While being in isolation prevents Covid-19, being locked down at home can lead to overeating due to stress and boredom.
In times of stress, turning to food for comfort is a natural reaction. However, one needs to be cautious about over-indulging on food. Being stuck at home can lead to some unhealthy habits such as overeating. You may find comfort and feel occupied munching your way through the day. But it is essential to keep in mind that regular overeating can have negative effects on your body as well as your mental health.
Here are 10 simple ways to prevent yourself from overeating.
Self-evaluation – You need to check in on yourself. Try to understand what is making you eat so much – it could be boredom, stress, or anxiety. Observe how frequently you are eating or if you are eating a large portion in one sitting. Every time you take a bite pay attention to how you are feeling – whether you are stressed, anxious, lonely or simply bored. Self-evaluation itself will help you eat mindfully.
Keep them out of sight – A jar of cookies, munchies, chocolates… keep them out of sight. If you surround yourself with all the inviting visuals of food, you are actually setting a trap for yourself. Sometimes we tend to reach out for these goodies just because it is in sight, causing one to overindulge while they are not even hungry.
Eat on time – When you schedule your meals you can look past the urge to eat all the time. Just because you are home that shouldn’t change your meal times. Stick to having three meals a day and a snack. Keeping this in mind will help you channel your urge to eat.
Restriction is a bad idea – Never deprive yourself of food. Your meals should be well-balanced and the idea is to prevent overeating. When you begin to restrict yourself from eating even when you are hungry it turns to stress and anxiety which eventually leads to overeating.
Experiment in the kitchen – Looking for comfort in food? Cook something interesting, write your own recipes, be creative with what you have. This way you will get to know your food better and your inner chef will thank you. Doing so will boost positivity, help you keep calm and prevent overeating.
Move around – There are plenty of things you can do which you may have been procrastinating. Keeping yourself engaged with physical activity will uplift your mood. Dance to your favourite number, no ones watching.
Portion control – Snacking directly from the container will definitely make you eat everything in one go. Always take another smaller container and fill it up. This will trick your mind and prevent you from overeating. Portion control will help you keep track of how frequently you are eating.
Choose nutritious food – You are what you eat. So be mindful of what is going in your stomach. A well-balanced meal will make you feel lighter and active. While eating junk could be really tasty but it will make you feel tried and lethargic. Get creative in the kitchen and experiment with healthy food.
Stay hydrated – Often we tend to forget drinking enough water or confuse thirst pangs with hunger. Hydration prevents you from overeating and boosts energy levels. You can make flavoured water by slicing fruits and add it to the water or brew some amazing flavoured teas. This will encourage you to drink more water.
Prevent Boredom – Don’t know what to do? How about making a to-do list every night before going to bed? This will help you have a plan for the day. You will get work done as well as feel accomplished for completing all the task on your to-do list or you may pick up a new skill or start a small doable project at home. The idea is to keep yourself busy.
Stay home and use this time to foster a new, healthy relationship with your mind and body.
Does social distancing also mean sexual distancing? We’ve got you a special medical opinion from Dr. Noor Gill, a doctor who is on front-line, handling case and allaying fears.
By Dr Noor Gill
With an ongoing global crisis, sexual intercourse is not at the top of our priority list when it comes to ‘trending topics of discussion’, and so it is easy to foster wrong ideas and harbor misinformation.
Expecting people to abstain from sex when they are stuck with each other for 21 days (or more) with no one but each other to talk to, you do run out of topics to graze through after a point of time!
Can Coronavirus be transmitted sexually?
The answer is: We don’t know. But here’s what we know- the Novel Covid-19 is the latest from the family of viruses known as the Coronaviridae. This is a notorious family of viruses known for causing respiratory infection outbreaks. Their chief mode is transmission through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or nasal discharge. Others become infected by inhaling these droplets or by coming in contact with them and then touching their face, nose or eyes. Which is why, if not directly, you might come in contact with the virus indirectly most certainly if you indulge in unprotected sexual activities.
Christian Lindmeier, a spokesperson for the World Health Organisation (WHO), told the New York Times that coronaviruses are not typically sexually transmitted.
But, do know that “sexually transmitted” is not the same as “catching it from your sexual partner”. You don’t have to go from vertical to horizontal for you to catch the virus from an infected partner.A kiss on the lips could do the deed for the virus just as well. So, hold your horses right there, kind sire. Since the virus is present in all respiratory secretions, any sexual practice could put you and your partner at a risk of transmission.
Is social distancing = sexual distancing?
Social distancing does not mean sexual distancing. Ideally while practicing social distancing we are supposed to keep a distance of at least 2m (yes two meters) between one another, but we understand that it is not realistic.
How do I keep myself and my partner protected and satisfied?
It is impossible to ask people to deny oneself the simple pleasures of life and lock-down. But if you’re always at a risk of jeopardizing your physical health, how does one make the most of this lock-down without putting oneself and their partner at risk.
Get yourself tested–Since COVID-19 does not always present with symptoms, both of you need to get yourselves tested before hitting the hay. This way you would also be contributing in controlling the ongoing pandemic. Who knew it could be that easy to be a hero. If you are showing mild symptoms, practise distancing yourself – only because the disease did not hit you hard, does not mean it would be the same for your partner.
Safe Coitus –Walk up to your partner and ask them to wash their hands in your sexy voice, both before and after you do anything. Make this your new foreplay ritual.To further reduce the risk of contamination and transposal, use condoms, dental dams and latex gloves. Desperate times call for tweaking the norms of sexual practice. You’re a hero, remember? And this is your superhero suit.
Get creative–Let your imagination flow.Look for ‘off the beaten track’ individualistic ways of intimacy. Instead of kissing and indulging in sexual intercourse, try erotic massages, foot rubs, chatroom’s, watching/reading erotica or write stories to each other. Take advantage of this time and distance. I’ve heard actually paying attention to what your partner is trying to say seems to work wonders as well.
Communicate – Talk to your partner. Let them know if you’re feeling a little under the weather. This might not ‘just’ be the flu. And if you truly care for your partner, you would not throw them under the bus, or take them with you like that.
