Nearly a year has passed ever since SARS-nCoV-2 (which causes COVID-19) was first detected in Wuhan, China, and governments around the world continue to enforce strict lockdown measures and health protocols. While some countries have seen significant victories against the virus, there are still many more that are seeing a resurgence of cases. In India, for instance, new cases have been recently detected in Delhi. This indicates a much-feared second wave.
Despite the threats, people will only need to adopt healthier habits and beef up their defenses against possible infection. While it remains uncertain over when and how will the pandemic end, our survival will depend heavily on personal decisions.
What should you do to stay healthy in the midst of this health crisis?
1. Get more sleep
Whether or not you are spending more time at home due to social distancing policies in your area, you need to get enough sleep as prescribed by experts. Your immune system performs optimally if you are well-rested, so aim for at least eight hours of sleep every night. The same should also be applied if you are working the graveyard shift.
2. Mind what you eat
Your diet has a significant impact on your overall health. Although this might be a stressful time for anyone and binge eating seems justified, it’s still important to keep tabs on what you eat. You might want to take this time to adopt healthier meal plans consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables. Moreover, try to stay away from high-fat and high-sodium snacks.
3. Deal with stress in a healthy way
Aside from eating junk food, there are many other ways people cope with the emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s still best to adopt healthier mechanisms that don’t involve taking harmful chemicals or excessive eating. For one, you can take up a creative hobby or reach out to close friends. There is a lot you can do to deal with stress without having to destroy your body.
4. Monitor your health every day
As advised by government agencies and the World Health Organization, awareness helps save lives. With that being said, you may want to document your health condition each day. Make it a habit to record your temperature and check for certain symptoms. You might also want to go on regular checkups with doctors who offer virtual and no-contact consultations. You can never be too careful in these difficult times, so don’t take your chances.
5. Be wary when visiting hospitals
People are discouraged from visiting hospitals or clinics unless they are sick or have important matters to deal with. If you have important emergencies or requests to make such as getting a COVID saliva test or treating an animal bite, hospital staff may instruct you on certain protocols that will decrease your risk of getting infected.
Then again, even in the absence of a global health crisis, it is still important to maintain your health and avoid anything that might compromise your defenses. You might as well consider COVID-19 as an eye-opener leading towards a healthier lifestyle.
This post was last modified on November 12, 2022 3:06 am