Lock down has been extended to …
When a nationwide lock down was announced on 24 March who knew that we would have the longest lock down in the world. While we cannot weigh out its boons the bane’s certainly call out to us, ranging from the mass exodus of migrants worker to the fall of the economy, but the one that calls out to each and everyone of us equally are the health hazards of it. Yes you read it right! Relax I am not among the crazies who preach the conspiracy theories about the lock down I am merely pointing out the sedentary and abnormal aspects of it.
First, when the lock down was announced no where the announcement of start being a couch potato was made . The constant lazy lay back attitude coupled with YouTube chef mode activation led to an average increase in weight of the fortunate population. People suffering from hypertension, diabetes, obesity with lack of caution are putting on weight that leads to narrowing of your arteries which in turns increase the chances of heart attack and stroke. The increase in weight is more concentrated on bellies than whole body this is called central obesity and trust me it’s not your friend.
Secondly a life without exercise or least your normal daily routine is causing a decrease in your bone mineral density leading to fragile bones hence easy fractures
Less use of your muscles (the couch potato mode ) leads to a their atrophy, your muscles starts to shrink if used less..
And thanks to years of deep rooted racism many us have pledged to never let sunlight touch our skin.. well how do you plan to get your vitamin D3 not only necessary of your bone health but also your overall health and immunity.
Lastly lets not ignore the psychological impact of isolation we cannot deny a sharp increase in cases of domestic violence, suicides, nervous breakdown, increasing depression and panic attacks.
So what should we do breech lock down? .. No! A pandemic comes once every 100 years and it’s a crucial time to have social distancing specially with saturated hospitals.. what we can do is establish a little work out routine for ourselves with plethora of home work out videos available online.
Watch our never ending craving and pull your hands away from samosas and baked goodies .. get sunlight daily from your windows for 15minutes.
And lastly never be scared to reach out someone in times of need.. if you feel low talk to someone get help.. a lot of counselor are working via online platforms for the same.
In a battle that’s fought once a hundred year surely we health workers alone cannot triumph if you are not going to watch your health.
Dr. Bushra Shaikh