Avoid Multiple Partners –This is also not the time to revamp your Tinder profile. You do not know where that stranger you met at the bar has been. And I don’t think you would want to lay in an isolation room wondering who it was.If you’ve been with someone who has either presented with symptoms or was tested positive, I would suggest you get yourself tested as well. And while you’re at it, inform everyone you’ve been with, both before and after you presented with the symptoms yourself.
Keep yourself updated –Whether that is regarding the health status of your loved ones or with regard to the latest advancements pertaining to the ongoing Covid-19 global crisis. But only take in information from verified sources, and do not pass it on until you are very sure that it is true and not a misreport.
Engaging in any form of sexual activity involves a risk, one that can be avoided, at least until we find a vaccine or medicine to treat the threat. Forbidden fruit always looks sweeter and luring, but refraining and abstaining from biting right into it will only make it sweeter once the storm has passed. And as cheesy and tempting as “you’re worth catching a cold over” sounds, they are not worth catching an excruciatingly crippling and bone crushing respiratory virus that might take you down with it.
Know more about Coronavirus (COVID-19), its symptoms, the precautionary measures and latest updates on Seniors Today – Click Here
Seniors can now access medical consultation from home over skype. This is an important step to protect other patients and healthcare providers from being infected. Meanwhile Virtual Reality – VR based therapy to provide mental healthcare sessions.
Healthcare providers are our most valuable asset in an outbreak situation. They are at high risk of getting infected by coming in contact with patients who have Covid-19. Consultation over Skype is to enable people who are sick or isolated to see a doctor from home. This will efficiently help the infection from spreading.
This measure could also ease the strain on resources. Numerous healthcare providers have reported scarcity of personal protective equipment’s – mask sand hand hygiene such as soap and sanitizes, potentially placing the health care provider and patients at risk.It is critical that healthcare providers should have access to the appropriate supplies so they can follow proper infection prevention and control protocols.
While telehealth is useful to an extent. If the patient needs a test or treatment, they will have to make a trip to the medical facility.
On the other hand, Virtual reality to make its way to provide mental healthcare therapy sessions. While face-to-face therapy remains optimal, a study showed that VRbased therapy is equally effective.
Using VR for telehealth therapy involves conducting “face-to-face” sessions in a virtual environment. This mode of treatment could make counseling more accessible to those living and working remotely.
The study also discovered VRbased therapy was more effective than skype-based counseling. The study compared the experiences of 30 participants aged 21 to 63, who participated in both VRbased and Skype based mock counseling sessions.Then compared participants responses in both settings to determine which type of therapy was more engaging, less stressful and preferred overall.
Results were compiled based on factors including a perceived level of presence (being there), co-presence(being together with the therapist), social presence (engaging with each other) and realism.
On almost all accounts, participants responded greatly in favor of VR based therapy sessions. The use of VR generated high levels of engagement between patient and therapist, without causing stress or feelings of sickness.
Participants reported their virtual experience was consistent with what they might expect from a face-to-face experience. This heightened sense of realism made the interaction more meaningful.
VRbased telehealth sessions could greatly produce positive clinical outcomes. VR may be the next major avenue for remote mental health care delivery.
The pandemic has brought about major changes to our daily living. While the havoc of the outbreak has got the world to a standstill, we are witnessing humanity united like never before. It is preparing us for a new better life in unimaginable ways.
From the scares of coronavirus spread to the chaos in our daily lives, so far Covid-19 is the highlight of 2020. While we are eagerly waiting for it to end, the pandemic has surely taught us the value of life. Let’s look into the changes that has come about and are here to stay.
Namaste– Going back to the old-school greeting, Namaste. Globally people are encouraged to join their hands instead of handshake. Covid-19 spreads through person-to-person contact, while shaking hands can be a threat to life in the given circumstance, joining hands thus has made it to the list of changes brought by the pandemic.
Sing a song and wash your hands – The world is taught to wash hands because our hands carry a lot of germs.Videos, news, memes, websites…everybody talking about the correct method of washing hands. Happy Birthday made it to the bathrooms as the hand washing song because hands need to be scrubbed for 20 seconds. So, sing along while you wash your hands.
Travel cautiously – While summer vacations have been cancelled, travel plans have gone for a toss. Airports have become one of the virus prone zones. This arises many questions: Are we ever going to travel fearlessly ever again? Or are we going to travel at all? Or are we going to take preventive measures to keep calm? Certainly, traveling overseas will have to take a backseat for sometime but it will resume and people will be more cautious when they are out and about.
Hygienic beings – The pandemic has efficiently turned some people into germophobes. But the good news is everybody is practicing basic hygiene out of fear. This is good for the environment and in turn it is good for us. Homes are being cleaned then disinfected, everybody is being cautious about staying clean to keep the germs at bay.
Normalcy appreciated – The once dreaded normal daily routine is now being craved for the most. Quarantine would have sounded cool and appealing if we weren’t going through it. The lock-down has made us appreciate normalcy. We can’t wait to get back to our daily lives, social gathering, catching up with friends without having to maintain one arm distance.
Careful consumer –News of toilet roll hoarders did amuse us until it happened to us. When people around us began hoarding supplies,it wasn’t a pretty sight. Fear of running out of supplies have taught us the reverence of food and essentials. It has taught us to savour what is available and be grateful to have it.
Empathy is cool – The bombarding of news reports of people dying of the infection immediately struck the empathy chord. People are contributing in their best ways possible to help each other out. Everybody is maintaining the distance but are on the look out of each other.
Sneak-peek into emotional well-being – Isolation is a plot twist hammering our emotional well being. It is like going through a breakup with your old life, grieving over normalcy and experiencing the new low moods of staying indoors all the time; can be overwhelming. Just breathe out all the anxieties and fears. Its time to try some Tai-chi, perhaps meditation or watch funny videos to lighten up. The key is you have to make an effort to walk away from gloom. So, don’t ignore your emotional well-being instead look after it.
Social life the digital way – When social beings are ordered to stay indoors, technology befriended them into socializing digitally. While we remain stranded home alone cleaning and disinfecting our homes, we find ourselves socializing creatively. Birthdays, weddings, dinner party, playing cards, or sipping your evening tea is being hosted on video through the indispensable tool of the era: technology.
Focus on the good. You are home and safe with your loved ones.
