? How healthy is one, if they are not free to work, interact with their friends or families, or travel? Freedom is the basis of modern democratic societies, and yet it has come under threat recently due to excessive restrictions which have been, largely, an over-reaction to the viral epidemic waves. We know that masks and lockdown measures are not supported by evidence of any significant effect over voluntary social distancing, and yet many countries have imposed such measures even when there was no immediate threat or emergency situation. One example were measures in effect in summer, when the virus is a seasonal respiratory virus which largely impacts on mortality in winter. In my opinion, we need to find our freedom again, and enact measures so that it will not be possible for governments or health authorities to restrict freedoms without evidence of an actual emergency and actual benefits over harms from such measures.
People have been pressured to take a vaccine with incomplete safety information, often with punitive measures on those who chose to wait for safer vaccines or more safety information on current vaccines. This is contrary to basic ethical principles, and we need to think carefully on whether such was justified, and whether such should be allowed in future. In my opinion, these measures did not fulfil either premise, since vaccines are not 100% effective, are not 100% safe, and do not prevent transmission of disease.
What are your thoughts on the mind-body connection?
There is ample evidence of the placebo effect in clinical trials. If you take a medicine which you believe will help your heal, the chance of healing is increased significantly even if you are given an ineffective medicine. There is evidence that if one believes one will recover from a disease, the chance of recovery is significantly higher. Yes, there is a definite interaction between the body, the mind and the psyche, and all our health interventions should take account of this complex, and not fully understood, interaction.
What is your favourite book?
I read a lot, but during the COVID-19 epidemic I have been reading more scientific literature and less for my enjoyment. However, I love historical texts which are well referenced, and where every statement is backed up by a reference to the actual source material. As such, I think I would rate Stalin’s biography by Sebag Montefiore, “Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar” as one of my favourites, since it allowed me to understand how one man came to have so much influence on the history of Russia, the USSR and Europe, with the complicity of a small circle of loyal followers, who he enjoyed playing against each other in order to assert his total dominance. I see Stalin’s dictatorship as proof positive that absolute power absolutely corrupts, and the book is a solid argument against dictatorship and for freedom. If you allow, I will also mention the book “The kite runner” by Khaled Hosseini, which is one of the best novels I have ever read, and which is the best fictional work I have ever read.
How would you describe your perfect day?
Well, it will be a weekend, since I am so busy. I think perfection is relaxing with your family, at peace with the world. In these dark days, I do not think I can relax without worrying about the suffering of the people of Ukraine, and so it is difficult for me to have a perfect day.
Thank you for reading and special thanks for Dr.Soler.
Always believe in yourselves , you can achieve all things!
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