Coronavirus: Skip attending New Year party if you are experiencing these symptoms; it could be COVID

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Omicron cases may be mild so far, but do not let your guard down yet!

Preliminary studies from the UK and South Africa suggest that the Omicron variant appears to be milder, but that in no way means that it is not infectious. The heavily-mutated strain has reportedly affected several countries, including India.

With New Years just around the corner, health officials and medical professionals have urged people to stay vigilant. In some parts of the country, night curfews and bans have been imposed so as to minimize the risk of widespread infection.

Amid such chaos, it is crucial to take the right measures, be careful if you're experiencing any symptoms that could possibly mean COVID-19.

Vaccinated or unvaccinated, staying vigilant is crucial

COVID-19 vaccines are said to provide some amount of protection against the SARs-COV-2 virus. However, data suggests that the novel coronavirus can still affect people who have been fully vaccinated. Breakthrough infections have been quite common in the past. While most cases can have mild, in very rare scenarios, people have succumbed to the disease.

Experiencing a 'scratchy' throat and body ache? It could be COVID

Initially, when the Omicron variant was first detected in South Africa, Dr Angelique Coetzee, Chairperson of the South African Medical Association, said that the disease was mild and people who were infected did not report any severe symptoms.

The World Health Organization was of a similar opinion and stated that the disease appears to be milder as compared to the Delta variant. According to Dr. Coetzee, individuals infected with the Omicron complained of "scratchy" throat rather than sore throat, which is unusual. While the two may be similar to an extent, the former may correlate more with irritation of the throat while the latter is more painful.

In another update by South Africa’s Department of Health, general practitioner doctor Unben Pillay said that patients may also develop night sweats accompanied with "lots of body pain."

While these symptoms may also arise with a cold, doctors advise getting an RT-PCR test immediately and avoid meeting people during this time. Self isolation is recommended until the test results come out as negative.

Uncommon symptoms of COVID's Omicron to watch out for

If you're all set to enjoy the New Years with your family or friends, make sure you do not feel under the weather. Even at the slightest indication of illness, get yourself tested, avoid attending parties or house gatherings and get yourself tested.

While fever, cough, fatigue and painful or rather scratchy throat can be signs of Omicron, there are some symptoms that may seem highly unusual to be COVID.

According to Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, nausea and a loss of appetite can be two of the most uncommon Omicron symptoms experienced by fully vaccinated or boosted people.

"Quite a few of them had nausea, slight temperature, sore throats and headaches," he says. Some even reported vomiting as a symptom.

Stay safe during this New Year!

While the festive season is all about celebrations, keeping well is more important than anything else.

Even if you're all ready to host parties, spend time with family and friends, ready to make new resolutions, make sure you do it with utmost care and awareness. Do not let your guard down just yet! While you may think COVID-19 is over, there is no telling when it takes a wrong turn.

 

Side effects of too much Vitamin D

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What happens when you have excess vitamin D in the body

Vitamin-D is an essential component of food that is required for optimal functioning of the body. In the US, 40% adults do not have the sufficient levels of the Vitamin in their bodies.

Vitamin D is required for the proper functioning of the adaptive immune system as well as the innate immune system. It is also imperative for the growth and development of muscles and maintenance of the skeletal system. Not having the required amounts of Vitamin D in your body can lead to a weak body that is prone to diseases, brittle bones and other adverse effects. To make up for the deficiencies and insufficiencies of the vitamin, most people rely on supplements.

Role of supplements

Supplements of Vitamin D have become extremely common and are safe to consume. The probability of supplements causing toxicity in the body is extremely low. However, people with certain medical conditions are more prone to Vitamin D toxicity. Conditions like granulomatous disorders, deregulated vitamin D metabolism, congenital disorders and some lymphomas make the body more susceptible to toxicity of the vitamin. Other conditions that can cause toxicity include prescription errors, accidental overdose and misuse of a high dosage supplement.

But the question is, how does one identify a toxic condition? We bring to you the symptoms and side-effects of Vitamin-D toxicity.

What does elevated levels of vitamin D mean

30-60 ng/mL are considered to be optimal levels of Vitamin D in the body. To cause toxicity, the levels need to be higher than 100ng/mL and even after consuming supplements in high amounts, the chances of toxicity remain nil. It is most likely to occur as a result of inappropriate supplement dosing or prescription errors. Keeping the daily intake below 10,000 IU per day would ensure that there are no chances of toxicity. Despite all the data that you come across, you should make sure that you consult a physician before consuming supplements so that your prescription is in resonance with your bodily conditions and existing ailments.