Vitamin C breaks down to generate hydrogen peroxide, which can damage tissue and DNA, writes Dr. Noor Gill
Everywhere you look, people are shoving down the idea of washing your hands and strengthening your immune system and so they are also shoving oranges and limes down your throat. There are posters and WhatsApp forwards everywhere you look.
Ever cared to stop and ask why? I mean, we understand why they want us to wash our hands, but what is with this sudden obsession with all things sour and citrusy? Maybe now is the time you ask, because we have an answer for you.
What exactly does Vitamin C do?
Vitamin C is an essential antioxidant and enzymatic co-factor (acts as a catalyst) for many physiological functions and biochemical reactions such as the making of collagen, hormone production and immune system potentiation.
There is a growing interest in the administration of Vitamin C beyond the treatment of deficiency of Vitamin C in malnourished patients.
Does Vitamin C have anti-viral properties*?
(*based on a study by NCBI, NLM, NIH)
Vitamin C breakdown to generate hydrogen peroxide, which can damage tissue and DNA.
L-Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is a well-known anti-viral agent, especially to influenza. However, the in vivo anti-viral effects are still controversial.
You will come across the word “in vivo” a lot in the coming paragraphs, it means the studies that have seen the various biological entities and effects on a whole, living organism or cell- usually animals or humans or plants, as opposed to tissue extracts or dead cells.
Vitamin C shows anti-viral immune responses at the early stages of infection, especially against influenza virus, through increased production of IFN α/β(type I IFN)
IFN α or β stands for interferon alpha or beta- they are a group of signalling proteins that are produced and released by the host body in response to a viral infection. Typically, a virus infected cell releases IFN which heightens the anti viral response and defenses of the neighboring cells.
Vitamin C shows its anti-viral and anti-tumour effects through the up-regulation of the activity of Natural Killer (NK) cells and tumour specific cytolytic T lymphocytes- its related evidence in vivo are still unclear.
Cytolytic T lymphocytes- are a type of white blood cells that kill cancerous cells, cells that are infected (mostly virally infected) or damaged in other ways. The role of NK cellsis analogous to cytolytic T cells.
However, the National Center for Biochemistry Information, confirmed that Vitamin C up-regulates NK cell activity. And it is common knowledge that Vitamin C and NK cells are closely related to the prevention of common cold and flu.
Vitamin C plays an essential role in the production of antiviral immune response during the early phase of viral infections through the production of Type I interferon’s.
What other roles does Vitamin C play?
Antioxidant activity: Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties are its primary function. It is one of the most famous antioxidant supplements. Humans have lost their ability to make their own Vitamin C, talk about evolution. We also have a very small fuel tank for its storage- it can only last us for 30 days. So keep refilling and refueling.
Vitamin C as a Co-factor: Co-factors is like a catalyst that is required to enable and activate the enzyme to function. Vitamin C is a co-factor for enzymes for:
Collagen Synthesis: Collagen is the Fevicol which keeps us from falling apart. It is the basic building block of all connective tissue that builds, holds together and strengthens our skin, bones, teeth, ligaments, etc.
L-Carnitine: Now to simplify this, Vitamin C deficiency inhibits the transfer of fat into the mitochondria, which we all have come to know as the “powerhouse of the cell”, hence it is not converted into energy, causing lethargy. This is because without sufficient amounts of Vitamin C shows anti-viral immune responses at the early stages of infection, especially against influenza virus Vitamin C the body may not be able to burn the fat to produce energy.
Norepinephrine: It is the “fight and flight” or the “get up and do” neurotransmitter of our body which works for the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS). The SNS keeps us breathing and beating even when we are unconscious or fast asleep and by extension, so does Vitamin C.
Immunity: Low levels of Vitamin C can result in an impaired immune system and increase the risk of infections.
Infections further decrease the Vitamin C levels in the body, since the immune cells use up the stores already present to tackle the current infection on-hand. This becomes a vicious cycle which ends in Vitamin C deficiency.
Ascorbic acid is required for the maturation of T lymphocytes, and is thus and so vital for cellular immunity.
Reduces Risk of Heart Failure and Cardiac Disease: “Higher food sources Vitamin C intake and higher supplement based Vitamin C intake (>700mg/day) have both been shown to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease.” -NCBI
Wound healing – Skin wounds require collagen synthesis and adequate amounts of Vitamin C to heal properly. Impaired wound healing could be associated with deficiency, which could be corrected by taking Vitamin C orally or topically.
How can Vitamin C deficiency present?
Vitamin C deficiency can present as a wide array of symptoms. Deficiency of Vitamin C leads to severe injury to multiple organs, especially heart and brain- since they are both highly aerobic organs (that produce oxygen radicals).
It can also present as
Fatigue and lethargy
Bleeding gums
Poor wound healing
Joint pains, swelling
Thin hair, tooth loss
But hey, don’t go around diagnosing yourself with Hypovitaminosis C. Leave the testing and diagnosing to the experts and eat those citrus fruits.
A colleague’s doctor friend recommended you and your family to consider an extra intake of 3-10g of Vitamin C on an average day – going through this actual adventurous times! If one of you does have to stay in an hospital, he insists in receiving 10-20g of vitamin C intravenously a day.
Here’s wishing you and your family happiness, health and confidence in this crazy times.
Social distancing and isolation can have a long-term consequence on your mental health. While coping with stress can feel tedious, however, being aware of what keeps you from coping is essential. Being self-aware will help you cope with quarantine better.
Covid-19 outbreak has led people to engage in social distancing as a critical way to help “flatten the curve” – to help keep infection rates as low as possible.
While quarantining yourself at home plays an important role in preventing the spread of coronavirus. However, this doesn’t mean that coping with the disruption in your normal routine is easy. Spending time in quarantine can take a serious mental and physical toll. The isolation can leave you feeling – you no control over the situation. This can lead to poor sleep, poor cardiovascular health, lower immunity, depressive symptoms, and impaired functions.
Quarantine may be only temporary, but even brief periods of isolation and loneliness can impair your function skills – difficult to focus, manage your emotions, remember information… It impacts three key elements of mental health: autonomy – the freedom to have control over one’s life, competency – efficiently perform daily routine, and connectedness – staying connected.
Know that the psychological distress is common both during and after periods of quarantine and can have long-term consequences as well.
