Tag Archives: Health

Masks Protect Those Around You

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COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets travel into the air when you cough, sneeze, talk, shout, or sing. These droplets can then land in the mouths or noses of people who are near you or they may breathe these droplets in.

Masks are a simple barrier to help prevent your respiratory droplets from reaching others. Studies show that masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth.

woman wearing face covering, with a detail showing how the cloth barrier helps to contain respiratory droplets that she exhales

You should wear a mask, even if you do not feel sick. This is because several studies have found that people with COVID-19 who never develop symptoms (asymptomatic) and those who are not yet showing symptoms (pre-symptomatic) can still spread the virus to other people. The main function of wearing a mask is to protect those around you, in case you are infected but not showing symptoms.

It is especially important to wear a mask when you are unable to stay at least 6 feet apart from others since COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).

Your mask offers some protection to you

A cloth mask also offers some protection to you too. How well it protects you from breathing in the virus likely depends on the fabrics used and how your mask is made (e.g. the type of fabric, the number of layers of fabric, how well the mask fits). CDC is currently studying these factors.

Who should or should not wear a mask

CDC guidance is that everyone 2 years of age and older should wear a mask in public settings and when they are around people who do not live in their household.  However, according to CDC, masks should not be worn by:

  • Children younger than 2 years old
  • Anyone who has trouble breathing
  • Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance
  • Wearing masks may be difficult for some people with sensory, cognitive, or behavioral issues. If they are unable to wear a mask properly or cannot tolerate a mask, they should not wear one,

https://youtu.be/dSvff0QljHQ

Key Takeaways:

  • People age 2 and older should wear masks in public settings and when around people who don’t live in their household.
  • Masks offer some protection to you and are also meant to protect those around you, in case you are unknowingly infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
  • A mask is NOT a substitute for social distancing. Masks should still be worn in addition to staying at least 6 feet apart.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol after touching or removing your mask.
  • Postponing holiday travel & staying home is the best way to protect yourself & others from COVID19. If you decide to travel internationally, check out CDC’s testing recommendations to help make travel safer. 
  • Masks may not be necessary when you are outside by yourself away from others, or with other people who live in your household. However, some localities may have mask mandates while out in public and these mandates should always be followed.

References:

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html

Vaccination and Wearing Masks

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“Once enough people have some immunity, either because of previous infection or because of vaccination, the virus will have a hard time spreading through the community.” Consumer Reports

Researchers hope that Americans getting vaccination will be sufficient to end the pandemic once there is sufficient supply and enough pf the population gets vaccinated.

In trying to understand the readily available vaccine information and how it will affect the lives of Americans, Consumer Reports has reviewed government guidance and consulted with public health experts to provide insight to their readers about the vaccine candidates.

Vaccination equals two doses

Vaccines require two doses—an initial shot and a booster, taken several weeks later. Generally with a two-dose vaccine, it takes about two weeks from the second dose for a vaccine’s protection to fully kick in, according to Natalie Dean, PhD, an assistant professor of biostatistics specializing in infectious disease and vaccine development at the University of Florida.

Though two doses are necessary, the FDA’s analysis of the Pfizer vaccine indicates that people appear to be somewhat less likely to get COVID-19 within two weeks of receiving the first dose.

It’s unclear how long protection from that first dose may last. And the second dose is still required for full protection, to ensure a more durable immune response. 

Halting the virus transmission

It is not known definitely whether getting vaccinated will prevent you from spreading the coronavirus to others. Thus, preventive measures such as social distancing, washing hands, and wearing a mask will remain important even after you get vaccinated, according to the CDC.

More research is required before scientists can say exactly how many people need to be vaccinated to achieve “herd immunity “. It’s possible that with extremely effective vaccines showing 95 percent efficacy, we might hit the point where communities are protected by the time somewhere between 60 and 70 percent of people have been vaccinated, according to Kathleen Neuzil, MD, a professor of vaccinology and director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. 