Elevated blood calcium levels

Since Vitamin D plays a key role in absorbing calcium for your food, high levels of Vitamin D would automatically lead to elevated levels of Calcium in the body. Normal range of Calcium in the body is between 8.5 to 10.8 mg/dL. High levels of calcium are represented by symptoms like digestive distress such as nausea, constipation and stomach ache. Other symptoms include dizziness, hallucinations, excessive urination, loss of appetite, kidney stones, high blood pressure, dehydration and heart abnormalities. Hyper calcemia can be life threatening and should be attended to immediately.

Altered mental status

Since hyper calcemia is a direct consequence of high levels of Vitamin D, it can lead to an altered mental state that is characterized by confusion, psychosis and depression. If you notice any such symptoms, you should immediately consult your physician.

Kidney complications

Vitamin D toxicity can lead to kidney injury or at times failure. Since calcium levels increase because of high levels of Vitamin D, which leads to water loss because of too much urination and calcification of the kidneys. Constriction of kidney blood vessels which can lead to decreased kidney function.

Gastrointestinal symptoms

Symptoms like nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea and poor appetite are all consequences of hypercalcemia and these symptoms may vary from person to person. Having gastro-intestinal symptoms is a sign of a probable Vitamin D toxicity.

 

How and when to test your blood sugar with diabetes

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The right way to measure your blood sugar level

While most of us might want to check our blood sugar levels once in a while to ensure that we’re hale and hearty, those with diabetes need to monitor their blood sugar levels regularly so that any subtle changes can be taken note of. Regular monitoring of the blood sugar levels also helps manage the condition so that any future complications can be avoided. Here’s how you can test your blood sugar and also the best time to do so.

How to test your blood sugar levels?

Fingertip Meters: There are meters that allow you to test your blood sugar levels by using blood from your fingertips. A small, sharp needle is used to pierce the thumb or finger and is called a ‘lancet’. The blood from the lancet can then be transferred to a thin strip. This test strip has to be inserted into a testing meter that displays the results in less than fifteen seconds. Sometimes the results might not be displayed even after more than twenty seconds, which means that the test has not been performed properly. In such a case, you should repeat the entire process and get a proper reading. Meters that tell you your average blood sugar level over a period of time and show you charts and graphs of your past test results are also available nowadays. You can get blood sugar meters and strips at your local pharmacy.

Other ways to test for blood sugar level

Continuous Glucose Monitoring System: Also called interstitial glucose measuring devices, these devices are combined with insulin pumps and can show the trends and patterns that have occurred in your results over time.

Meters that test other body sites: Alternate options that allow you to test your blood sugar from other body sites such as the base of the thumb, upper arm, forearm and thigh are also available. Even though there are many sites in the body that can be tested for blood sugar, the fingertip is one place that gives an accurate reading because it can detect the slightest of changes, especially those that occur right after you have a meal or a workout session. Hypoglycaemic people should use their fingertips to test blood sugar levels.

When should you test your blood sugar levels?

For diabetic people, it is imperative to check their sugar levels multiple times a day. Anytime you feel that your blood sugar might fall lower than normal, you should check your blood sugar levels. It is recommended to check your sugar levels before meals, workouts, before driving and before going to bed. It is also important to seek a professional opinion about the same so that any other conditions may be taken into consideration before recommending how often and when you should check your blood sugar levels.

 

Is winter “heart failure season”?

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Studies show that hospitalization and mortality rates of heart failure patients are higher during winter season. This is majorly because the rapid drop in temperature causes various physiological changes that leads to worsening of disease.
Heart failure can be effectively managed through timely treatment at an early stage, following treatment schedules, lifestyle modifications and regular check-ups with the cardiologist.

According to Dr. Vishal Rastogi, Additional Director, Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi, “During winter season, there is a rise in incidence of conditions like chest infection, increased heart rate and blood pressure that can worsen heart failure. Low temperatures can cause blood vessels to narrow and restrict blood flow adding more strain to the heart. In our clinical observation, we see around 20-30% of heart failure patients getting hospitalized during winter season. Therefore, for heart failure patients, timely treatment is crucial for effective management of their condition, especially in winters. One should follow their prescribed treatment regularly along with healthy lifestyle and dietary modifications.”