Fear
Sadness
Numbness
Insomnia
Confusion
Anger
Post-traumatic stress symptoms
Depressive symptoms
Low mood
Stress
Emotional disturbance
Irritability
Emotional exhaustion
Such feelings are normal given the circumstances. However, there are steps you can take to protect your mental health and well-being while coping with a quarantine.
Factors that affect your coping
It is important to remember that everyone copes with stress differently. Here are the factors that influence your coping mechanism.
Your current mental health – Previously existing mental/emotional conditions including feeling depressive and anxiety, can impact an individual’s ability to cope.
How you deal with stress – If you tend to be fairly resilient in the face of stress, you may have coping skills that will allow you to manage being quarantined without many negative effects. But if you are not resilient enough this could cause you more anxiety. Hence it is important to be self-aware.
Your Personality – Personality differences might have an effect on how you cope. Extroverts, for example, may struggle more with the feelings of loneliness that isolation brings. They may experience more loneliness or find staying home more difficult.
People with more introverted personalities tend to enjoy solitude, so they may have an easier time coping with reduced or limited social interactions. So, they may actually cope pretty well during quarantine – at least for some time.
However, all personality types need social contact, so finding ways to connect with others in some way is still essential.
How long you are in quarantine – The duration of quarantine is a key factor in determining how well people cope. Research suggests that minimizing the length of quarantine can help.
The longer restrictions last, the more pronounced the effects will be. While there may be a minimum time period required in order to mitigate potential disease spread, such as the recommended 14-day self-isolation to minimize the risk of spreading coronavirus prolonging quarantine beyond the recommended time may cause greater detriments to mental well-being.
Things you can do to cope
Here are some steps that will help mitigate some of the negative mental health effects of quarantine.
Establish routines –The disruption in your normal daily routines can be one of the most difficult aspects of quarantine. This can leave you feeling directionless as you try to figure out how to fill all the hours of the day.
If you’re trying to keep small kids entertained while stuck in the house, or even trying to keep working amidst it all, it’s important to find a routine that works for you. Plan out activities that will keep everyone busy so you can get some work done. Try creating a daily schedule, but don’t get too wrapped up in sticking to a strict routine. Make your own routines and break up the day in order to stave off monotony.
Be as active as possible – Even relatively short periods of physical inactivity can have an impact on your health, both mentally and physically. One study found that just two weeks of inactivity could lead to reductions in muscle mass and metabolic effects.
Fortunately, there are plenty of at-home workouts – YouTube it,that can help keep you moving even when you are stuck inside the house. Your quarantine may be brief, but staying active may help you feel better and maintain your fitness levels. It’s also a great way to help combat the sense of malaise and boredom that can come from being stuck inside day after day.
Combat Frustration and Boredom – Some of the distress of being quarantined stems from boredom and frustration. Finding ways to stay occupied is important, so try to maintain as many of your routines as you can. Find new activities to fill your time, whether it’s organizing your closet or trying out a new creative hobby.
Getting things done can provide a sense of purpose and competency. It gives you something to work towards and something to look forward to each day. So make a plan, list some things you’d like to accomplish, and then start checking a few things off your list each day.
Stay connected – Staying in contact with other people not only staves off boredom, but it is also critical for minimizing the sense of isolation. Stay in touch with friends and family by phone and text. Reach out to others on social media. If possible, join a support group or discussion board specifically for people who are in quarantine. Talking to others who are going through the same thing can provide a sense of community and empowerment.
Stay informed, but not overwhelmed – People tend to experience greater anxiety when they feel like they don’t have access to the information that they need. On the other hand, however, is the sense of panic that can stem from being immersed 24/7 in reports that focus on inaccurate or overly negative information. Rather than spend your time watching news, focus on getting helpful information from trusted sources. Sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), state and local health departments, and your doctor can all be helpful.
A word from Seniors Today
Preventive measures such as quarantine, social distancing, handwashing, and other safety precautions can all play an important role in preventing the spread of Covid-19.
Finding ways to protect your mental health when you are in quarantine is important since research has shown that this type of brief isolation can potentially have a number of detrimental effects, from low mood and irritability to symptoms of (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) PTSD and anxiety.
Staying busy, keeping in contact with others by phone and social media, and maintaining a sense of structure are just a few key ways that you can mentally manage your quarantine.
The required strategy of social distancing may leave us feeling isolated and depressed however, modern technology has become a boon; work is being engaged from home, we are connected with our loved ones, we are connected globally.
In these unprecedented times of the global spread of coronavirus, our daily lives are impacted by considerable changes in how we work and socialise. During this coronavirus crisis, technology has become an indispensable social tool, which allows us to practice self-care and engage in community support.
The key strategies we advocate now – coming together as families, friends and communities, even if this means to come together from a physical distance. We are being inspired and motivated by the people around us through technology, that have put smiles on our faces on a regular basis by people reaching out via a large number of online platforms and apps.
As social animals, we require social groups and the importance of being connected is so crucial in times like these. It also allows us to get an insight into different perspectives; the empty supermarket shelves in our communities may not be viewed as catastrophically as they otherwise may have been in a different era.
Technology is a fantastic way of exploring. If you cannot step out you don’t have to sit ideal you have the privilege to take a plunge into technology; Google, YouTube, Netflix, Live News Broadcasts, you name it. You can learn anything you desire just by staying home.
While the nation is in a lock-down you can sit on the couch and talk to your loved ones across the country. If you feel the need to socialise or have friends and family for lunch? Plan it out with your dear ones and get them on Skype.
In times of lock-down, at some point people will step out to get the essentials and there are chances Covid-19 can sneak in your homes. Hence it is essential to keep your home clean and disinfected for your safety.
Coronavirus can be stopped by taking strict preventive measures. The Centers for Disease Control(CDC) recommends steps to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces.
Researchers have found that the novel coronavirus is capable of living on surfaces such as cardboard for 24 hours, but up to two or three days on plastic and stainless steel.
Here’s what you should be doing to keep yourself and your home virus-free:
Clean and Disinfect your home – First things first cleaning and disinfecting are two different things. Even if nobody in your home is sick, Centres for Disease Control (CDC) recommends doing a bit of both at least once daily to stay safe.
