COVID-19 Pandemic Has Made It Even More Important to Stay Healthy
Practicing Healthy Habits Could Be the Key to the Future
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to plague the world. As the battle continues, there are many valuable lessons for us all to be learned for the future. Many consider this to affect only the vulnerable or the elderly severely, but this virus has killed peoples regardless of age, ethnicity, or medical history.
As numerous studies carried out in multiple continents emerge, one similarity amongst most is the fact that people with pre-existing medical conditions are more likely to die of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Whether this is diabetes, coronary artery disease, COPD, or obesity — our lifestyle can alter the course of these conditions.
A study carried out in UK hospitals showed that 26% of people who died of COVID-19 also had diabetes. Other studies show that this figure may be as high as 33%. This is not just a coincidence. Uncontrolled diabetes is a genuine threat to our lives and future generations. The way we do many of our daily tasks can be effective ways to reduce the risk and control diabetes. Although managing weight isn’t as straightforward as we may think it to be, it is time for us to think about every single thing we eat. Training our minds to make inherently healthier choices is the crucial i.e. subconsciously picking up an apple instead of a chocolate bar or going for a run instead of lying on the couch to watch another episode of your favourite tv show.
Home-cooking instead of getting a takeaway. Not only is that kinder on your body, but also your wallet. You can control what you put in your food and increases awareness of what you eat. Eating more home-cooked meals more than five times a week is linked to reduced obesity, better cholesterol, and a significantly reduced risk of diabetes. It is also directly related to increased vitamin C, which plays an integral role in the functioning of the immune system. Food preparation methods at home are directly linked to diets with decreased fats, sugar, and salt. These ingredients tend to be prioritised in convenience foods to increase the appeal and preservation over health.
It is these small changes that we can incorporate into our daily lives. Doing these a few times can help to incorporate it into our daily routines. Just like this, not only can these newly formed habits inspire other habits but also inspire people around us. Like that, each one has the potential to inspire our communities. But we must start these changes now and encourage our children at an early age.
In another study conducted by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, people with pre-existing medical conditions were up to 12 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than compared to healthy patients. The most prevalent pre-existing disease in over 30% of patients was cardiovascular disease, followed by diabetes.
The message is clear — people who suffer from pre-existing conditions are more likely to die of COVID-19. The conditions at the top of the pile are similar in many places across the world. We must learn from this now. We must adapt our lifestyle to be better prepared for the future by eating right, exercising and promoting healthy habits to the people in our community. We must look after ourselves but also after one another. A society that is at a high level of general health will be better off in the long run. By controlling diabetes, reducing the prevalence of obesity, cardiovascular disease, we can allow our bodies to function the way they were designed. We can enable our bodies to fight off viruses and bacteria naturally and leaving those who desperately need hospital care for those who do.
Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe has said that “It is becoming clearer that the healthier you were before the pandemic plays a crucial role. People who age healthily are less at risk.” The elderly population is at a higher risk — a fact that is well known. However, all of us at all ages can learn from this. We can all strive towards maintaining a higher level of general health. The WHO has also previously said that “at least 80% of all heart disease, stroke and diabetes are preventable”. Focusing on three key aspects can help to reduce these diseases: eating better, engaging in physical activity and quitting smoking.
Over the last century, our diets have changed drastically. From more plant-based foods to the modern animal-based high-fat diet, the food we eat has started to play a more significant role in disease prevalence. It has become an increasingly more important risk factor and one that we can still control. The availability and convenience of fast food have helped to fuel the high-fat, high energy diet. However, we need to realise that our bodies were not made for these kinds of modern-day diets. The rapidly accelerating incidence of heart disease and diabetes is a clear reflection of this. But this is still in our control; we have the power to make decisions and choices that can shape our future. We must start making these changes soon for a better and healthier tomorrow. It is so crucial that we adopt these habits so that we can instil a culture of healthy living in our children and future generations. Physical activity is also being increasingly recognised as a significant risk factor and determinant of health. The progression towards a sedentary lifestyle has made us more at risk of disease. Combined with the modern-day diets, this is a recipe for disaster.
It has never been more important to make healthy lifestyle choices. In this COVID-19 world, we are uncertain and doubtful as to when we can go back to our lives that we dream of. But at the same time, it is all the more essential for us to reflect and to realise that we have to look after ourselves so that the healthcare workers can look after us. Healthcare workers across the world have put their blood, sweat and tears into saving people’s lives. We must recognise their efforts not just by clapping for them but by making healthy choices. By living a healthy lifestyle, we can reduce the incidence of chronic disease and reduce the number of patient’s in hospital. A larger, healthier population will be better prepared to fight off infections naturally. We can reduce the number of beds occupied, ventilators needed and the tireless hours spent by the healthcare workers. We can prevent hospitals and healthcare facilities from getting overwhelmed during a crisis. All of us have a role to play in protecting our healthcare workers, both mentally and physically. We must use the current pandemic to learn for the future and make choices that will improve our health and put us in positions to deal with future crises aptly.
Infectious diseases have killed more people than any war, homicides, natural disasters or suicides. As we slowly emerge from this pandemic, there are already reports of new viruses with “pandemic potential” in China. The future regarding infectious diseases may be uncertain and scary. Still, as a society, we all have a pivotal role to play by taking care of ourselves and promoting healthy lifestyle habits. By keeping our immune systems strong and reducing the prevalence of other lifestyle-related diseases, our bodies may naturally be able to fight off many infections. Not only will this benefit us individually, but also the wider community and the fantastic healthcare workers who have sacrificed so much so that we can go to sleep knowing we are in safe hands should we need them.