Here are few risk factors for Heart Failure, especially in winters:

High Blood Pressure: Cold weather can cause fluctuation in blood pressure levels and an increase in the heart rate. Consequently, this can lead to hospitalizations in Heart Failure patients.

Air pollution: During winters, smog and pollutants tend to settle closer to the ground thereby increasing the chances of chest infections and breathing problems. Heart failure patients normally experience shortness of breath and pollutants can worsen their symptoms, which can lead to hospitalization in severe cases.

Lack of perspiration: Low temperatures reduce perspiration. As a result, the body might not be able to get rid of the extra water and it can cause fluid build-up in lungs, worsening the cardiac function in heart failure patients.

Lack of Vitamin D: Vitamin D prevents the build-up of scar tissues in the heart which protects against heart failure, post a heart attack. In winters, due to lack of proper exposure to sunlight, low Vitamin D levels tend to increase the risk of Heart Failure.

Take care of your heart during winter

Awareness about the 'winter effect’ should encourage patients and their families to pay closer attention to symptoms of heart failure and manage the condition with proper medication and lifestyle changes. Heart Failure patients and people with pre-existing heart conditions should be particularly careful during winter season and incorporate the following regime:

 Visit your cardiologist and keep your blood pressure in check

Reduce consumption of water and salt as we do not perspire much during winters

Heart Failure patients should exercise regularly, however, indoor exercises are recommended to avoid extreme weather conditions

Don’t forget / skip your medication, even if you are feeling better

Protect yourself against winter ailments – cough, cold, flu etc.

 

Study finds blood groups A, B and Rh+ more prone to COVID

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The onset of the novel coronavirus brought along many new scientific discoveries ad debates. One of them is the possible link between blood types and COVID-19 risks. There have been studies suggesting a specific blood type to be more prone to coronavirus infections, while researchers have nullified such claims and have concluded that there is no link between blood types and coronavirus links.

Having said that, a new study released on Tuesday by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) suggests that people with blood groups A, B and Rh+ are more susceptible to Covid-19 infection whereas O, AB and Rh- are at lower risk of infection.

 The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, showed that male patients of blood group B are more prone to Covid-19 than the female patients with blood group B.

People less than 60 years with blood group AB were found to be more prone to Covid infection.

However, the study found no association between blood groups and susceptibility to severity of disease as well as mortality.

"Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new virus, and it is unclear whether blood groups have any impact on Covid-19 risk or progression. Therefore, we investigated the association of ABO and Rh blood group with Covid-19 susceptibility, prognosis, recovery time, and mortality in this study," said Dr. Rashmi Rana, Consultant, Department of Research, SGRH, in a statement.

Further, the research found people with blood group A and Rh+ types are associated with a decrease in recovery period, whereas those with blood group O and Rh- could recover fast.

"However, the ABO and/or Rh blood groups may not be responsible for this association, as these may indicate an unexplored underlying factor like co-morbidity. Therefore, larger, multicenter, and prospective studies are needed to ascertain the relationship between blood groups and SARS-CoV-2," Dr. Vivek Ranjan, Co-author and Chairperson, Department of Blood Transfusion, at SGRH.

The study was conducted on 2,586 Covid-19 positive patients tested through real-time PCR who were admitted at SGRH from April 8, 2020 to October 4, 2020.

 In the 2,586 Covid-19-infected patients, the frequencies of A, B, O, and AB were 29.93 percent, 41.80 percent, 21.19 percent, and 7.98 percent, respectively.

 Of the patients, 98.07 per cent were Rh positive. Blood group A and B are observed to be significantly associated with Covid-19 susceptibility, whereas blood group O and AB have low risk of Covid-19 infection.

These 30 second tests can tell you if you're healthy

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As far as your overall health is concerned, regular check ups and health tests are extremely crucial. They are the sure-shot ways to find out whether you have any underlying health condition. A medical diagnosis is extremely safe and accurate and one must go for health screenings at least once every year.

 Test 1: Hand to fist and then squeeze

In this exercise, curl your fingers to form a fist. Then squeeze your hand, holding the position for 30 seconds. After you release your hand, you'll notice that your palm has become slightly whiter than before. This is due to the reduced blood flow. Wait and observe your palm and check the duration it takes to go back to its usual colour. Given that you feel numb or it takes a while or more for the blood to rush back, then it can be a sign of arteriosclerosis, a condition wherein, the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body become thick and hard.

Test 2: Squeeze the roots of your nails

The next exercise involves squeezing the root of your fingernails for 5 seconds each. Similar to the previous exercise, in this case the fingernails are likely to turn whiter. However, in this exercise, it should take no more than 3 seconds for blood to rush back to normalcy.

 Test 3: Leg up and hold

For this test, lie flat on the ground with your face facing the floor and your hands straight in line with your body. Slowly lift both your legs up together, while your body continues to rest on the ground. See if you can hold the position for 30 seconds. If you cannot or face issues keeping them stable or together, then there may be some issue with your abdomen or your lower spine. However, just to ace these exercises do not overstrain yourself.

The 5-second rule: Is it safe to have food off the floor?

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Is it safe to have food off the floor?

Imagine you are holding the last slice of pizza in your hand, and just when you are about to take a big bite of the delicious cheesy treat, it slips from your hand and drops on the floor? What would you do? Eat it or toss it away?

If you are like most people, you may choose "the 5-second rule". You would carefully examine the piece and if it was on the floor for less than 5 seconds, you'd bite into it. Truth be told we all have resorted to 5 seconds rule when stuck in a difficult situation like this. Well, the question is, if it is safe to eat food off the floor or not?

Understanding the 5-second rule

As per the famous rule, if a food item has been picked up within 5-second from the ground then it is not contaminated and safe to eat. It is a common belief that germs and bacteria do not stick on the surface of the food in this time limit and are absolutely safe for consumption.

Is it safe to have food?

The simple answer to this question is NO. Food that comes in contact with a contaminated surface, even for 1-second, picks up some amount of bacteria. Eating them puts you at the risk of diarrhoea and food poisoning. Also, there is no way to know what kind of bacteria is present on the surface. Even if your surface is clean, you cannot say how many people have walked from the place.

Who should be more careful?

Eating food picked from the ground is even more dangerous in the current time when we are dealing with COVID-19. Coronavirus is a highly infectious virus that can spread from one person to the other by inhaling contaminated aerosol particles or coming in contact with contaminated surfaces. Apart from this, several other germs can also be present on the surface. The germ and bacteria might not cause harm to all but can pose a great threat to some. This includes:

young children

older adults

pregnant women

Can insomnia lead to diabetes?

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Not sleeping enough can disrupt the metabolic order. Inadequate sleep releases stress hormones like cortisol, which can lead to insulin resistance and hence result in increased blood sugar. These stress hormones can increase your cravings for foods and drinks high in carbohydrates and sugar, which can lead to weight gain and thus type 2 diabetes.
Not just this, inadequate sleep also reduces the hormone leptin, which increases the body's cravings for carbohydrates. Leptin is also responsible for controlling the metabolism of carbohydrates.

Thus, if you are suffering from sleeplessness, you need to keep a track on your sugar levels. As per The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, a minimum of seven hours of sleep per night is important to stay healthy and fit. Feeling tired during the day is a major sign of poor sleep.

Here are more symptoms of sleeplessness

- Slow thinking and less attention

- Tiredness and lack of energy

- Weak memory, mood swings

- Feeling anxious, stressed and irritable

If you suffer from the above symptoms, you need to maintain a sleep schedule everyday, even during the weekends. Here are some simple tips to maintain a healthy sleep cycle.

- Your bedroom should be a dark, relaxing and quiet place

- Do not look at screen before sleeping, as it can disrupt sleep

- Stay physically active during the day

- Unwind and relax before going to the bed

- Take a shower and read a book before going to sleep

- Do not take caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, near to the bed bedtime

- Avoid taking naps after 3 pm as that can make you sleep less during the night

 

Are you using an expired lipstick? It’s making you sick

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Let’s be honest! We hardly ever bother to check the date of expiry of lipsticks and keep using them. If you also do that, it's time to stop as using expired lipsticks can make you sick. Yes, you read that right. Just like all other makeup products, lipsticks also have a shelf life.

Tips to identify an old lipstick

But if you are planning to use the lipstick that you bought years ago, here's why you need to stop.

A good brand's lipstick lasts around 12-18 months. Simple ways to find out if your lipstick is not good to use.

- The simplest thing you can do is to check the expiry date.

- Notice the smell. It might smell weird if it’s too old.

- Check if it oozes moisture and glides easily on the lips or not.

If you do not notice these and use an old lipstick, this is what can happen:

​Itching in and around the mouth area

Expired lipsticks can have irritants and bacteria, which can lead to itching in and around the mouth. Lipstick has lanolin, which has a complex composition and can easily cause allergic reaction like dryness, itchiness and pain.

Renal failure, anemia and brain damage

Lanonin present in expired lipstick has a strong adsorption. It can absorb dust, bacteria, virus and heavy metals from the air, which can be absorbed by the lips.

When you eat and drink with lipstick on, these enter the body and can make you sick.

Lipsticks also have high amount of lead and cadmium. Using the expired lipsticks can lead to lead poisoning and cause renal failure, anemia, brain damage and brain neuropathy.

Breast tumor

Preservatives and harmful substances including BHA in lipsticks are quasi carcinogens. When expired lipstick is applied it can lead to breast tumour.

Consult your derma if you feel any issue after applying an expired lipstick.

How the colour of your nails can reveal cancer

 1.The link between your nails and cancer

Nails are an integral part of our body. It helps protect our fingers and toes and lets us do activities that would not be possible without them, like scratching or picking things up. Given that it receives blood and nutrition from the body, it can signal any deficiency or hidden ailments you may be suffering from.

Changes in the colour of the nails may not seem alarming in most cases.

2. Your nails can say a lot about your health

Nail changes can occur in anyone, depending on the kind of illnesses, deficiencies a person is experiencing.

While yellowing or thickening of nails can suggest a fungal infection, brittle nails may be a signifier of a thyroid disease or anemia. If you see pitting i.e. small cracks in your nails, it may indicate psoriasis or alopecia areata. Additionally, white lines underneath your nails can mean that you're suffering with a kidney or a liver disease.

3. Change in nail colour can be a marker of cancer

A change in the nail colour should never be neglected, for it may indicate cancer.

Subungual melanoma, a type of skin cancer can be detected through the changes in the colour of the fingernails. It can appear in the form of a dark line under your nails, leading to nail discoloration. It can create dark areas near the cuticle of the nail, also known as subungual lesions.

4. Subungual melanoma can show other symptoms

Apart from the formation of black lines on your finger or toe nails, there are other signs of subungual melanoma that can appear on your nails.

Treatment is key

Considering melanoma is life-threatening, if left untreated, it can be fatal.

A physical exam and a biopsy may help with the diagnosis. That said, treatment would involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies, depending on how far the cancer has progressed. 

Oversleeping can increase risk of stroke: Study

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It is recommended to have at least six eight hours of sleep for the healthy functioning of the body. While insomnia is becoming a common issue. Oversleeping should also not be overlooked as it can increase your risk of stroke.

While oversleeping might seem like a luxury on weekends, sleeping too much on a daily basis can indicate a medical concern. Studies have shown that people who sleep for more than eight hours every day are more likely to suffer a stroke as compared to people who sleep between six to eight hours.

Due to a sedentary lifestyle, people as young as 25 are dying due to cardiac arrest leading to stroke.
The study

Scientists evaluated the risk of stroke among 32,000 people with an average of 62 in the online edition of the journal Neurology, the American Academy of Neurology's medical journal on December 11, 2019.

The scientists linked stroke rates to self-reported sleep patterns of the study participants.

What causes a stroke?

A stroke happens when the blood flow to a portion of the brain is disrupted or diminished, causing damage to the brain tissue.

Analysis

As per the study, people who slept for more than nine hours per night had a 23 per cent increased risk of stroke than people who slept for less than eight hours per night.

Further, people who nap for at least 90 minutes in the middle of the day have 25 per cent higher chances of having a stroke than those who took less than 30 minutes of nap.

People who sleep for longer but report having poor sleep are at 82 per cent increased risk of stroke. Sleep issues are frequent even after a stroke. More than half the survivors have difficulty in sleeping in the months to follow. This can disrupt recovery, create melancholy and cause memory issues.

How excessive sleep can increase the chances of stroke?

How excessive sleep is associated with stroke is not yet clear, but it has been observed that people who sleep too much have increased cholesterol levels, which can lead to weight gain and an increased risk of stroke. 