Cleaningis about removing contaminants from a surface.
Disinfectingis about killing pathogens.
Do both daily if anything or anyone has entered or exited your home.
Everyone’s home is a little different, so just think about the surfaces you interact with most.
Keep a spray bottle handy at all times. You can just spray the high-touch surfaces and let them be, no need to wipe.
High-Touch Surfaces to Clean and Disinfect Daily:
Doorknobs
Table surfaces
Hard dining chairs (seat, back and arms)
Kitchen counters
Bathroom counters
Faucets, faucet knobs
Toilets, (seat and handle)
Light switches
TV remote controls
First Clean, Then Disinfect:
Clean the surfaces, removing any contaminants, dust, or debris. You can do this by wiping them with soapy water and a hand towel.
Add 10ml of Dettol in 100ml of water and wipe the high-touch surfaces with a hand towel. If you don’t have Dettol you can also use rubbing alcohol – this can be used directly, or hydrogen peroxide – the ratio would be 1:1, 50% water and 50% hydrogen peroxide, or computer cleaners; basically any cleaner with 60% alcohol will do the needful.
Disinfecting clothes – Just washing your clothing with regular laundry soap and drying it is all you have to do to disinfect your clothes.Clean and disinfect the surface, and wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling dirty laundry.
Disinfect Packages – Yes, lightly. Although mail and packages are relatively low-risk for transmitting Covid-19. Keep in mind that researchers have found that the virus can live on cardboard for 24 hours.So,disinfecting the package with a wipe or spray Health isn’t a bad idea.
Disinfecting Phones – Disinfect your phone with alcohol solution or disinfecting wipes (Pour some Dettol liquid in a spray bottle along with the water). Make sure you pay special attention to the screen, the buttons, and anywhere dust tend to get trapped. Also make sure you remove any case that’s on your phone, clean underneath, put it back on, and clean the outside. Be careful of how much liquid you use, you don’t want your phone to stop working.
Disinfecting Computers/Laptop – Laptop displays aren’t always made of glass (matte displays are plastic) so avoid using a disinfecting wipe on the screen, just in case. The display should be cleaned with electronic cleaner or isopropyl alcohol (70 percent) solution and a soft towel. Make sure you wipe down the keyboard, the track pad, the exterior, and where your wrists rest on the laptop.
Most desktop computers are already in sore need for a cleaning. The best way to do that is with a electronics cleaner or isopropyl alcohol solution and a soft towel. just make sure you wipe down the mouse (top, sides, and bottom), the keys on your keyboard, the exterior of the keyboard, and any mousepad you might have.
Disinfecting electronics – For any other electronic device, if the exterior is largely plasticit’s safe to give them a once-over with a disinfecting wipe or electronic cleaner.
Wash your hands – We cannot emphasis enough but washing hands is mandatory as it lowers the risk of contracting Covid-19. Wash your hands after you cough, sneeze, touch your face, using the washroom and before you step out – after you step in. Keep in mind there is no alternative for washing hands although sanitiser will do the job.It’s also important to liberally moisturize your hands. Dry, cracked skin is at greater risk for all kinds of infections, so after you wash, apply a little moisturizer.
Social distancing – Whether you are sick or not, stay at home.Try your best to avoid large crowds and going out to restaurants. Getting out will pose unnecessary risk of getting infected. The more you are in public, the more chances of Coronavirus hitching a ride on your hands, clothes or yourself. Remember putting yourself at risk also puts others at risk so do not take chances.
Avoid wearing face masks (if you are not sick) – Wearing a mask may give a false sense of security. You may in fact end up touching your face more while adjusting the mask. Covid-19 transmits through person-to-person contact or respiratory droplets. Those droplets don’t stay suspended in the air; they fall on the ground within six feet of the infected person. It is mandatory to wear a mask until and unless you are sick or caring for an ill person. Face masks are in short supply and needed by health carers and those who are sick.
While much attention is being paid to maintain hygiene and physical health, it is essential to take care of your mental health especially in times of nation lock-down.
Coronavirushas led to chaos globally. Several countries have been lock-down to prevent the spread of the pandemic. The spread of the pandemic can have major emotional fall-outs. Among senior citizens, the effect of social distancing may have greater effect. Social isolation can lead to sadness, anxiety and mood swings. In some extreme cases, it may even lead to depression.While a lot has been done to maintain physical health of the citizens. Unfortunately, very little has been done about mental health.
As per Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, social interaction is very important to fulfill our psychological needs and thus stay healthy.
Seniors may feel more vulnerable and lonelier. They have no or limited commercial activities to do. Lack of enough physical strength and flexibility will limit what they can do at home too.
But here is how you can keep yourself mentally healthy. First of all, remember each moment of life is worth living with zeal. Life will return as much as you give it.
Self-help is the best help. You are responsible for your own happiness. You have to decide that you are going to be happy.
Avoid attempting unnecessary things like cleaning lofts, mopping, carrying heavy objects, etc.
Do your daily chores carefully to avoid any fall or injury.Do everything slowly and take care of your limitations.You may require more time to complete your daily chores when you don’t have helpers attending to your daily needs.
Take your medicines regularly to avoid any health complications.
Seek help of neighbors for things that are beyond your capacity. Do not shy away from seeking help.
Keep your windows open for fresh air and light to come in. This will brighten your mood. It is also important for sanitation. Stand near the window and appreciate nature.
Cultivate your hobby – Read books, sing songs, watch movies, indulge in art therapy – do things that bring you joy.
Learn technology. This is the time to get better at using technology by yourself. Trust yourself and don’t be afraid of exploring.
Pull out old picture albums and re-live happy memories.
Call up old friends and colleagues. You will feel happy. Knowing that you are not alone, will calm you down. Use facetime or video calls to compensate for your social needs.
If you like writing, this is the time to do so. Share it with your friends.
Read newspapers. Watch T. V. Avoid reading only news about Covid-19. Read other articles too. While watching T. V., watch some serials, movies, other informative programs instead of watching news all day.
It is quite effective in arousing positivity.
If you feel sad or hopeless for a long time, consult a psychologist. Seeking help to meet your emotional health is as important as your physical health.
Stay home and make the best of the time.
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Make sure that all the highly touched surfaces are disinfected. So even if you accidentally touch your face without washing your hands the chances of you stressing and accidentally over touching your face will reduce as you will feel secured about your environment.
The best advice health experts have to help you to reduce your risk of contracting the Covid-19 is to not touch your face. We touch our faces countless times every day. An itchy nose, tired eyes, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand are all things we do without a second thought.Your mouth and eyes are areas where viruses can enter the body most easily, and all it takes is touching them with a finger already carrying an infection. But especially with the new coronavirus the risk of infection increases each time you touch your face.
Here are four tips for you to prevent the risk of Covid-19
1. Self-monitoring– Pay close and constant attention to how often you put your hands near your mouth or touch your nose. Once you start observing you can immediately retract your hands from reaching your face each time. You need to consciously make efforts to stop the urge of touching your face by being attentive to your hands.
Change of response – Now that you are being attentive about your hand movements you need to change the response of touching your arm instead your face. Experts term this response as ‘competing behaviour’. Every time you get the urge to touch your face clench your fist or press your palm against your tight or stretch your arms or cup your arm or keep your hands occupied with a stress ball. Use this response for as long as your urge to touch your face persists.
Channel your triggers– Figure out what situations or emotions are associated with your face-touching. If its stress – keep your calm, take a few deep breaths, have a glass of water, play some soothing music, sip a cup of tea. If it’s your glasses – use tissue to fix them or you can use ear hooks or take two rubber bands and wrap then around the ends of your glasses at the two points that end up behind your ears when you put them on.
Be patient–It’s ok if you cannot resist the urge. Maybe you cannot eliminate the unwanted habit but you can reduce it. Stressing over not to touch your face will only lead to over face-touching. Be mindful and take a pause every time you are about to touch your face and then use ‘competing behaviour’ to refrain from touching your face.
Make sure that all the highly touched surfaces are disinfected. So even if you accidentally touch your face without washing your hands the chances of you stressing and accidentally over touching your face will reduce as you will feel secured about your environment. However, keep in mind the best preventive measure against Covid-19 is to avoid touching your face as much as possible.
The veteran actress gave compelling performance in films like Barsaat, Sazaa, Bhai-bhai, Basant Bahar, Ann and Mangala among others.
Nawab Banoo, aka Nimmi, the yesteryear golden girl breathed her last breath at her home in Juhu on Wednesday, Day One of the National Lockdwon. Nimmi was suffering from breathing condition and was admitted to the hospital nearby.
Bollywood and media personalities took to Twitter offering condolences to their beloved Nimmi ji.
Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt tweeted: “You may win your hearts desire, but in the end you are cheated of it by death.” “Goodbye Nimmiji, Yesteryers’s dove-eyed actress passes away at 88”
The veteran actress gave compelling performance in films like Barsaat, Sazaa, Bhai-bhai, Basant Bahar, Ann and Mangala among others.
Raj Kapoor met her at the sets of Andaz and offered her a role in his ongoing production Barsaat. Her screen name ‘Nimmi’ was given by him. Her character of the innocent mountain girl in Barsaat struck chords with the audience and Nimmi climbed the ladder of stardom.
Through her career Nimmi worked with the leading actors – Dilip Kumar, Prem Nath, Dev Anand, Nadira, Nargis among others.
Mehboob Khan casted her as the lead in his film Ann – one of India’s first full feature technicolour film. The film had a grant premiere in London and that version was titled ‘Savage Princess’. During her visit she met some well-known western personalities including Errol Flynn. When she met him, she made it to the headlines as “…the unkissed girl of India”. The press raved about how she pulled her hand away when Flynn attempted to kiss her hand, saying “I am an Indian girl, you cannot do that”.
In one of her interviews she mentioned, while her visit abroad she was offered few films which she declined because she wanted to focus on Indian cinema.
She will always be remembered fondly through her films.
It is essential to start with a good planning to protect yourself and others from Novel Coronavirus.
As the coronavirus spreads across the globe, it’s becoming more apparent that seniors need to remain more cautious about themselves than ever. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Centre for Immunization Respiratory Diseases (NIRD) give an insight on how coronavirus is impacting the elderly.
It is essential to start with a good planning to protect yourself and others from Novel Coronavirus.It is time to think about what would you do to prepare for any outbreak or disaster in the community. This includes making sure you have adequate supplies of food and prescription medications in case you need to stay home, and practice everyday preventive actions such as washing your hands, cleaning your home to remove germs, avoiding sick people, and know when to get medical help if you’re ill.
Advice for Seniors –
Seniors with health conditions like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes need to be especially careful to avoid exposure to Covid-19. As seniors experience a gradual deterioration of their immune system, making it harder for their body to fight off infections and diseases.
The greatest risk of infection is among those who are in close contact with people who have Covid-19. This includes family members and health care workers who care for people who are infected. Hence take action to reduce exposure.
Knowing what’s going on locally is really important. To avoid community transmission social distancing is encouraged. However, to prevent infection it is recommended that you maintain social distancing.
If you develop Covid-19 symptoms, call your family doctor or a health care expert, inform them about your symptoms and follow their instructions. Do not panic and rush to the hospital directly because there are higher chances of you contracting the virus at the hospital.
It is not yet known whether weather and temperature can have an impact on the spread of Covid-19. Viruses like common cold and flu spread more easily during weather change and cold weather. However, follow the preventive guidelines strictly to stay healthy.
Do not touch your face. Pay close and constant attention to how often you put your hands near your mouth, scratch your eye or touch your nose.Train yourself to often wash your hands correctly.
Many seniors live in homes with other members. Keep in mind to maintain safe distance from any family member with common cold or flu.
In case of caregivers and care recipients, discuss the preparation plans, including how to stay in touch via phone or email. Determine who can provide you with care if your caregiver gets sick. Caregivers and their care recipients will need to work together to make sure they do not expose each other to Covid19.
Talk with the people who need to be included in your plan. You may need to ask for help if you become sick. Keep in touch with your household members, other relatives and friends.
People who live alone should have plans in place, even prior to the onset of any symptoms, for friends, family and healthcare providers to safety check on them and provide help if they do, in fact, develop symptoms or become sick.
While we have no control over certain risk factors there is much we can do to prepare and protect ourselves, our families and our communities.
Stay Safe.