It will be possible for vaccines, as long as Americans get vaccinated, to have a significant impact on ending this pandemic.

Severe allergic reactions

In the U.K., public health regulators have advised that anyone with a history of a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine, or food should not receive the vaccine. Two healthcare workers were reported to have had severe allergic reactions after receiving the vaccine. Public health experts worry that the reports could frighten people with allergies and make them think they should avoid getting the vaccine.

From Pfizer’s vaccine trial results, there were no severe allergic reactions. Deliberately, the trials excluded people who had previously had severe allergic reactions to vaccines, a Pfizer scientist said during the advisory panel’s discussion.

The FDA plans to advise that people who are allergic to components of the vaccine should not get it, an agency scientist explained. The FDA’s earlier review of Pfizer’s trial data found slightly more potential minor allergic reactions in the group that received the vaccine than in the placebo group, but none of these were severe, and none occurred immediately after people received their doses of vaccine.

References:

  1. https://www.consumerreports.org/vaccines/your-questions-about-a-coronavirus-vaccine-answered/?EXKEY=YSOCIAL_FB&fbclid=IwAR2LW6PC_JSykJwyG-Kv9ozQkNvxH-1VnYmAby-MJIr8kSJfHm7UwtyH3k8

Vitamin D: Powerful Protection vs. Viruses

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A new study from Spain looked at 216 hospital patients with COVID-19 and found that 80 percent didn’t have adequate levels of vitamin D in their blood, according to Healthline.com.

Recent research discovered a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and a higher risk of COVID-19. Now, another new study has found the same — noting that more than 80 percent of people with COVID-19 didn’t have adequate levels of the “sunshine vitamin” in their blood.  “It looks like patients with a poor vitamin D status may have more severe COVID-19,” said Dr. Hans Konrad Biesalski, a professor at the University of Hohenheim who has evaluated vitamin D and COVID-19..

Vitamin D is a potent weapon against viruses and crucial for immune health — make sure you’re getting enough

There appears to be strong evidence that Vitamin D plays a critical role for your body’s immune system and can ward off respiratory infections. Vitamin D does not effect the viruses, but effects the way our immune system handles infections including viruses.

Boosting your immune system is one of the best things you can do because it is your body’s key defense when it comes to fighting a virus. Even if you are exposed to a virus and if your immune system is strong, you have a better chance of not getting sick.

A major 2017 study published in the British Medical Journal looked at vitamin D’s effectiveness against viral infections. Researchers analyzed 25 clinical trials that included 11,321 people. The data came from 14 countries, including the U.S., England, Japan, Australia, Canada, and Italy.

The study found that taking vitamin D supplements cuts in half the risk of respiratory infections caused by viruses.[1]

Many people recommend that people at high risk for COVID-19 — older adults, those with underlying conditions, and people in nursing homes — can be treated with vitamin D.  “Vitamin D treatment should be recommended in COVID-19 patients with low levels of vitamin D circulating in the blood since this approach might have beneficial effects in both the musculoskeletal and the immune system,” Hernández said in a statement.

Many Americans have a vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D supplements should be considered one of the many tools that might help when conventional therapies are not enough. Research has found that vitamin D improves viral immunity by strengthening your mucus membranes.

Vitamin D is a key nutrient for your immune system. Once thought as the vitamin for strong bones, vitamin D actually does a lot more for your body — including support your immune system.

The coronavirus and other viruses get into your body through entry points that are covered with mucus membranes. They include your nose, mouth, eyelids, lungs, trachea (windpipe).

A lab study at the University of Illinois found that vitamin D helps mucus membranes provide a stronger barrier to viruses by increasing the antimicrobial compounds in them.

With coronavirus pandemic, researchers have not yet had time to fully test vitamin D directly against it. But they say there’s no reason to think that it would not work just as well against coronavirus as it does against the flu, colds, and other upper respiratory viruses.  “Very low vitamin D status has lots of negative consequences and this could be the case for COVID-19, but that’s not the same as saying that routine vitamin D supplementation will prevent severe infection,” he told Healthline.