Medical conditions that can cause hair loss

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Factors that can lead to hair loss

There are numerous reasons behind why one experiences hair loss. It could either be hereditary or an outcome of medical treatments or even due to an underlying disease. While losing hair is not something to be worried about, in case it is extreme and is leading to baldness, you must address it and find out the source of your problem.

Thyroid problems

Hair loss can be a consequence of hormonal imbalance. Hormones help regulate bodily functions and have a significant role to play when it comes to hair growth. Thyroid is what controls our body's ability to absorb essential nutrients like iron, calcium, etc that are responsible for hair growth. That said, both hypo- or hyperthyroidism, which are linked to under- and overactive thyroid glands respectively, can lead to loss of hair.

Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease associated with hair loss and balding. It occurs when the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles, resulting in thinning hair, patches of hair loss, some balding, or total baldness. This could either be temporary or permanent, but it can be treated. One must consult the doctors.

Lupus

Lupus is another autoimmune disease that can lead to hair loss. It can cause widespread inflammation of the skin, especially the face and the scalp region. It can slowly thin out the hair on the scalp and gradually lead to baldness

Nutrient deficiencies

Studies have suggested that lack of certain nutrients can lead to hair loss, which is why many experts recommend a proper diet to restore your hair growth and strength. Iron, zinc, fatty acids and various vitamins are all important nutrients you must add to your diet so as to prevent the risk of hair loss.

Stress and hair loss

When it comes to stress associated with hair loss, there are three different types to it: Telogen effluvium, Trichotillomania and Alopecia areata.

 

6 early signs of rheumatoid arthritis

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Here are six early signs of Rheumatoid arthritis that you need to look out for:

Excessive fatigue

Fatigue is a common symptom of this condition. Even before the obvious signs of the condition like joint pain and inflammation appear, a person with rheumatoid arthritis may feel extremely tired and depressed. They may lack the motivation to do even regular tasks and have a low sex drive. It is because the body starts using all the energy to fight inflammation.

Weight loss

Joint pain and weight loss seem unrelated, which is why this symptom often goes unnoticed. An unexplained weight loss along with prolonged fatigue is considered an early symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. It is an indirect effect of inflammation caused due to attack on the tissues. When you feel tired and feverish you lose your appetite and eventually shed kilos.

Joint stiffness

After a week or two, you may notice stiffness in your joints, especially in the morning. The episodes of joint stiffness will also appear throughout the day after a period of inactivity. You may feel tightness in your wrists, your knees, and feet, which could be felt on both sides of the body. In the beginning, the stiffness will go away on its own after a while. It will start to linger longer with time.

​Numbness and tingling

Inflammation of tissues can also put excessive pressure on your nerves. It can over time lead to numbness, tingling and tenderness in your hands and feet. When you press your joints they may feel tender and you would find it difficult to do even basic work like walking and moving an object from one place to the other.

​Decrease in the range of motion

Joint stiffness and tenderness may also make it difficult for the person to move freely. In the initial phase of rheumatoid arthritis, a person may have difficulty in moving the wrist back and forth and performing exercises. With time the disease will progress and start damaging their ligaments and tendons, making it difficult to bend and straighten them.

Joint redness

Rheumatoid arthritis can also make the joints appear red. It is actually the inflammation of the tissues that gives them a red appearance. Along with this, discolouration of the skin around the joints in the hands and feet is also common.

 

Early signs of liver damage from excessive drinking

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Excess alcohol consumption can lead to liver damage

When it comes to your liver, alcohol consumption can prove extremely harmful. Heavy, excessive drinking can also lead to incurable liver damage and may have a heavy impact on your overall health. This form of liver damage is also known as alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD).

Fatigue

As far as your liver is concerned, fatigue can be an early tell-tale symptom for the same. Irrespective of why your liver is suffering - may be due to a virus, excess alcohol consumption or an inherited disease - feeling weak and fatigued is a common sign. This may last for a long time, can be mild or may cause drastic complications.

Decreased or loss of appetite

Large amounts of alcohol consumption can suppress your appetite. It may make you feel nauseous, less energetic. Furthermore, due to a lack of proper nutrients and minerals in the body, it may contribute to liver cell damage.

Nausea

Liver disease like alcoholic hepatitis can often lead to nausea and vomiting, accompanied by abdominal tenderness and discomfort, a low-grade fever and an overall feeling of being unwell.

