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Can Regular Exercise Prevent COVID-19?

exerciseApart from all the preventive measures we can take against COVID-19, should exercise be considered one of them? Can regular exercise actually protect us against COVID-19? Some might agree whereas others might not. In 1998, a large study showed that mild to moderate exercise performed about 4-5 times a week reduced the risk of dying during the Hong Kong flu outbreak. Could it be the same for COVID-19? Let’s find out! 

Some Points to Consider

  1. Indulging in regular exercise, mild to moderate, for 30-40 minutes, for 4-5 days a week of your own choice whether it is aerobics, dancing, Zumba, push-ups, squats, Pilates, etc. lifts up mood by releasing dopamine and serotonin (happy hormones) which is critical when faced with the challenge of staying inside with limited resources. 
  2. Exercising regularly can lower and keep your blood sugar level and blood pressure maintained, as people with these medical conditions are at high risk of getting infected with the coronavirus and other infections.
  3. Research shows that exercise can influence the body’s immune system, which is of utmost importance while fighting against infections and viruses. 
  4. Exercise helps you sleep better and manage stress better, which can both be difficult when schedules are disrupted.
  5. It can reduce the risk of other chronic diseases like heart problems, kidney failure, cancer etc.

Bottom Line 

Not much research has been done on COVID-19. At this point in time, it is best to follow WHO guidelines and take necessary measures such as eating right, exercising regularly, maintaining proper hygiene, managing stress and getting good quality sleep. Remember that whatever the disease may be, prevention is always better than cure. 

For more information on this topic, on building immunity and for home workouts, tune in to experts on GOQii Play or read more articles on Healthy Reads. 

Stay home, stay safe, get active and #BeTheForce! 

 

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Debunking Myths Around the Coronavirus Remedies

coronavirus myths

Social media has definitely played a major role in spreading the information and awareness about the onset of the coronavirus. While technology and the vast world of the internet provide you with a lot of useful information, there are also sources which produce false news which can be harmful. There have been a lot of unproven, fake remedies for the virus which have been doing the rounds on social media. 

The agenda of this article is to spread awareness and bust all myths related to remedies for COVID-19.  

Coronavirus Myths vs Facts

1. Claim #1: Drinking water every 15 minutes to keep the throat moist can prevent COVID-19.  Water will wash down any virus in your throat into your stomach, where the acid will kill it.
Fact: There is no proven theory which states that drinking water will work against any type of respiratory virus. But ideally, hydration is good as it helps with all bodily functions.

2. Claim #2: Holding your breath for 10 seconds without coughing means that you are safe!
Fact: Being unable to hold your breath for more than 10 seconds without coughing may occur when you have fibrosis, but a diagnosis is much more complicated than this. Also, fibrosis is not a symptom for coronavirus. If you are having breathing issues, this could mean that you have an infection — with coronavirus or any pathogen – or that another health issue is taking place. The researches for changes at tissue level in the body due to the coronavirus are still under process.

3. Claim #3: Eating Garlic can prevent COVID-19
Fact: There is no proven research for any food which helps to prevent or cure the virus. WHO states that Garlic has “Antimicrobial properties” which may help you build your immunity but definitely not kill the virus.

4. Claim #4: The virus does not survive in hot weather or under the Sun.
Fact: The experts are still unsure about how the virus would react as the temperature rises. The virus is already spreading in countries like Singapore and Australia which are presently hotter than India. There is no doubt in the fact that the virus has the potential to continue spreading across the range of temperature and humidity as per the current situation of China.

5. Claim #5: Getting a flu vaccine will help with the coronavirus.
Fact: COVID- 19 is caused by the novel coronavirus whereas flu is caused by influenza A and influenza B strains. The symptoms and precautions may be similar but the cure will be different as the viruses are different.

6. Claim #6: Coronavirus is Man- Made.
Fact: Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Experts are still trying to figure out the exact source, but it is likely to have originated from bats and was transmitted through them.

7. Claim #7: Taking a hot bath can prevent coronavirus.
Fact: Taking a bath with hot water is risky as it can burn the skin. The fact is that your normal body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the temperature of your bath or shower. This will not protect you from the virus.

8. Claim #8: Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body kills the coronavirus.
Fact: Spraying such substances can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth). Both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces, but they need to be used under appropriate recommendations.

9. Claim #9: Coronavirus only affects older people, younger ones are not susceptible.
Fact: The fact states that no age group is defined to be prone to be susceptible. Older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

These are few of the false rumours that have been frequently circulating and many of us would have even fallen prey to it. WHO states that the only proven precautionary step is washing hands frequently. By doing this, you eliminate viruses that may be on your hands and avoid infection that could occur by then touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.

Also the best way to spread awareness about any remedy is by knowing the source of the information and confirming the authenticity of it. Being responsible citizens of our country, it is our duty to share and help others but not at the sake of false rumors.

We request you to read, verify the information by authentic sources like WHO, CDC and then circulate the information on social media. #GadheMatBano! Know the right facts, stay at home, stay safe and stay Healthy. 

For home workouts, tips to build immunity and to stay up-to-date with the current news on COVID-19, tune in to GOQii Play. 

#BeTheForce 

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10 Ways to Turn Quarantine Time into Quality Time

quarantine

It has been over a week of working from home, social distancing and self-isolation from the outer world! Is it getting boring for you? With another 21 days of lockdown in full effect, life might only get monotonous. Let’s break that routine. Let’s utilize this time to do something more fun, productive and refreshing!

Focusing on the positive, this lockdown might actually be a blessing in disguise for those who have been too busy with work to do anything else. With all the time you save by not traveling or not being able to invest in social gatherings, you can pursue a hobby you’ve always wanted to or do something fun!

10 Fun Things to do During Lockdown

  1. Read a Book: Are you an avid reader who would finish a novel over weekends? If busy work hours and long travel hours stopped you from doing that, now is your time to shine! Get cozy in a corner, sip some nice green tea and immerse yourself in a book you’ve wanted to read. If you want to begin reading, try Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain or Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert.  
  2. Rearrange the Wardrobe: This is every mom’s dream come true! Clean the shelves, rearrange clothes and once this lockdown is over, you can even donate the ones you don’t need. Organize your cupboard now that you have the time.
  3. Workout at Home: With the work from home mandate, closed gyms and lockdown, we’re spending more time sitting than being active. Now is the best time for home workouts. If you’re not motivated to workout, then you can join the 30 Day Quarantine Burn Challenge on GOQii and earn some exciting rewards while getting fit! All you need to do is tune in to workout videos on GOQii Play for 30 days. There’s more info in the GOQii App.  
  4. Learn a New Hobby: Each one of us has always wanted to learn something or the other which could be painting, dancing, boxing, playing an instrument, cooking or may be as small as a headstand. You have all the time to explore these wonderful creative activities now! Utilise this bonus time to enhance your creativity skills.
  5. Grow Some Greens: Gardening is not only environment friendly but also a great stress buster. Go on and grow some organic vegetables to relish the nutrition at its best. If you want to begin growing your own microgreens, join Coach Arooshi Garg on GOQii Play as she has classes which are specific to growing microgreens!
  6. Sanitize Your Home: It is not only the hands that need sanitizing but everything that you touch as well. Wear your gloves and reach on to every corner of the house that you usually miss on due to lack of time. You can use a dettol spray to kill the germs around.
  7. Watch your Favourite Series: It’s time to catch up on the list of shows/movies you always wanted to watch. We do not suggest binge watching and eating as that can harm your health but planning your tasks everyday and having the entertainment slot for 30 minutes can be manageable.
  8. Plan Virtual Meets: Family and friends are always important. Social distancing needs to be followed strictly but we still can connect with our people over the phone, video calls, skype, etc. Make the most of the technology we have.
  9. Quality Time with Your Family: The busy routine of office and work at times keeps us away from family chit chats. Now you can sit together, talk to each other and recollect old memories. You have more time to spend with your spouse, eat food with your kids and play in the house with your siblings. If you have a pet, you can feed, groom and bathe him/her! This would boost your inner happiness for sure.
  10. Mediate: Stress levels are definitely high with the fear of increasing cases in our country. Be patient and calm. Indulge in some nice deep breathing sessions before sleep or practice Pranayama. It will help you stay positive and take decisions responsibly during emergencies. Join meditation and yoga sessions on GOQii Play for a better experience!

These are just a few ways in which you can utilize and make the most of this 21 day lockdown! Do you have some other activities planned? How are you spending your days? Let us know in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

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Social Distancing & What You Need To Do!

social distancingMissing out on your daily diet of social interactions? Feeling anxious and irritated about being cooped up at home? Well, we have no choice but to adhere to the directive that has been put out in the wake of the recent widespread and rapid outbreak of the Coronavirus infection across the world, including India.

As few states and cities across India confront the rapid spread of COVID-19 cases, doctors say that the next two weeks is the mitigation phase of the outbreak. The virus has already spread into our communities, so now, the idea is to mitigate or reduce the risk and damage from the disease.

Newspapers, TV channels and social media are abuzz with updates revolving around COVID-19. Schools, colleges, gyms, clubs and religious places of worship have been shut till the end of the month. Public gatherings have been banned and most businesses have asked their employees to work from home.

In the wake of all this, the buzzword doing the rounds is Social Distancing. A phrase that has never seen mention in normal course but since the past week, it has been drilled into our heads constantly, reminding us to maintain distance from one and all. Social Distancing is going to be the key phrase that is going to remain for the next few weeks to come.

What is Social Distancing?

In simple terms, it means maintain distance or avoid contact with another individual. In the current scenario, it refers to staying away from another individual so as to avoid catching the virus yourself and to also avoid passing it on.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one should maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing because when someone coughs or sneezes, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain the virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has been infected.

Lots of us might be relatively healthy or so think we are and hence feel that we might be able to withstand the rigors of an infection, but there is a concern about spreading it to vulnerable individuals and also the pressure it can put on our healthcare system if we are unable to stop the spread.

According to doctors and also directive by WHO, everyone has to practice social distancing as it helps to stop or slow the spread of infectious diseases. It means less contact between you and other people. Social distancing is critical at this point in time as COVID-19 is spreading fast and how.

It is spreading through:

  • Direct close contact with a person while they are infected or in the 24 hours before their symptoms appeared
  • Close contact with a person with a confirmed infection who coughs or sneezes
  • Touching objects or surfaces (such as door handles or tables) contaminated from a cough or sneeze from a person with confirmed infection, and then touching your mouth or face

According, to doctors staying home as much as possible, even if you believe you aren’t infected, is the type of altruistic decision that, when performed en masse, has the potential to slow the infection rate. When you maintain social distance as recommended, the harder it is for the virus to spread.

What Should One Do? 

It is all about getting back to simple actions that can help reduce the risk to you and others.

  • Staying away from people if you are sick. In the current COVID-19 scenario stay more than 1 meter from people). When at home and if you are sick, ensure you are inside your room – that is the most important thing you can do.
  • Practicing good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene
  • Washing your hands frequently with soap and water, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet
  • Cover your cough and sneeze, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, 
  • Regularly disinfect high touch surfaces, such as tables, kitchen floor, and tables and doorknobs
  • Increase ventilation in the home by opening windows or adjusting the air conditioning
  • Visit shops sparingly and buy more goods and services online
  • Consider whether outings and travel, both individual and family, are sensible and necessary

All these simple things if followed well during social distancing will help slow the spread of disease in the community. Think of this as an ethical and moral obligation towards our society and curb your activities, practice social distancing and substitute it with safer alternatives such as was video calls, skype, hangout meetings and calls instead of in-person meetings. Let us all work towards and support our Government and our doctors who are tirelessly working towards containing the spread of COVID-19.

For more information about the Coronavirus, building immunity and home workouts during social isolation or self-quarantine, visit GOQii Play. You can also purchase N95 Masks and sanitizers from the GOQii Health Store within the App.

#BeTheForce 

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