Health Upp Health Issues – The year 2020 is a year of many changes. However, most of these changes are not positive. The novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has caused schools to shut down, businesses to close, and people to stay in their homes most of the time. Governments encouraged people to adhere to strict health protocols, practice self-quarantine as needed, and sometimes imposed lockdowns to control the spread of COVID-19.
If you’re like most people, staying at home is challenging especially if you’re used to going out to work, run errands, or visit friends and relatives as you’d want to. But aside from a curtailed sense of freedom, there are different health issues, even mental issues, that you can develop from the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
3 Lockdown-Related Health Issues And 8 Ways To Manage Them
The novel coronavirus isn’t the only thing you have to worry about nowadays. Apart from doing your best to dodge the virus, there are other health conditions you may develop while keeping yourself safe from it. Here are three lockdown-related health issues and how to avoid or manage them:
Obesity
There are many ways in which an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise can lead to serious health problems. If you don’t exercise regularly, you’re leaving yourself wide open to the risk of illness and disease. Since there’s no way to distinguish when the pandemic will end, it’s vital to learn to manage or avoid these risks while at home. This is a great post to read if you want to know about the lockdown symptoms that can hurt your health.
Obesity is a condition from various causes. Poor diet and non-existence of exercise are two of the main reasons people develop obesity. It leads to numerous other health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, and a host of other issues. Obesity also increases the likelihood of death due to medical conditions related to excess weight, such as stroke, heart disease, and cancer. The good news is that fatness can be prevented even while on lockdown. Here are some tips:
Healthy Diet And Regular Exercise
A healthy diet and regular exercise should be included in your daily routine. Not only will avoiding sedentary behavior keep you in good shape, but these healthy habits will also lower stress levels and tension that may trigger the onset of a mental breakdown.
Make Lifestyle Changes
Another way to prevent obesity is to alter lifestyle choices. These changes can include quitting smoking, avoiding illegal substances, and limiting alcohol intake. Changing one or more bad habits can go a long way toward keeping yourself healthy during the lockdowns.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that has been around for a long time, but most people don’t realize they have it or are at risk of having the disease. It’s considered a silent killer because oftentimes it doesn’t show any symptoms, so there’s no way to tell if you have it until you get tested.
Some people become at risk of developing diabetes during lockdown because of unhealthy food choices like fast food and junk food. But you can avoid developing this deadly disease during the pandemic by being mindful of what you eat. You can also take note of these tips:
Avoid Eating Junk Foods
A healthy diet is the best way to prevent type 2 diabetes. Avoid junk food like chips, soda, and processed foods. Prepare healthy meals from whole foods.
Monitor Your Glucose Levels
If you’re diagnosed as a pre-diabetic, you should learn how to monitor your glucose levels with home testing kits. While diabetes is a debilitating condition, it can also be controlled if it’s caught early enough.
Perform Physical Activities
Maintain a healthy body by ensuring you have at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Keep a healthy weight to lower your risk for various complications associated with diabetes.
Depression And Anxiety
Depression is a medical condition characterized by overwhelming sadness. While sadness is a normal feeling, it can also be hard to manage during these challenging times. It’s hard not to feel isolated when you’re living on your own, but couples and those living with other family members can also feel depressed because of the drastic lifestyle changes.
The fear and panic associated with the coronavirus have taken a toll on many people. Some people develop sleeping problems due to pandemic-related anxiety. When you’re anxious or depressed, it will be difficult to think clearly and logically. Breakdowns, especially ones that impede focus and alertness, can also affect your cognitive abilities and negatively impact the quality of your life. Here are some guidelines on how you can take care of your mental health during a lockdown:
Relax And Destress
To reduce the effects of stress on your body, you need to find a way to relax and destress yourself. Meditation and deep breathing exercises are great ways to do just that.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep deprivation is known to aggravate both anxiety and depression. Sound sleep is very important to your overall health because it boosts your immune system and helps you function properly during the day. When you’re sleep-deprived, you might feel irritable and have less interest to participate in physical activities such as exercise.
Avoid Taking Substances
Some people will turn to alcohol, cigarettes, and illegal substances to cope with anxiety and depression during the pandemic. If you’re susceptible to anxiety and depression, you must identify the root cause of these negative feelings so that you can address them accordingly.
Takeaway
Managing lockdown-related health issues largely depend on how you deal with the stress surrounding you during a lockdown. Avoidance isn’t the answer, and being proactive about taking care of your health is key. If you feel any symptoms, don’t falter to consult a doctor personally or via teleconsultation. Your health is of utmost importance during the new normal, and only you can take care of it.