coronavirus Archives - Page 9 of 12

May 1, 2020 By Geetika Patni 2 Comments

How To Maintain Emotional Wellness in Lockdown

The Coronavirus pandemic seemed far away from us until a few weeks ago and now, it has created intense volatility in every aspect of our life. With uncertainty looming, the general sense of fear is widespread. It is imperative to maintain emotional wellness now!

But before I get into the topic, let me narrate a story:

Once Shri Krishna and Balrama were passing through a jungle full of fierce animals and demons. Suddenly from nowhere, a demon sprung in front of them. It gazed its eyes upon Balrama.

Balrama asked him, “Who are you?”

The Demon replied, “I am a demon the size of your fear”.

Hearing this, Balrama got petrified and the more he feared, the bigger the demon grew. Finally, when he could handle no more, Balrama fainted. Now the demon turned towards Shri Krishna, yelling at him “I am a demon the size of your fear”. Shri Krishna did not bother and continued to play his flute. The demon turned smaller and smaller until it vanished.

Tips to Maintain Emotional Wellness

Yes, the time is uncertain and yes, there can be a number of reasons to worry or fear all day. But fear/worry and anxiety are negative emotions. They make us vulnerable and lower our immunity, the same immunity which will keep us safe from the infection so prevalent all around.

So let your faith conquer over your fear in these uncertain times. Hence, I request you to prioritise your current time to:

Relax: Stay away from constant news updates. Instead, invest your free time in music, dance, painting or anything that you like.
Believe in the power of positive emotions such as kindness, honesty and contentment. Meditate once a day to feel the power of these positive emotions.
Open up: Do not bottle yourself up. Speaking your thoughts out loud, sharing what goes on in your mind helps to release the tension from within. Share your thoughts with your GOQii coach if need be.
Stay in the company of positive people or be the positive influencer for people around you.
Accept and Let Go: When it gets really tough, breathe deeply, use the mantra “this too shall pass”, to make yourself resilient and accepting.

I hope and sincerely do, you will not let yourself be vulnerable, neither physically nor emotionally! If you need to talk to someone, reach out to a close friend or your GOQii Coach or Expert. We are here to help you!

For sessions on emotional health and how to remain calm during these times, you can also tune in to sessions on emotional wellness on GOQii Play.

April 20, 2020 By Soni Thakur 1 Comment

Can Regular Exercise Prevent COVID-19?

Apart 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

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.
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.
Research shows that exercise can influence the body’s immune system, which is of utmost importance while fighting against infections and viruses.
Exercise helps you sleep better and manage stress better, which can both be difficult when schedules are disrupted.
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!

April 18, 2020 By Bhakti Mehta Leave a Comment

The Difference Between COVID-19 and Swine Flu

Scientists have studied the Flu for decades. Despite its dangers, we know a lot about the Flu and viruses that cause it. In contrast, very little is known about the novel coronavirus. Both COVID-19 and Flu are respiratory illnesses that spread from person to person. This article will discuss the differences between COVID-19 and the Flu.

What is Flu?

Virus has the capacity to make changes to their genes and mutate. Influenza A (Swine Flu) took genomes from animals and humans to mutate. Influenza A exists in pigs, birds and humans. The virus in pigs also contracted some from the birds and humans and mutated itself.

How is it different from COVID-19?

Corona is a virus family consisting of several viruses. The family is called Corona because the viruses are shaped like crowns in their appearance. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that occur in people as well as many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats and bats. This most recent outbreak, referred to as COVID-19, is a new strand of beta coronavirus that originated in China.

How are they Similar?

Both Corona and Flu viruses show symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, aches and pain.
They both can lead to pneumonia and respiratory concerns – which in turn can lead to organ failure.
Both viruses are most serious for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems or pre-existing respiratory problems.
The Flu and Coronavirus are both contagious.
WHO indicates that people with Flu can pass the virus on before they show any symptoms. A person can also pass on the COVID-19 even if they have no symptoms.

How are they Different?

