Keeping Healthy in COVID-19 Times

Keeping healthy in COVID-19 times is a challenge for reasons more than one. We are locked at home. Many have no job. Old and infirm have no access to doctors. Family members of sick and wounded cannot reach them. It’s possible your neighbors shall not respond if you ring their doorbells. Under the circumstances what it takes to maintain your health is the question.

WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

Keeping this definition in mind let us consider the challenges each aspect of health faces today. 

Physical health varies among individuals in so far it is an individual attribute. Each one of us, depending upon awareness, access, and means make attempts to maintain physical health. Considering you enjoyed stable health condition in normal times, eating and other habits, lack of exercise, and isolation may upset the balance. 

Eating habits vary depending upon taste, access, and awareness. Ideally speaking, normal health presupposes a balance between calorie intake and exercise. Those involved in strenuous physical activity may not require conscious efforts to balance calories. Sedentary work and inactivity requires suitable reduction in caloric intake during periods of inactivity. Replacement of portions of calorie-rich food with fruit, green vegetables shall help take care of imbalance arising out of inactivity. Fibres in vegetables and fruits also keep bowels clean. Fruits and vegetables have abundant varieties to suit every choice, season, region, and pocket. Cheaper options of costly commodity may have equal or even better nutritious value. 

Avoiding unhealthy food is as important as eating healthy. It is obvious, alcohol and tobacco lead to numerous problems. We should not lose sight of this. Same goes for excessive consumption of spicy foods, food rich in fat, and excess salt consumption. Pickles are rich in salt. They are best avoided. Healthy food supplies enough vitamins except in situation of improper digestion or excessive loss. Consumption of adequate water maintains healthy milieu interior.

Continue with your usual medications, if any. Diabetes and hypertension are likely to worsen during inactivity and stress. Keep check on your sugars and blood pressure. Occasional telephonic consultations may help temporary upsets.  Emergencies call for timely consultations.

By chance, if you fall sick, seek profession advice, even on phone. Do not treat yourself with the help of prescriptions circulating on social media. Do not consult a Facebook-physician ! 

How to exercise when holed-up at home? Here I am tempted to quote a paragraph from the life of Nelson Mandela when he was imprisoned and confined in a cell for over 3 decades. In his autobiography, Long walk to Freedom, he writes;

‘ … On Monday to Thursday, I would do stationary running in my cell in the morning for up to forty-five minutes. I would also perform on hundred fingertip push-ups, two hundred sit-ups, fifty deep knee bends, and various calisthenics.’

One size does not fit all. Neither everyone can do stationary running, nor fingertip push-ups. Yet, everyone can do simple yogic exercises which apart from Yoga-Guru Ramadeva, many others have brought to our homes. You may learn these with the help of shows on televisions, computers, and mobile phones. You need only motivation and determination. It’s a choice between health and diseases.

Loss of job, uncertain career, loss of loved ones apart from the disturbing images of COVID times is bound to upset mental health of many except the stoic or ‘sthitapragya’ described in Srimadbhagadgita. How to not lose sleep, remain undisturbed under present conditions, is a big challenge. I offer the following prescription: 

• Be proud of your logical thinking. Reasoning saves us in the most adverse circumstances. Fear kills us even without disease. Many bitten by non-poisonous snakes die of fear. Numerous abandoned at sea survive. 

• Power of positive thinking is an asset. Be positive particularly when nothing bad has hit you personally.

• Do not be the first in the morning to share bad news with your friends and dear ones. Bad news like dangerous contagion spreads quickly and far afield.

• Involve in your favorite pastime; reading, music, watching television, playing indoor games, prayers and meditation, if that give you peace.

• Lack of sleep is an important reason for anxiety and depression. It creates a vicious circle. Exercise helps sleep and promotes mental health.

People fear human beings most in COVID times because of the fear of person to person spread of COVID. Today even friends and acquaintances avoid each other when they come face to face. That’s natural. Self-preservation is a must. But this does not preclude contact through phone and social media. Attempt to keep in touch even with log-lost friends and relatives. Remember everyone including the most wealthy and powerful are under stress. After all everyone is  human. They all have same emotions. A phone call and kind word does not provide material support. Sense of being connected provides strength. Try and see for yourself.

Remember, like everything else, COVID times also is temporary. It too shall pass away. Till then let’s keep healthy. By chance, if you fall sick, do not panic. Seek professional help. Remember, most will recover without complications.