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

 (Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news)

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.