  1. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/new-study-found-80-percent-of-covid-19-patients-were-vitamin-d-deficient
  2. https://www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.i6583
  3. https://www.institutefornaturalhealing.com/2020/03/coronavirus-one-vitamin-may-be-the-key-to-stopping-it/
  4. https://www.bing.com/amp/s/www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/the-surprising-role-vitamin-d-plays-in-your-immune-health/

Stopping the Exponential Rise in Cases

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“Cases are rising. Hospitalizations are increasing, Deaths are increasing. We need to try to bend the curve, stop this exponential increase,” says Dr. Henry Walke, the CDC’s COVID-19 Incident Manager.

As COVID-19 cases continue to soar, it took the U.S. more than eight-and-a-half months to reach 8 million cases but less than two months to double that number.

As a result, hospitals across the U.S. are facing dire shortages of beds for critically ill coronavirus patients as the post-Thanksgiving holiday surge shows no sign of relenting, new data shows from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

About 1 in 8 U.S. hospitals had little or no intensive care unit space available last week the data showed. And for the sixth consecutive day, the US reported a record high number of COVOD-19 patients in US hospitals: more than 108,000 nationwide, according to the Covid Tracking Project.

Public health experts say the number of hospitals struggling with intensive care unit capacity to accommodate the nation’s sickest patients likely will increase following another week of record COVID-19 cases.

As cases continue to soar, it took the U.S. more than eight-and-a-half months to reach 8 million cases but less than two months to double that number.

CDC and many states advise not to travel

As Americans contemplate whether to proceed with their holiday season or New Year’s travel plans, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging citizens not to travel or to get tested before or is urging Americans who go against its advice to get tested for COVID-19 twice in a bid to make travel safer.

The agency says travelers should get a COVID-19 test one to three days before travel and three to five days after travel, regardless of their destination.

Additionally, some states are reimposing stay-at-home orders for their residents and travel restrictions ahead of the winter holidays.

While other states, such as Hawaii for example, require inbound travelers to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival or require those without results before their arrival to quarantine for 14 days.

What to do

This is one time Americans should heed CDC urging to not to travel and stay home as the best way to protect yourself and others this year; or to get tested for COVID-19 twice in a bid to make travel safer.

References:

  1. https://www.jacksonville.com/story/travel/news/2020/12/11/holiday-travel-check-covid-19-travel-restrictions-by-state/3878341001/?
  2. https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/12/12/coronavirus-florida-what-you-need-know-saturday-dec-12/6511426002/?
  3. https://www.jacksonville.com/story/travel/airline-news/2020/12/09/covid-travel-test-things-to-know-coronavirus-testing-pcr-antigen/3800400001/?

mRNA Vaccine Safe and Its Side Effects

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Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trials show that side effects are common in participants and it appears that the more significant symptoms develop following the second dose.

The Pfizer-BioNTech’s mRNA coronavirus vaccine (BNT162b2) is both safe and effective, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA said results from Pfizer’s large, ongoing study showed the vaccine, which was co-developed with Germany’s BioNTech, demonstrated more than 95% efficacy across people of different ages, races and underlying health conditions, including diabetes and obesity. And partial protection from coronavirus appears to begin 12 days after the first dose, according to Pfizer. Consequently, Pfizer requested and the vaccines are expected to be approved for emergency use authorization (EUA) by the FDA as early as this week.

And this week, a committee of leading U.S. vaccine scientists recommended that the Food and Drug Administration authorize the first COVID-19 vaccine for Americans.

FDA approval of a drug means that the agency will have determined, based on substantial evidence, that the drug is effective for its intended use, and that the benefits of the drug outweigh its risks when used according to the product’s approved labeling. Approval of the he vaccine will help reduce the risk of disease. The vaccine works with the body’s natural defenses to safely develop protection (immunity) to disease, according to the FDA’s website.

