Archives for May 2021

May 24, 2021 By Vandana Juneja Leave a Comment

When Should You Get Tested For COVID-19 During The Second Wave?

With the unprecedented number of fatalities reported during the last three weeks and the overall nationwide positivity rate hovering above 20%, an obvious question that comes to the mind is- when should you get tested for Covid-19?

According to the updated advisory issued by ICMR on 04 May 21, the use of RT PCR has been optimised considering the extra load on the testing centres. ICMR has indicated that the total national daily capacity is close to 15 lakh tests which includes tests done in 2506 molecular testing laboratories across the country. Considering the limited number of tests that can be done, the advisory recommends the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for quick detection, isolation and initiation of treatment for curbing transmission.

This test has a short turn-around time of 15-30 minutes and hence, has a huge advantage of early detection of covid cases and offers an opportunity for quick isolation and treatment, and eventually curb the transmission of the disease.

When Should You Go For A RAT Test?

If you have been a primary contact of a covid positive person, you should isolate yourself for 7 days and go for a RAT (Rapid antigen test) if you have symptoms such as fever with/without cough, headache, sore throat, breathlessness, body pain, recent loss of taste or smell, fatigue and diarrhea.
In case you don’t have any of the above symptoms, but were a primary contact, you should still go for a RAT test immediately. In case the RAT test is positive, the advisory recommends that RT PCR is not to be conducted and the individual is to follow home isolation and treatment. However, in case the RAT is negative for symptomatic patients, then RT PCR is to be conducted.

The advisory has been essentially issued to reduce the load on the testing labs with the following additional conditions:

If an individual is tested positive in RAT/RT PCR, the repeat confirmatory test is not to be done.
RT PCR test should not be done on discharge from hospital for COVID recovered patients.
RT PCR test should not be mandatory for any interstate/ domestic travel for healthy individuals.
Interstate travel to be avoided by symptomatic individuals (Covid related or flu like symptoms)
Asymptomatic individuals must follow laid down COVID appropriate behaviour.

Hope this article clears your doubts about the recent testing protocol and when to get tested for COVID-19. For more detailed information, you can visit the ICMR website.

To get more COVID-related information, tips on building immunity or isolating safely at home, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

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Stay safe, stay healthy and #BeTheForce

May 19, 2021 By Tooney John 2 Comments

Build Your Immunity With These Antiviral Foods

Viral infections are responsible for global morbidity rates across the world. With the second wave of COVID-19 hitting the country hard, It has become an absolute necessity to focus on the treatment as well as prevention of the deadly virus. While the epidemic has already claimed more than 200,000 lives in the country, people are more aware of the immediate need to take precautions than ever before by focusing more on building one’s immunity as well as overall health. One of the key ingredients for good immunity is eating lots of antiviral foods.

Top Antiviral Foods For Good Immunity

Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are rich in Vitamin C, B complex, Beta carotene and plant cyclotides. It reduces the risk of infection and reinfection and protects the respiratory system. So the intake of vegetables and fruits are highly recommended as a part of a balanced diet. Plant cyclotides prevent the T-cells malfunction as well. Citrus fruits like lemon, orange, mosambi are very rich in Vitamin C content. They boost immunity. All the fruits and vegetables are rich in Vitamin C. So, it is recommended to include at least 2 portions of fruits and 3 portions of vegetables in your daily diet. Green leafy vegetables provide much more vitamin C than Normal vegetables. Vitamin C also protects our body from oxidative stress.
Spices and Herbs: Garlic, tulsi, neem, basil, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper are important spices and herbs. Neem contains lots of vitamins like vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and B complex. Curcumin, which is present in turmeric, has been used for centuries to treat various disorders. Curcumin is a natural polyphenol. Turmeric is proved to be effective against Herpes virus, Hepatitis, Chikungunya virus and dengue virus thanks to its antiviral properties. The lyophilized juice which is extracted from the ginger has been effective against Hepatitis. It reduces virus replication. Ginger also has an effect on Influenza viruses. Cinnamon is a popular spice. It contains 2 compounds – cinnamaldehyde and eugenol, which have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Studies show that the herbal extract of cloves, Eugeniin, has the ability to simplify the virus compound. Basil leaves, Garlic and Giloy also contain antiviral properties. So try to add these spices and herbs while cooking.
Dairy Products: are rich in Vitamin D which help lower viral replication, reduce the infection rate and reduce the chances of lung pneumonia. Include any one dairy product such as milk, yogurt, cheese, curd or paneer in your daily diet. As we all know, curd is a probiotic so it can enhance the gut-lung axis related respiratory fitness also.
Nuts and Seeds: are rich in immune protective phenolic compounds as well as Vitamin E, selenium and magnesium. You can add one handful of nuts in your daily diet. Brazil nuts are rich in selenium which helps to strengthen our immune system. Seeds like sunflower, sesame, pumpkin and nuts like almonds, walnuts and pecans are rich sources of vitamin E. We can use these seeds and nuts in normal form as well as powdered form and can also incorporate them with dough, batter and salads.
Dark Chocolate: contains large amounts of polyphenols and magnesium. Magnesium is involved in lots of biochemical reactions in our body. It also has anti-inflammatory benefits. For Diabetic patients, we can use sugar free dark chocolates.

Today many viruses remain without any absolute remedies and treatments and getting rid of these viruses seems hard. However, natural products and antiviral foods play a vital role in the protection against and prevention of life threatening disease.

We hope these antiviral foods help you build your immunity! Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more on building immunity, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to experts on GOQii Play.