Unexplained weight loss

Given that excess alcohol consumption can cause decreased or loss of appetite, rapid, unexplained weight loss can also be a sign of liver damage from alcohol. While staying in shape and preventing obesity is key to keeping liver problems at bay, drastic change in the body weight and appearance can mean something more dangerous and concerning.

Swelling of the liver

Years and years of alcohol consumption can make your liver inflamed and swollen up. A common symptom of ARLD, liver swelling is prevalent in people suffering from liver damage from excess alcohol intake. This damage can further cause scarring, leading to Cirrhosis, the final stage of liver diseases.

 

Drug companies eye mRNA technology for flu shots

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 With Covid-19 proving the credibility of mRNA technology, many drug companies are racing to apply the same formula for developing vaccines for influenza, Nature reported.

While Moderna, Pfizer and Sanofi have, in recent months, initiated Phase 1 trials of mRNA-based seasonal flu vaccine candidates, more companies intend to follow their leads next year.

However, unlike Covid-19, mRNA-based flu shots could also prove a more challenging test as nine flu jabs from four different vaccine manufacturers are already available in the US alone. Although the shots built around inactivated viruses or recombinant proteins are safe, they typically offer only 40-60 per cent protection from infection.

At the same time, mRNA-based jabs might produce broader immune responses, better sequence fidelity of proteins, and accurate strain selection. Moreover, the technology makes it easy to incorporate large numbers of antigens -- all of which could translate into greater immune protection, the report said.

But mRNA is also prone to tolerability issues, as seen in Covid shots developed by Moderna and Pfizer -- they often cause sore arms, headaches, low-grade fevers and fatigue. These same symptoms can occur with approved flu shots, but typically are much milder in degree. On the other hand, the potential benefits of mRNA for preventing flu are many, majorly because of how it is manufactured.

"Because mRNA vaccines are manufactured synthetically, by encoding a target antigen sequence into a plasmid template, they offer high fidelity: encoded antigens exactly match the flu strains selected for each year's vaccine. By contrast, inactivated virus vaccines that are made in egg- and cell-based systems often suffer from sequence mutations that weaken their effectiveness," the report said.

 The recombinant protein vaccines also offer that same fidelity advantage, but the manufacturing process for these is comparatively cumbersome.

 The flexibility and speed of mRNA vaccine production also means that drug makers could wait longer to begin manufacturing -- starting production in May, say, instead of February, for the northern hemisphere. This would enable them to make more informed decisions about what strains to include, the report said.

Do you breathe through your mouth while sleeping?

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Do you breathe through your mouth while sleeping? Read this

Breathing provides our body with oxygen and helps us release carbon dioxide. We all breathe through our noses. But in the case of nasal congestion, we end up breathing through our mouth, especially during our sleep. While we might think of this habit as harmless, it's not so.

Breathing through the nose can lead to a lot of health concerns. Here are some of them as listed by nutritionist Pooja Makhija in one of her social media posts.

Nasal breathing is important for your overall health. It helps in aiding weight loss. Yes, you read that right. Read ahead to know more why nasal breathing is important.

The nutritionist said, “Our autonomic nervous system has two main branches — sympathetic and parasympathetic. The sympathetic branch is responsible for our ‘fight or flight response, whereas the parasympathetic branch is responsible for the ‘rest and digest, tend and befriend response. Basically, the sympathetic branch gets you fired up and primed for movement, and the parasympathetic branch puts the brakes on and chills your body out”.

How breathing can affect workouts

She also said, “Mouth breathing biases your body towards a sympathetic state, whereas nasal breathing activates the parasympathetic response. If the body is stuck in this state due to chronic stress and breathing dysfunction, it won’t effectively rebuild tissue from all of the HIIT workouts you are doing.”

​Nasal breathing for weight loss

The nutritionist said, “Since a large portion of this recovery process happens while you sleep, it is especially important to breathe in a way that shifts your nervous system state into ‘rest and digest' mode. This is why nasal breathing is so important for weight loss.”

​How to improve oral breathing

She added, “Obviously, we switch to oral breathing only when our nasal passage is blocked. Good quality Vitamin C supplements (and foods), curcumin (opens up sinus blockages), zinc-rich foods and supplements can really help improve nasal breathing (provided of course, that’s the prime reason and not a deviated septum). Speak with your nutritionist for exact doses and duration”.