The symptoms of the Flu tend to occur faster and can have greater variation.
According to WHO, the speed of transmission differs between the two viruses. The symptoms of Flu appear sooner and it can spread faster than COVID-19.
According to WHO, around 15% of COVID-19 cases are severe and 5% are critical. Those in a critical state required a ventilator to breathe. The chance of severe and critical infection is higher with COVID-19 than the Flu.
There is vaccine and antiviral medication available to protect and fight against Flu. There are no vaccines for COVID-19 yet. Coronavirus is still so new that no vaccines or antiviral medications have yet proven effective against the virus.

In Conclusion

Both the Flu and Coronavirus should be taken seriously. Be wary and take hygiene seriously by washing your hands regularly and consider keeping a sanitizer handy. Social Distancing is really important to avoid further transmission. Drink adequate amounts of water, eat a balanced diet, exercise, get the right amount of good quality sleep!

For tips to boost your immunity, you can check out articles on Healthy Reads or tune in to GOQii Play!

Stay Home, Stay Safe, Get Active and #BeTheForce!

April 14, 2020 By Neha Goyal Leave a Comment

How To Stop the Virus Spreading Through Objects

They say prevention is better than cure, more now than ever! With the coronavirus pandemic spreading, it is important to take every preventive measure possible. The transmission of this virus mainly spreads from person to person through tiny droplets that float in the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Other than direct contact with an infected person, any surfaces or objects around an infected person can also play a role in transmitting infection.

As we are all facing lockdown, we still go out to buy essential items like grocery, fruits, veggies and medicines. If you work in the essential goods and services industry, you must be going out every day. So you need to be more cautious than others. Here are a few ways in which you can sanitize your home to stop the spread of the virus, in case you were to bring it home.

1. Disinfect ‘High Touch’ Objects and Surfaces Frequently:

Any household cleaners containing at least 70% alcohol are good for disinfecting door knobs & handles. Just spray & leave for 5 minute to kill germs.
Commercial cleaning products can expose you & your family to toxic chemicals so kitchen countertops and other objects made of glass or wood can be cleaned using undiluted white vinegar. Just clean the counter with a clean cloth & spray enough vinegar to leave the countertop damp and air dry. Baking soda mixed with water can also be used to create a mild abrasive cleaner for greasy spots and stains on marble. However, a warm soapy solution will also work on such surfaces.
For switchboards and electric devices, you can make your own vinegar solution to clean. Just mix 2 parts white vinegar, 1 part rubbing alcohol and 1 part hydrogen peroxide. Spray this solution onto a cloth or paper towel and wipe switches and other electrical devices. For mobile phones you can use 70% alcohol based solution & apply it to your phone using a microfiber cloth.
For cars and its interior, any alcohol based cleaner or soap water can be used. Never use any kind of bleach, ammonia based products or hydrogen peroxide as it can damage interiors made of plastic & vinyl.

2. Practice Segregation: Keep things like wallets, currency, bags, footwear and other things like keys & debit cards which you usually carry outside separate from other things.

3. Disinfect Immediately: Once you enter home from the outside, immediately wash your hands, change your clothes and disinfect the mask you used. If the mask is made of cloth, wash it thoroughly. Make sure the person handling such clothes should wash their hands too.

4. Don’t Share If You Care: Do not share linens like handkerchiefs, towels, utensils and other intimate things with other family members.

5. Don’t Touch Your Shopping Bags and items you shop if you really don’t need them immediately or use them only after disinfecting. Fruits and vegetables can be used after washing under a cold water stream (& scrubbing with a brush for some vegetables) or by soaking them in water & vinegar mix for a few minutes. Use ½ cup vinegar for every 2 cups of water. Salt or baking soda mix water can also be used for reducing bacteria & pesticides.

We still don’t know how sunlight, heat or cold can affect its survival time. But hopefully, as time passes, experts will learn more about the spread and transmit of COVID-19. Meanwhile, try to be proactive about sanitizing to give yourself the best shot at avoiding and spreading it.

For more prevention tips and articles on coronavirus, check out healthy reads. You can also tune in to GOQii Play for LIVE classes by experts.

Stay Home, Stay Safe and #BeTheForce