Know more about Coronavirus (COVID-19), its symptoms, the precautionary measures and latest updates on Seniors Today – Click Here
You need to remind yourself, that this pause, this sudden shift in gears, with a lot of brakes is good, writes Dr. Noor Gill. It is the universe presenting you the opportunity to do all the things you’ve been meaning to get to but never got the time to
These are tiring and testing times. Your family members and news journalists throw big heavy words like “quarantine” “social distancing” and “isolation” your way without giving a head or face to the whole situation, only makes it seem more scary.
So, let’s start by understanding the difference between the three. No, they are not the same.
Social Distancing: This is a non-pharmaceutical way of dealing with a highly contagious, transmitted via droplets pathogen. It intends to stop or slow down the spread of a highly transmissible disease. It’s objective is to reduce the probability of contact between a person carrying an infection and those who are healthy, to minimise the transmission.
Quarantine: This is a state, period or place of isolation in which the people that have arrived from elsewhere or have been exposed to an infectious agent are placed. This is also why everyone with a travel history is requested to self-quarantine themselves for 14 days, since the incubation period for Covid-19 is approximately the same. This way you lower the risk of running into and communicating the disease to an otherwise non infected being.
Isolation: Isolation simply means keeping far away from everyone and everything.
All of these practices can increase the risk of mental health issues. They may also trigger your anxiety or feed off of your paranoia.
Admittedly, these past few week shave been scary for many of us. And we do not have a road map for what we are currently experiencing. We do not know where we are headed and when the road will end… all of that in itself can bring up feelings of anxiety, depression, loneliness and fear. Not to mention the worry we feel for our spouses, children, grandchildren and loved ones; their health and safety and financial security in the current times of lock down, curfew sand limited rationing of food and other necessary resources.
Whatever you’re going through right now, you need to know you are not alone. Even as we practice social distancing and self-quarantine, this new normal is something we are all figuring out together.
Here are a few tips to help you stay well and healthy, both physically and mentally:
You need to remind yourself, that this pause, this sudden shift in gears, with a lot of brakes is good. It is the universe presenting you the opportunity to do all the things you’ve been meaning to get to but never got the time to.
Set a routine : Don’t change your routine. Wake up early in the morning, or maybe an hour late, but get out of bed. Shower. Eat a wholesome breakfast while you get through your newspaper. Slip out of your pyjamas. Put on something nice, maybe even you shoes. This prepares you for the day that is ahead of you, even if it involves sitting in your rocking chair, you still feel ready, fresh and crisp.
Sit in the sun for a while : The sunny weather will brighten your mood much like the day. Sit in the porch while you’re reading the paper. Or have your evening tea in the veranda; but get out of the locked doors, there’s a whole world outside. Get some air. Look at the sky change colours and tones. Look at the sky, let the enormity and the constant presence of the sky calmly lull your fears and insecurities.
Exercise: Taking care of your mental health is important. But it is also very important to stay in shape and keep your physical health at its prime. All of this becomes easier when the two are inter-wreathed. Exercise for at least 15 minutes, if not more. Nothing too strenuous. Just a little stretching and breathing exercises. Something to keep your moving, breathing. You could also give yoga a try. And maybe meditation too. That should help your calm your self and find your center.
Eat healthy: What you eat, is what shows- on your skin, face, body and mind. Eat better. Have at least a glass of orange juice a day, get that Vitamin C, you need it now more than ever to boost up your immunity. Eat your greens and a handful of nuts. Do not skip meals. Eat small but appetizing meals at frequent intervals.
Call a friend: Take this time to catch up with your friends. Face-time, Skype, Zoom… call. Check up on them. Make sure they are taking care of themselves. Talk about the good old times when going out to the park was not a potential risk to your health and life.
Pick up a hobby: It does not have to be something extravagant. You do not have to come out of this lock-down with a novel to your name or learn how to talk fluently in French. You could just water the plants or learn a new recipe. Anything to keep you occupied and satisfied.
Don’t forget that it is okay to breathe too. Don’t let the capitalist world that thrives on our insecurities get the better of your productivity. Be gentle with yourself. Log off when you need to. Take a break when you can and let others know when you’d like a little help. There is no shame in asking, you wouldn’t know what they would say, unless you ask.
We cannot hold hands physically but we can and we will always be there to hold each other up.
A Super Spreader is any individual who is more likely to infect others than a typically “non-super spreader” infected person and it is impossible to know who it is and who is not. – By Dr Noor Gill
The world is in a lock-down situation. With the current Covid-19 viral infection gone rogue, it makes one wonder how did the situation get out of hand? How did things escalate so easily and quickly?
The Covid-19 is what we call a ‘Super Spreader Event’ (SSE). The last we had was with SARS, in Beijing. But what is a super spreader event and who is a super spreader?
What/Who is a Super Spreader?
A super spreader is an unusually contagious organism which is infected with a disease. In the context of a human-borne infection/illness, a super spreader is any individual who is more likely to infect others than a typically “non-super spreader” infected person.
Not everybody is equal when it comes to the transmission of infectious diseases. Some bodies are better equipped to fight disease off, while also silently infecting others.
Commonly, most diseases and their transmissions follow the 80/20 rule- which says that 20% of the infected individuals are responsible for 80% of the transmissions. To put it simply, one in five people transmit infections to far more people than the majority do.
Super spreaders excrete a higher than normal number of pathogens during the incubation period –the time period between the exposure to a pathogenic organism and the appearance of apparent symptoms and signs.This causes their contacts to be exposed to higher viral/bacterial loads than what would have been seen in the contacts of a non-super spreader with the same amount of exposure.
The incubation period for Coronavirus is estimated to be anywhere between five to 11 days. Super spreaders take “one bad fish spoils the whole pond” a little too literally.
How does one become a Super Spreader?
There is no definitive answer as to how one can become a super spreader or if there is a definitive test/lab investigation to find out if you are one.
There are, however, a few speculations as to who might be at a higher risk of being a super spreader:
Poor immune system: The immune system of the super spreader may not be good at suppressing the virus and thus spreads it to a larger population as compared to a person with a typical infection and a stronger immune system.