How an mRNA vaccine works

Messenger RNA vaccines, called mRNA for short, is a new kind of vaccine technology that has never before been licensed in the U.S. mRNA vaccines contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19 that gives our cells instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. The objective of a vaccine is to teach your immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Messenger RNA vaccines aren’t like past seasonal influenza vaccines. An mRNA vaccine is essentially just a piece of genetic code that contains instructions for our body. The mRNA tells our cells to make a protein — the same protein that is the spike on top of the actual coronavirus. This is what triggers the immune response in these types of vaccines.

In contrast, past seasonal influenza vaccine puts a weakened or inactivated virus into your body to trigger an immune response, which then produces antibodies. Those antibodies are what ultimately protects you from getting infected if you ever encounter the real virus.

It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity against COVID-19 infection after vaccination. And after vaccination, the process of building immunity can cause symptoms or “side effects”. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity.

Side effects

Sometimes the vaccine process of teaching your immune system how to react to the virus can cause symptoms. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity. Moreover, no major safety issues were uncovered and common vaccine-related side effects like fever, fatigue and injection site pain were tolerable, according to the FDA.

The most common vaccine side effects were injection site reactions (84.1%), fatigue (62.9%), headache (55.1%), muscle pain (38.3%), chills (31.9%), joint pain (23.6%), and fever (14.2%), acc riding to the report submitted to the FDA.

Severe adverse reactions occurred in 0.0% to 4.6% of participants and appeared were more frequent after the second dose than after the first. The frequency of serious adverse events was low (<0.5%), without meaningful imbalances between study arms.

Although some COVID-19 trial participants reported COVID-like symptoms, it is impossible to contract the coronavirus from the vaccine, because the mRNA vaccines develop by Pfizer and Moderna don’t use the live virus. 

Bottomline

Getting vaccinated is one of many steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.  Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed.

References:

  1. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/08/pfizer-moderna-covid-vaccine-side-effects-trials.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.microsoft.msedge.EMMXShareExtension
  2. https://www.fda.gov/media/144245/download
  3. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fvaccines%2Fabout-vaccines%2Fhow-they-work.html
  4. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits/facts.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fvaccines%2Fabout-vaccines%2Fvaccine-myths.html

Inflammation and COVID-19

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Stay Away From Anything That Causes Inflammation

Medical experts are conveying to avoid anything that causes inflammation during this coronavirus pandemic, but some people have genes that make them more likely to experience inflammation. In 2019, scientists discovered that the coronavirus can trigger an inflammatory response making the symptoms and illness more severe .

From mild stress to chronic health conditions, inflammation can and will wreak havoc on your body and mind. Inflammation is caused by a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors, which can make it very difficult to address – especially while you’re suffering from exhaustion, depression, or any other inflammation-related symptoms.

Excessive immune response related to COVID-19

Every week, more is being learned about the incredible physiological harm that the coronavirus is capable of doing to those infected. This is the critical reason why this virus should not be taken likely.

Some clinicians suspect the driving force in many gravely ill patients’ downhill trajectories is a disastrous overreaction of the immune system known as a “cytokine storm.” Cytokine storm is a hyperinflammatory condition caused by an overactive immune system.  According to scientific research, a cytokine storm is a driving force in COVID-19 mortality rates.

Cytokines are chemical signaling molecules that guide a healthy immune response; but in a cytokine storm, levels of certain cytokines soar far beyond what’s needed, and immune cells start to attack healthy tissues. Blood vessels leak, blood pressure drops, clots form, and catastrophic organ failure can ensue. This can cause inflammation and damage to the lungs and other organs.

Corticosteroids

Doctors have used a class of medicines called corticosteroids – including one called dexamethasone – to help tame that response. These are medications that have been around for a long time and are readily available. “We know this medication very well. It’s been used for many other purposes, and we know the side effects profile and what it can do to the body,” pulmonary and critical care physician Lokesh Venkateshaiah, MD says.

Its use to treat COVID-19 stems from the success of the RECOVERY trial carried out by researchers in the United Kingdom. In the study, hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who received dexamethasone for up to 10 days were less likely to die than those who didn’t. That benefit was only seen in very sick patients – those who had oxygen levels less than 93% or needed supplemental oxygen.

But, doctors have to be careful with dosing. “Overdoing it with this drug ­can potentially put patients at risk for new infections, especially bacterial infections, or even fungal infections,” Dr. Venkateshaiah cautions.

COVID-19 fatigue

Yet after more than ten months, Americans are getting COVID-19 fatigue. Much of the current rise in COVID-19 infections is due to community spread. Taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is critical, particularly as the virus continues to evolve.

Your best defense to avoid serious illness and against the physiological harm caused by COVID-19 is to remain vigilant. You must continue to wear a mask, maintain physical distancing and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily. Additionally, you must get vaccinated for the seasonal influenza, wash your hands regularly and stay away from others if you are feeling ill.

COVID-19 vs Seasonal Influenza

COVID-19 symptoms generally appear two to 14 days after exposure. And, with COVID-19, you may experience loss of taste or smell. COVID-19 is more contagious and spread more quickly than the seasonal flu. Severe illnesses, such as lung injury, may be more frequent with COVID-19 than with the flu. The death rate also appears to be higher with COVID-19 than the flu.

Wearing masks

Wearing a cloth mask has been shown to help decrease the spread of COVID-19. Research shows that a significant number of people who have COVID-19 do not have any symptoms and are considered asymptomatic. These people may not know they are transmitting the virus to others when they talk, sneeze or cough, or raise their voice, such as with singing or shouting.

You should wear a cloth mask to reduce the chance of transmitting respiratory droplets to others around you. You wear a mask to protect others, and they wear a mask to protect you.

References:

  1. https://get.selfdecode.com/gene-reports/nm/inflammation/?utm_source=selfhacked&amp;utm_medium=partnerad&amp;utm_campaign=inflammation_report
  2. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-7-top-covid-19-myths/
  3. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-any-drugs-really-work-as-coronavirus-treatments/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Herd Immunity and the Vaccine

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Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community ― the herd ― becomes immune to a disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. This makes the spread from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune.

Two paths to herd immunity — vaccines and infection.

Vaccines create immunity without causing illness or resulting complications. Herd immunity makes it possible to protect the population from a disease, including those who can’t be vaccinated, such as those with compromised immune systems.

Herd immunity can also be reached when a sufficient number of people in the population have recovered from a disease and have developed antibodies against future infection.

Experts estimate that 70% of the U.S. population — more than 200 million people — would have to recover from COVID-19 to create herd immunity and halt the epidemic. This amount of infection could lead to serious and potentially long-term complications and millions of deaths.

Since the risk of developing dangerous symptoms from COVID-19 may be greater in people who are older (over 65) or in people of any age who have other serious underlying health problems, such as heart or lung conditions, weakened immune systems, severe obesity, or diabetes. And if many people become seriously ill with COVID-19 simultaneously, the nation’s health care system could quickly become overwhelmed.

Until there is widespread COVID-19 vaccinations, it’s crucial to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and protect individuals at increased risk of severe illness, including older adults and people of any age with underlying health conditions. To reduce the risk of infection:

  • Avoid large events and mass gatherings.
  • Avoid close contact (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters) with anyone who is sick or has symptoms.
  • Stay home as much as possible and keep distance between yourself and others (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters) if COVID-19 is spreading in your community, especially if you have a higher risk of serious illness. Keep in mind some people may have the COVID-19 virus and spread it to others, even if they don’t have symptoms or don’t know they have COVID-19.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Wear a cloth face covering in public spaces where it’s difficult to avoid close contact with others, especially if you’re in an area with ongoing community spread. for health care providers.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw away the used tissue.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Avoid sharing dishes, glasses, bedding and other household items if you’re sick.
  • Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, electronics and counters, daily.
  • Stay home from work, school and public areas if you’re sick, unless you’re going to get medical care. Avoid public transportation, taxis and ride-sharing if you’re sick.

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, everyone needs to continue to use masks, exercise proper hand hygiene, limit travel, avoid congregating, and maintain appropriate social distancing. 

References:

  1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/herd-immunity-and-coronavirus/art-20486808

Return Kids to In-Person Classroom

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Many parents are rightfully concerned that their kids are not receiving the quality of educational services that schools are required, by law, to provide when school districts implement a 100% virtual learning or hybrid classroom model [that ask students to come to school on alternating days] options.

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) contends that based on experience and research, remote learning is likely to result in severe learning loss and increased social isolation. Social isolation, in turn, can breed serious social, emotional and health issues: “child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse, substance use, depression, and suicidal ideation. Furthermore, these impacts will be visited more severely on Black and brown children, as well as low-income children and those with learning disabilities.”

Children are safer in their schools. And, there are lots of kids in this country who are, for example, food insecure, who may be experiencing abuse at home — not to mention the obvious academic benefits of simply being in school. We know that remote learning is just not that good.

Nation’s Pediatricians support in-person schooling

The AAP guidance “strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.” Their guidance says “schools are fundamental to child and adolescent development and well-being.”

The AAP cites “mounting evidence that transmission of the coronavirus by young children is uncommon, partly because they are less likely to contract it in the first place. Tests showed lower coronavirus rates in schools than in their surrounding communities.”

The guidance for in-person schooling includes recommendations to maintain physical distancing, cleaning and disinfection of classrooms, frequent hand-washing, and using outdoor spaces whenever possible.

Largest school system

New York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio plans to reopen the city’s public elementary schools and return to partial in-person learning. The plan is to reopen schools at the pre-k and K5 levels because “we have so much proof now of how safe schools can be” amid the contagion”, de Blasio remarked.

Yet, concern remains at what is the critical amount of community transmission that is at a safe enough level to open schools.

Parents and schools responsibilities

Schools are requiring parents to attest to the fact that their children are not showing symptoms and that they took their temperature in the morning prior to the student arriving at school.

Additionally, many schools are segregating kids into what they’re calling cohort groups, so that the same small group of 10 or 12 kids will stay together all day. That way, if there is a reported infection from one of those kids, then ideally you’re only contact tracing and quarantining that group instead of every child in the building.

Furthermore, students will be socially distanced and will be wearing masks. The challenge of footprint and the ability to space out desks remains a challenge for most schools. Some schools have put those kids in the gymnasium or had to start holding class outside, but that often requires more teachers.

“There seems to be less transmission from kids to adults than there is adults to adults. Kids don’t seem to be super-spreaders”, said Pediatrician Aaron Carroll of Indiana University. “We don’t have reports of sort of, you know, a kid going somewhere and spreading it to a bunch of other kids or even a bunch of other adults.”

Public health experts and infectious disease experts agree that we all have to do the right thing if we plan to send our kids back to school.

References:

  1. https://www.npr.org/2020/07/15/891598558/is-school-safe-will-districts-test-for-covid-19-answering-back-to-school-questio
  2. https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/146/3/e20201440
  3. https://nypost.com/2020/11/29/nyc-elementary-schools-to-reopen-for-in-person-learning-dec-7/
  4. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/american-academy-of-pediatrics-says-benefits-of-in-person-learning-outweigh-coronavirus-risks/ar-BB16b9W9

Benefits of Regular Exercise for the Brain

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There are many long-term benefits of regular exercise for your brain.

Studies have shown how essential and significant exercise or physical activities can be for keeping your brain fit and healthy. And, you can actually build a stronger brain through exercise.

Regular exercise improves mood

Regular exercise has a significant positive influence on mental well-being and can boost the mental health. Thus, if you need an emotional lift or a need to relieve the stress of a trying day? Exercise or moderate physical activity, like a brisk walk, is the solution.

Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier, more relaxed and less anxious.

Endorphins

The body’s feel-good chemical, known as endorphins, are released during exercise. Endorphins help focus your mind, reduce the impact of pain on your body, and improve your mood. In fact, some reports indicate the endorphins released during exercise have much of the same effect as traditional anxiety medication, and the results can last for hours afterward. There is ample evidence pointing towards endorphins’ positive effects.

Take your brain to the gym to maximize mental and whole-body health

Evidence does suggest that resistance training and aerobic exercise — walking, running, biking, swimming — will help your brain. In one study, older adults with mild cognitive impairment who lifted weights two to three times a week improved muscle tone and cognitive function, according to the Mayo Clinic.

  • Moreover, walking and other moderate aerobic exercise has been shown to help stabilize your mood and help with depressive symptoms. Studies have also found that regular exercise helps people better control their stress and regulate their emotions.
  • Physical activity contributes to learning. In one study, when teachers added exercise routines to math lessons — called motor-enriched learning — math scores improved faster for the exercisers than for the kids who didn’t exercise during the lesson. Other studies have found that exercise helps improve reading comprehension, too.

    • A few of the brain enhancing findings to motivate you to get started today.

    1. Feel better.
    2. Enhance learning. While scientists don’t fully understand how
    3. Sharpen memory.
    4. Improve vision.

    Your brain is amazing. Billions of nerve cells work together in harmony to coordinate every second of your life: your movements, behavior, thoughts, memories and emotions. So take your brain to the gym to maximize whole-body health.

    References:

    1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/want-a-strong-brain-exercise/art-20390074
    2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389

    Immune Response from COVID-19 Vaccine

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    Experiencing an immune response was better than getting Covid-19

    Many participants in Moderna and Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine trials experienced an “immune response” such as high fever, body aches, bad headaches, daylong exhaustion and other symptoms after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine shots.

    While the symptoms were uncomfortable for many, the participants said the symptoms went away after a day, sometimes sooner, and that “it was better than getting Covid-19”.

    “We really need to make patients aware that this [COVID-19 vaccine] is not going to be a walk in the park,” Dr. Sandra Fryhofer of the American Medical Association said. “They are going to know they had a vaccine. They are probably not going to feel wonderful. But they’ve got to come back for that second dose.”

    Both companies, Moderna and Pfizer, acknowledged that their vaccines could induce “immune response” — side effects — that are similar to symptoms associated with mild COVID-19, such as muscle pain, chills and headache.

    It’s normal to feel under the weather or even somewhat ill—fatigued, achey, or experience a fever—after getting a vaccine shot. This results from the robust immune response as the body’s creating antibodies, actual protection against the coronavirus. It will happen to a percentage of the people who get the vaccine shot.

    In other words, feeling like you’re in the early stages of getting the coronavirus is actually a sign that you’ll be protected from the actual virus. What you’re feeling is the body’s defense system gearing up.

    Most vaccine shots mimic a virus entering your body. Immune cells, though, fire off chemical alarms as soon as they notice any virus-like particle. They activate the innate immune system, a generalized response that tries to make the body unlivable for any potential pathogen. That inflammatory reaction can cause a bit of a fever or a tiny swollen lump near the injection site.

    The fatigue you might feel comes from gearing up a more specialized immune defense. Tiny, specialized cells called B-cells create antibodies, which are cellular fighter pilots specific to each virus. Making these antibodies requires expending a little extra energy at first, but the payoff is future protection: Once they’re present in your plasma, the antibodies can patrol for future viruses.

    Additionally, it takes about two weeks for your body to whip its antibodies into shape; you could pick up a coronavirus in the window between getting your jab and when protection kicks in. That’s why it’s important to make sure you only get a coronavirus vaccine shot, or any vaccine, when you’re feeling healthy.

    Not everyone will notice these symptoms after getting the vaccine shot. But if you do seem a bit off, the feeling shouldn’t stick around for more than a day or two, and shouldn’t require a visit to your healthcare provider.

    References:

    1. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/23/covid-vaccine-cdc-should-warn-people-the-side-effects-from-shots-wont-be-walk-in-the-park-.html
    2. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/feeling-sick-getting-flu-shot-150519027.html