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#BeTheForce

May 18, 2021 By Smruti Bhat 2 Comments

Basic Home Remedies That Can Help You Recover From The Infection

The nasty Coronavirus can have a damaging effect on your body, making it weak, even after months of its occurrence. It mainly causes damage to the lungs as well as other organs. Hence, the body requires time to recover to its formal state. A few common symptoms observed from the infected people include fatigue, loss of appetite and even breathlessness. Even if you have battled the virus, you still need to shower a lot of care and love to your body to ensure complete healing. Here are some home remedies that can help you recover from the infection.

Home Remedies To Recover From The Infection

Take rest: To heal your body, it is important to take enough rest before you resume your old routine. Some doctor’s advise on staying isolated for a period of 7 days as the virus may still remain in your body. Keep a low pace for doing your regular basic routine to prevent fatigue. Your sleep is greatly disturbed at the peak of the infection in the hospital. Stress has an impact on your sleep quality. Try returning to your regular sleep-wake cycle by creating a sleep environment that is free from any disturbances like too much noise or light. Avoid smoking, alcohol and caffeine. To sleep better, you can try having a sleep-inducing drinks like poppy seed-nutmeg milk which can be prepared by mixing a teaspoon of roasted poppy seeds (khus khus) and a pinch of nutmeg in half a cup of warm milk before bedtime.
Eat healthy and nourishing meals: The right kind of meals will help in regaining your strength. Your diet should include good quality proteins such as boiled eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds and lentils that will repair your body. To ease your digestion, you can eat small portions of meals. Include fresh colorful seasonal fruits and veggies that will provide antioxidants and help in speedy recovery. Since your body has been drained, it is important to eat calorie-dense foods rich in healthy carbs such as whole grains, brown rice, sweet potatoes and milk that can boost your immune system and give you energy. Spices and herbs like turmeric powder, basil or tulsi, star anise, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, triphala powder, pepper can be added in your diet to strengthen the immune response and uplift your energy levels.
Stay hydrated: Sip warm water throughout the day that will help soothe your throat. Have a kadha to get rid of congestion, recover faster and keep your immunity strong. To prepare a kadha, boil 1 tsp of carom seeds, ½ tsp organic turmeric powder, a small piece of crushed ginger and a tsp of black pepper in a glass of water. Reduce it to half and drink this concoction post dinner. Take steam inhalation once in a day and do salt water gargles that helps to cleanse your respiratory tract and improve your lung capacity.
Exercise a little daily: Exercising is essential as it improves blood circulation and detoxifies the body. But start with slow, low intensity exercises such as walking by moving around at home, doing seated marching, leg lifts, side bends, forward and backward stretches. Do not push yourself too hard and monitor your breaths while doing any activity. Practice breathing techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing and pursed- lipped breathing which help in enhancing lung capacity. It is also crucial to engage in activities like meditation, spiritual practice or listening to music that can improve your psychological state and reduce stress.

We hope these remedies help you recover from the infection. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more tips on dealing with the COVID-19 infection, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

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Stay home, stay safe and #BeTheForce

May 17, 2021 By Megha Mahajan 1 Comment

How To Safely Isolate Yourself At Home

With COVID-19 still spreading like wildfire and the resulting shortage of medical facilities, people have opted to self-isolate at home. Although hospitals and doctors are best to help you recover fully, here are some tips which will help you safely isolate yourself at home with your family.

Who Needs Home Isolation?

Home isolation is for someone who has tested positive or is suspected to be positive. The purpose here is to recover fully and stop the contagion. Home isolation is not an option for patients who are infected and above 65 years of age or have other comorbidities. They need to be hospitalised in isolated wards.

What Essentials Will You Need?

Apart from the basic necessities of water, food, clothing and shelter, a COVID patient needs much more during isolation. A quick list will include:

Thermometer – to keep a regular check on body temperature
Oximeter – to ensure that your reading is above 90-95%, or else you may need supplemental oxygen.
Exhaust or a table fan, working like an exhaust to draw in the fresh air and recycle the virus-laden room air.
You will also need your doctor prescribed medications and a smartphone to stay connected with the doctor and your community.

How Can You Safely Isolate Yourself?

There are a few rules to safely isolate yourself at home with your family in the adjacent room:

Recovery happens best during rest. Hence make sure to follow the circadian rhythm and have a good night’s sleep. Wake up and soak in the sunshine to get your dose of vitamin D from your room window.
Breathe deeply, do pranayama or follow the Win Hoffman breathing method to strengthen your respiratory system. Sleeping on your stomach allows your lungs to expand fully on the backside. So practice it daily for a few minutes.
Drink 2-3 litres of water to flush out the toxins from your body. Include a herbal Kadha in small quantities too. If possible, add lemon juice to it to get in Vitamin C to combat the virus.
Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables to load up on antioxidants to fight off the inflammation. Feed the gut bacteria a healthy dose of probiotics to strengthen the immune system. Avoid non-vegetarian food and alcohol during the isolation.
Exercise, if you have the strength, to supply oxygen to every cell of your body. Confined within your room, you may just get enough space to do yoga or spot walking.

When Should You End Isolation?

Generally, 14-17 days are more than enough for home isolation. You need to make sure that you do not have any fever for at least three days before ending the isolation period. Also, it is important to get tested once again to check if you’ve fully recovered.

Staying isolated at home is a challenging task not just for you but your family too. They feel helpless as they are unable to care for you. And you might feel bogged down with solitary confinement. Nevertheless, you must ensure to follow proper sanitation methods and clean your room.

We hope this article helps you. For more, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

To get more expert advice on dealing with post-COVID recovery or general health issues, subscribe to GOQii and get in touch with your personal coach now: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu