Tag Archives: Covid-19 Crisis

Reopening but Not a Relief – Thus Boost up Resilience

By Hui Xie-Zukauskas

Together in Pandemic_PixabayMemorial Day is a somber day because it is for remembering those people who have died while serving our country, although it also marks the starting of summer with beach vacations and backyard barbecues. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has added serious concerns to the upcoming holiday weekend. So far, more than 95,000 lives have been lost to Covid-19.

First, let’s grieve jointly for those who lost their lives during the pandemic no matter what the cause, and honor their lives collectively.

Because this novel coronavirus suddenly turned the world upside down, life in the past months has been very tough for millions of people suffering from deadly infection, tragic loss and financial burden to emotional distress and “quarantine fever or fatigue”.

Together, we followed the “stay-at-home” order and applied social distancing to prevent spread of the disease, among various hygienic measures. Despite the recent lifting of some restrictions and reopening selected businesses, most of us remain anxious and cautious.

Now, it’s about the next phase—slowly moving on, and hopefully a post-pandemic life and beyond. Here I’d like to share my thoughts and key preventive measures as follows.

  • Shared challenges and Covid-19’s impact
  • Serious health issues and perspectives
  • Safe measures when reopening

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Where are the challenges and what can we control?

I’m certain that your challenges are unique, even overwhelming. For instance,

-          Maybe you are an essential worker to provide central services daily while others are staying at home;

-          Maybe you or your loved one fought through the Covid-19 for survival;

-          Maybe you lost your job and stood in a food line for the first time in your life.

-          Maybe you have underlying health issues that made you vulnerable to coronavirus infection, but fear about going to hospitals deterred your medical attention;

-          Maybe you have cancer and had to undergo cancer therapy during the pandemic with no choice to avoid hospital trips;

-          Maybe you work remotely in the comfort of your home while juggling child care in the household;

-          Maybe you’re a college graduate, stuck at home with a canceled graduation ceremony and celebratory parties, and without a clear perspective for future jobs due to the Covid-19 crisis;

-          Or maybe you are a victim of domestic violence but during the pandemic forced to shelter with the abuser.

The stories can go on and on… all impacting our life and wellness.

One thing we shared in common is that we were all affected during the Covid-19 outbreak though the extent and magnitude of challenges varied. And now, we’re all coping with a new normal.

We also know that this virus is highly contagious. However, positivity is contagious too. So, let’s maintain a positive outlook, care with compassion, and help one another go through the hardships.

Existing health conditions collide with the Covid-19

More than half of US adults have at least one chronic condition such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension or obesity. These conditions increase the risk of becoming critically ill if infected.

On top of that, the “stay-at-home” order also did not make things better in the following ways.

—          Eat more for convenience

More time at home means more access to the refrigerator and food, less consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits, or more packaged/cooked food delivery to your doorsteps. And the worse, drinking more alcohol.

—          Sit more and exercise less

Remote working or online learning, entertaining and shopping all create more screen time, more sitting time, and less movement. Limited outdoor activities and work-related labor and reduced shopping trips, along with gym closings, all cut down the amount of physical activities – if one is not self-disciplined on regular exercise.

—          Feel more stressed

Anxiety and fear of coronavirus infection, unforeseen life change and financial drain from unemployment or business closures are common triggers initially. With the US Covid-19 death toll approaching 100,000 and unemployment claims looming 40 million, stress from emotional disarray and financial loss is undeniable.

—          Have more trouble sleeping

It’s self-explanatory due to the above factors compounding together. The pandemic accelerated vicious circles.

In addition, public health crises such as opioid addiction and Covid-19 collide too, which posed a threat to individuals with substance use disorders, and deserve our attention.   

Key safe measures when reopening

Covid-19 can be fatal, so can other life-threatening medical events such as heart attack and stroke. Coronavirus will linger, and other pathogens or toxins will stick around too. So, first and foremost is to protect yourself and your family as best as you can.

As new infection cases are still rising in some regions or areas, a potential second wave of outbreak is not behind us.

Here are six key steps to your safety:

1.  Prepare for a new lifestyle, and embrace the new normal.

Alongside a healthy lifestyle and good hand hygiene, whenever you go to a public place – WAITS (wait for a minute and do)

Wear: a face mask.

Avoid: touching eyes, ears, outer side of your mask and shared surfaces. No handshaking.

Isolate at home: if you feel sick, and take the virus test as advised.

Take:  hand sanitizer and a disinfectant wipe (placed them in a small plastic bag/container)

Stay: 6 feet apart from others as much as possible.

2.  Know your risk factors and vigilance is key.

Remember that risk factors vary individually. In addition to existing health and environmental risks, indoor isolation life also amplified some diet and lifestyle problems.

3.  Strengthen the immune system – your all-time protection.

It’s about nurturing yourself and your most potent defense against any pathogen and illness. Boosting your immunity involves multi-front approaches from diet, physical activity and weight to lowering stress, adequate sleep and a healthy lifestyle. This is the time to foster your wellness, so follow the guidance from Key Strategies for Cancer Prevention in details and preserve your health—your most valuable asset.

4.  Manage stress.

Enjoy more family time. Relax your mind and body using array of stress-relief techniques, resolve to focus on things you can control rather than worries that you can’t, and let your creativity takeover your anxiety. In post-Covid era, many jobs will undergo dramatic changes, and many workers will return to a fundamentally different workplace. So take time to reflect and create your new future.

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to seek help.

5.  Take care of your own health or medical issues.

Never ignore your health problems – if there are any unusual changes, go for Telemedicine first if it’s a non-emergency issue. Even if it’s a non-Covid related emergency, the hospitals try their best to assure your safe visit, so don’t delay your necessary medical attention.

6.  Stay well informed, stay away from disinformation overload, i.e. “infodemic”.

As new information on this virus and disease is emerging remarkably fast, new understanding continues to change weekly, if not daily, misinformation and confusion evolved too. Please trust science especially when it comes to your health and life.

Summary

Unlike other viruses, the novel coronavirus is both highly contagious and lethal, and still lingering around. There is no room for us to become complacent at least before a vaccine and treatment are successfully developed. Keep taking all safe measures to protect yourself and your family.

Ask yourself how important your health is to you.

 

Image credit: Pixabay

Rekindled Sense and Attention to Cancer Amid COVID-19

By Hui Xie-Zukauskas

Calm & Care Flowers_Blog useBefore Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rises as a foremost source of mortality in front of our eyes this year, heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of global death.

Both COVID-19 and cancer do not discriminate (any age, race/ethnics or gender), and cause great global public health concern.

In March, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic, after the disease spread to more than 100 countries leading to tens of thousands of cases within a few months worldwide.

Strictly speaking, a pandemic is defined when an epidemic spans various continents and affects a large number of people. Although the scientific community has not adapted the pandemic label for noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease and cancer, cancer certainly reaches pandemic proportion and severity (regardless of speed).

To be clear, my focus is not about terminology but about the brutality of a disease. However, if we view cancer morbidity and mortality through the lens of pandemic, without disputing the terminology or the precise term, we can implement protective measures and save more lives, especially from preventable cancers.

Here I examine what dire similarities COVID-19 and cancer share and how they differ.

   

COVID-19

(Communicable disease)

 

  

Cancer

(Noncommunicable disease)
Characteristic Sudden outbreak, quickly, and highly infectious Slowly developing over decades, noninfectious
Origin & Cause Natural or animal origin, caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Cells of origin, i.e. cellular mutation, due to a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors; <10% of hereditary cancers
Person-to-Person transmission Yes No in general, but some cancers can be passed from person to person through viral transmission.
Speed & Severity Deadly in days Deadly in years
Global death & mortality rate (MR) 145,500+ as of 4/16/2020

MR: *projected 2-3%, presently ~4% in US

 Nearly 10 million annually;

MR: rose by 17% since 1990, with age-standardized 0.05-0.15%
Human immunity

 

 Nobody is immune to it at present and it can strike virtually everybody Can strike virtually anyone
Effective treatment No evidence yet Yes, if at earlier stages.
Best weapon Containment and mitigation to reduce community transmission Risk factor prevention, early detection & treatment
Emotional difficulty, fear, anxiety, and powerlessness Yes Yes
Say Goodbye or celebrate a lost life in person No Yes
Public health urgency Yes ? (ask ourselves)

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*At this time, it is impossible to reach a precise MR of this outbreak.

Because of the complexity and multifaceted mechanisms underlying cancer development, doing one or two things won’t be sufficient in beating cancer. We must take multiple actions with integrative approaches—some of the same protective measures can be put  in place to prevent cancer amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

For example, strengthen the immune system—the most powerful defense we have. However, during physical distancing or home-bound time, stressful emotions such as fear, anxiety, and anger; sleepless nights; as well as unhealthy behaviors (e.g., poor diet, more alcohol consumption, less physical activity) can provoke the burden of noncommunicable disease (heart disease, diabetes and cancer) through weakening the immune functions.

COVID-19 will pass just like any other pandemic; it’s only a matter of time.

Unlike COVID-19, cancer persists as another health crisis and many are living with it now, which should not be forgotten. Compromised immune systems and complicated cancer treatments for cancer patients become more challenging at this troubling time, and personal stories should also not be forgotten. Thus, the battle against cancer should keep on. The book Key Strategies for Cancer Prevention details how cancer is developed, as well as what you can do to prevent cancer and optimize your well-being. So, remember to pick up a copy for yourself or your loved ones.

Like COVID-19, cancer demands our rekindled attention and care. Behind the numbers are human lives.

 

Image credit: Amazon.in

 

Personal Practices amid Coronavirus Pandemic and Beyond

By Hui Xie-Zukauskas

(This is Part 3 of Mini-Series.)

Flatten the curve_CPDBlog_by CDCThe rapid spread of Covid-19 has been scary, worrying and nervous to millions of people, particularly the vulnerable folks—those with chronic diseases such as cancer, heart issues and diabetes, the elderly and pregnant. Nobody escapes the grim reality as young, healthy people were also infected and died.

This is a time with a lot of unknown and uncertainty.

To live through the outbreak, I’d like to emphasize practicing personal hygiene in a few areas. These measures or tools are known and proven to lower your exposure to coronavirus, reduce current spread and fatalities, and safeguard your wellbeing as well.

Let me dive right in, and talk about three areas of personal hygiene. Hope these doses of personal responsibility help calm your nerves and confront this crisis.

First, personal health hygiene

Personal hygiene is a powerful weapon for personal protection, it’s like wearing a piece of invisible personal protective equipment (PPE).

It is critical to wash your hands frequently, totally, and meticulously for at least 20 seconds, use a hand sanitizer (> 60% alcohol) when water and soap are not available, and disinfect commonly touched surfaces for you and your family, and so on.

I feel I keep repeating myself, because I’ve advised so in my book and articles for preventing many illnesses. In fact, I even guided the readers why and how to cultivate healthy hygiene or habits in the kids from their early life. However, it’s worth it; because hand hygiene has been well-established to be an important tool and the most effective way to prevent spreading infectious diseases.

Then behavior hygiene includes covering cough or sneeze with your elbow or napkin, disposing contaminated napkins or handkerchiefs in a proper way—if possible, bag them. Stay at home and use a face mask if you are sick or have Covid-related symptoms. These preventive measures help yourself and others.

Second, personal isolation hygiene

“Social distancing” sounds like a buzz term to most of the world, but in the science of public health, it is a proven and effective measure in fighting pandemic. As the image shows, it works for “flattening the curve”.

Social distancing is also personal defense, it’s like an invisible barrier to block this dangerous virus from penetrating into your body. This is because Covid-19 spreads via person-to-person transmission. We isolate each other to isolate the virus.

Let me elaborate further. Social distancing and self-isolation or self-quarantine are hard for spring break beach goers or the Mardi Gras festival fans, and obviously difficult when business or city lockdowns. However, as this pandemic is raging, the blue ocean hides a sea in abundance of micro-sharks, i.e., invisible viruses. For coronavirus, packed crowds are either an easy ride to a host or an absolute buffet for survival—whatever you’d imagine, because all the nasty virus needs is to attach itself to a human cell and insert its genetic material into it, then replicate its RNAs and repeat the process of infecting other cells.

Please understand that social distancing doesn’t mean lonely living. I’m illustrating this point using Dos and Don’ts below:

 

Do

Do Not
1 Comply with social distancing. Close up social connections and support. (Thanks for modern technologies.)
2 Go outside (e.g. walk or exercise). Involve face-to-face contact (including no handshakes, high-fives or hugs).
3 Shop necessities and seek medical care. Travel outside the city/town, attend a large gathering, go to restaurant, café or theatre, and visit friends.
4 Work remotely, if possible. Trust any online disinformation.
5 Maintain a safe distance away from others (advised 6 feet).

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Social distancing requires responsibility and patience. I favor what an expert put, that is “Act like you have the virus and don’t want to infect others.” So, take personal responsibility seriously. Don’t forget that social distancing is a temporary but mandatory suffering; Nobody ordered social distancing indefinitely and no need to implement forever. After all, the lesson learned is that social lockdowns benefited “flattening the curve” in different countries.

Collectively, social distancing is well-worth it; because we can survive from human bond through different ways, but the virus cannot.

Finally, personal sleep hygiene

Even under normal circumstances, many folks are having trouble with sleep due to various reasons. Covid-19 outbreak induced stress can trigger insomnia or exacerbate existing sleep deficiency.

To manage anxiety, one of the effective ways is to ensure a good night sleep; in return, adequate sleep can improve mental and emotional health. My book has offered in-depth insights and tips, so no need to reiterate more here.

In addition to staying safe, eating healthy and exercising regularly, your immune system is your best weapon to fight viruses and diseases. Stress can weaken, but sleep can strengthen this defense.

Summary

We are fighting a common yet invisible enemy against humanity.

We have shared challenges, concerns, and desires. One goal is clear—to flatten “the curve” and get to the other side of it, which requires everybody to take personal responsibility and extra measures. Practicing the above areas of personal hygiene can imminently protect yourself, your loved ones, and others in the communities.

This is the exact right time, though not the only time, to plant personal hygiene routines into both public and personal consciousness.

Coronavirus will pass, just as other crises.

A final point: Cancer is another health crisis that does not discriminate any human being and many are living with it now, which should not be forgotten. Compromised immune system and complicated cancer treatment for cancer patients become more challenging at this troubling time. Their personal stories should also not be forgotten. Thus, the battle against cancer should keep on, the book “Key Strategies for Cancer Prevention” details why, how and what you can do to prevent cancer and optimize your wellbeing. So, remember to pick up a copy for yourself or your loved ones.