ISSN: 2456-8090 (online)
DOI: 10.26440/IHRJ/0606.09433
SURABHI DUGGAL
Cite this article as: Duggal S. Bouncing Back To Work-Life – An Overview on Post-Covid Management!!. Int Healthc Res J. 2022;6(6):SC1-SC4. https://doi.org/10.26440/IHRJ/0606.09433
Author Affiliations:
Contact Corresponding Author at: surabhiduggal92[at]gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The pandemic disease has affected many countries all over the globe. The ailment mimics various universal illnesses along with peculiar signs and symptoms. Including a high fatality rate, it has also disturbed the dispatch of other diseases thus obstructing the frail health system in India. An effort to vaccinate a majority of the population. The use of non-pharmaceutical preventive measures has been scaled to prevent further decline. The protocols for nutritional management take into account features of the pandemic, along with the condition and need of the patients. Hopefully, the instructions outlined here will help improve health care around the world.
KEYWORDS: Pandemic, Diet, Sleep, Healthy Lifestyle
INTRODUCTION
Microbes present in the environment can be described as ‘microscopic organisms’ that exists as single cell, many cells, or as clusters of cells. They are universal and are healthful to life, except for some which can cause major harm. Majorly they are bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, algae, and viruses.1
A virus is an infectious organism that duplicates only inside the cells of a living organism.1 They are known as “organisms at the edge of life”, since they possess genes, evolve by natural selection, and reproduce by creating multiple copies of themselves through self-assembly. Viruses make use of a host cell to make new products since they do not have their metabolism, thus they cannot naturally reproduce outside a host cell.1
COVID-19 induced by a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has been announced by the World Health Organisation as a pandemic on 11th March 2020. These viruses are essentially responsible for enzootic infections in animals and are also suited to transfer it to humans and cause infections identical to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.2
The method of spread of the virus is via a cough or a sneeze from an infected person that leaves small droplets in the air or even by stool. Inhalation of these droplets or contact of the infected surfaces may further get infected.4,5 The patient presents with symptoms such as fever, cough, headache, fatigue, muscle/body ache, loss of taste/smell, sore throat, nausea and diarrhoea.4
In case of a mild disease like fever, cough, sore throat it is important to isolate in a well-ventilated room with arrangements of online/ telephonic consultation with a doctor. In case of severe disease such as difficulty in breathing, and persistent high fever it is recommended that medical advise be seeked as well as self-care be emphasized.4
Presently, no cure for the disease is available. Thus, alternative methods to control the spread of the virus need to be followed.
A healthy immune system is vital for shielding us from a number of diseases, and one way to accomplish this is a balanced diet. Nutrition has a positive impact as it might be a way to support older people at higher risk and people with pre-existing conditions. The importance of a good diet has gained more significance, with viruses such as COVID-19 having ravaged the globe.
A NEED TO TAKE CARE!
The disastrous virus has devastated homes, lowered immunity levels while inducing weakness in ill-bodies. If the microbial infection was moderate to severe, some harm to the respiratory system might have occurred. Furthermore, people with mild infection have to be watchful in the post-infection stage as manifestations of other health conditions set by the virus may surface.
The body becomes weak after having battled the dangerous virus for so many days.
Even if our body has killed off all the viruses, we need to shower ourself with a lot of love and care. This will ensure that complete healing takes place and in case of any requirement for additional healthcare checks, the right action at the right time can be taken.
Recuperating from Covid generally takes around two weeks for mild cases and about a month for people with serious infection. A superior recovery rate is seen explaining the reason for a sooner recovery and a slow get back to the old lifestyle after contracting this infection.
Every effort to beat the virus, WHO and the government urge the community to support recovery efforts by boosting their immunity. Here are certain reminders on how to keep the virus at bay.6-10
NOW IT’S ON IMMUNITY!!!
Keeping the immune system healthy is the key to preventing, fighting infection. Basic good health is the key to immunity.
Eat – Local, Seasonal, Traditional
A balanced diet includes plenty of proteins and carbohydrates. Proteins repair the body while carbohydrates take the least effort on our metabolism. Healthy fats help in boosting the immune response to pathogens by decreasing inflammation.
Whole grains, semolina are rich sources of carbs. Bread and cereals also provide easy-to-digest options. Below are certain points to be followed:
Proteins are the building blocks of our bodies. Muscle mass during illness needs to be replenished thus addition of proteins to every meal is critical to rebuild the body. Depleted proteins also mean lowered immunity. Spreading the intake of proteins through the day will help to utilize it.
A talk to the nutritionist for a supplement that will help tide over in case of a difficulty in eating.
While discharge, the doctor recommends having certain vitamins and mineral supplements for a period. Also, the same vitamins should be consciously included in daily meals to enhance recovery.
Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant specific to lung health. Few good sources being citrus fruits, tomato, spinach, papaya, mango, kiwi and strawberries. It is a water-soluble vitamin, consumption of adequate amounts daily is a must.
Zinc is an important nutrient that strengthens immune health. It is advised to stick to the prescribed amount. Some sources include Rajma, Lobia, Chana, almonds, Pumpkin seeds, Chicken, Milk, and Cheese.
Vitamin D also serves as a hormone and affects the immune system closely. A positive correlation between Vitamin D and better COVID outcomes has been found. Absorbing sunshine is the best source. Soak in early morning sunshine for a minimum of 20 minutes or a division of the same into two or three exposures. Furthermore, sunlight releases Nitric Oxide from our skin stores which is beneficial and protective to heart health.
Certain immune boosting foods include – olive oil, elder berries, turmeric, ginger, garlic, green tea, tulsi, ashwagandha, brahmi, ginseng, giloy, and other immunonutrients, nuts, oats, oregano.11
Few approaches to lower worrying involve:
COVID care is essential and should not be ignored. This is a great investment for future health!
A SARS-CoV-2 virus consists of a lipid outer layer which protects the inner content of the virus thus a soap or an alcohol- based sanitizer works effectively in dissolving this lipid layer and damages the inner content of the virus. Hence the ability to enter a human cell is diminished. This proves the essentiality of regular washing hands or a constant use of a sanitizer.
CONCLUSION
We are at COVID related risks because of-
- Pollution
- Poor investment in public health
- No social distancing
Our health is interlinked with economy and ecology. Eating local and seasonal is good for both the health of the people and of the planet. Regulate junk food as comorbidities make things worse.
Common sense is greater than panic and fear. Let positivity prevail in the mind and air. The perception of security from the virus makes us take great risks (Peltzman effect). Use of masks, hand wash, and sanitizers must be carried out judiciously even if we are vaccinated.
In addition to these diet tips, nutrients necessary for health should also be consumed. Since recovery takes time, a need to eat, rest as well as setting aside all the bad experiences is the key to becoming truly healthy. As rightly said “When diet is wrong medicine is of no use and when diet is correct medicine is of no need”.
REFERENCES
© Surabhi Duggal et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY-NC 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the use is not commercial and the original author(s) and source are cited.
Submitted on: 03-Aug-2022; Accepted on: 19-Sep-2022