Strong immune system: I understand that both the points sound contradictory, but look at it this way: if your immune system is too good at its job, you will present with no symptoms but will still be harbouring the virus. So you might think that you’re healthy, but if your virus comes in contact with someone not as immune as you, they will present with the symptoms. You will be a carrier for the disease, and not the diseased.
Higher viral dose/load: Viral load is the number of viral particles present in an organism or environment. The higher the viral load, the quicker will be the spread, thus making you a spreader.
More than one pathogen: Being infected by more than one pathogen can make you and everyone around you twice as vulnerable and susceptible to catching the disease.
What affects a Super Spreader Event (SSE)?
A super spreader event is shaped by multiple factors which include- a decline in the herd immunity- immunity of a group of people, living in a community with similar social and environmental circumstances.
The virulence of the organism and the viral load.
Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can make the situation worse.
So can confections with another pathogens.
Are there Super Spreaders for the new Coronavirus?
Yes, it would seem that way. Taking into account the number of cases than are presenting to the hospitals in such a short span of time, and how quickly it went from an epidemic in Wuhan to a pandemic crippling the whole world, it would be safe to say that 1 in 5 of us is a super spreader. And it is impossible to know who it is and who is not.
So I would like to beg you, as well as I can, to please stay indoors. Avoid unnecessary travels – local and domestic… international is of course not possible as of now.
Keep a safe distance from everyone, especially if they are sick, or feeling a little blue. And wash you hands, as frequently as you can. Go see a medical practitioner if your ‘flu’ does not seem to get better. Avoid going to a hospital for elective procedures.
You might be strong and young enough to fight it, but someone you know might not have it in them. Do it for them, stay back home for them. Take care of yourself, for them. Every step, every hand wash, every clean surface matters.
From the evidence so far, the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in ALL AREAS, including areas with hot and humid weather. Regardless of climate, adopt protective measures if you live in, or travel to an area reporting COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is by frequently cleaning your hands. By doing this you eliminate viruses that may be on your hands and avoid infection that could occur by then touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
What is the Coronavirus and what are the symptoms?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes COronaVIrus Disease COVID-19. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develop difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
What causes the coronavirus to spread?
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 metre (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.
Can the coronavirus be transmitted through the air? can it affect the person who has no symptoms?
Studies to date suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air. See the previous answer on “How does COVID-19 spread?” The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true in the early stages of the disease. It is, therefore, possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill. WHO is assessing ongoing research on the period of transmission of COVID-19 and will continue to share updated findings.
How do I protect myself?
Take these simple precautions:
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain the virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread the virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent the spread of viruses and other infections.
If possible, avoid traveling to places – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
Why? You have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas.
Simple protective measures that everyone must adopt if you have visited in the past 14 days areas where COVID-19 is spreading
Self-isolate by staying at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache, low-grade fever (37.3 C or above) and a slight runny nose, until you recover. If it is essential for you to have someone bring you supplies or to go out, e.g. to buy food, then wear a mask to avoid infecting other people.
Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Call in advance and tell your provider of any recent travel or contact with travelers.
Why? Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also help to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
Am I likely to catch the coronavirus?
The risk depends on where you are – and more specifically, whether there is a COVID-19 outbreak unfolding there.
For most people in most locations, the risk of catching COVID-19 is still low. However, there are now places around the world (cities or areas) where the disease is spreading. For people living in, or visiting, these areas the risk of catching COVID-19 is higher. Governments and health authorities are taking vigorous action every time a new case of COVID-19 is identified. Be sure to comply with any local restrictions on travel, movement or large gatherings. Cooperating with disease control efforts will reduce your risk of catching or spreading COVID-19.
COVID-19 outbreaks can be contained and transmission stopped, as has been shown in China and some other countries. Unfortunately, new outbreaks can emerge rapidly. It’s important to be aware of the situation where you are or intend to go. WHO publishes daily updates on the COVID-19 situation worldwide.
Illness due to COVID-19 infection is generally mild, especially for children and young adults. However, it can cause serious illness: about 1 in every 5 people who catch it need hospital care. It is therefore quite normal for people to worry about how the COVID-19 outbreak will affect them and their loved ones.
We can channel our concerns into actions to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities. First and foremost among these actions is regular and thorough hand-washing and good respiratory hygiene. Secondly, keep informed and follow the advice of the local health authorities including any restrictions put in place on travel, movement, and gatherings. Learn more about how to protect yourself at – https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Who is most vulnerable to catching the coronavirus?
It affects older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) appear to develop serious illness more often than others.
Are there any medicines that can prevent or cure disease?
Not yet. To date, there is no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-2019. However, those affected should receive care to relieve symptoms. People with serious illnesses should be hospitalized. Most patients recover thanks to supportive care. Possible vaccines and some specific drug treatments are under investigation.
The most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to frequently clean your hands, cover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue, and maintain a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from people who are coughing or sneezing. (See Basic protective measures against the new coronavirus).
SARS was more deadly but much less infectious than COVID-19. There have been no outbreaks of SARS anywhere in the world since 2003.
How important is a mask to protect me?
Remember, a mask should only be used by health workers, caretakers, and individuals with respiratory symptoms, such as fever and cough.
Before touching the mask, clean hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water
Take the mask and inspect it for tears or holes.
Orient which side is the top side (where the metal strip is).
Ensure the proper side of the mask faces outwards (the coloured side).
Place the mask on your face. Pinch the metal strip or stiff edge of the mask so it molds to the shape of your nose.
Pull down the mask’s bottom so it covers your mouth and your chin.
After use, take off the mask; remove the elastic loops from behind the ears while keeping the mask away from your face and clothes, to avoid touching potentially contaminated surfaces of the mask.
Discard the mask in a closed bin immediately after use.
Perform hand hygiene after touching or discarding the mask – Use alcohol-based hand rub or, if visibly soiled, wash your hands with soap and water.
And remember to NOT wastewater while washing your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds
Let’s not waste water while washing hands. It takes 20 seconds to wash hands but that does not mean you let the water running for those 20 seconds. Since we were kids we have been washing our hands with soap. Casually we assume we know it all about washing hands but the stats suggest that 97% of us are wrong.
A study done in 2018 revealed that only 3% of us wash our hands correctly. The study monitored 383 participants. First, they were shown food safety and hygiene video. After the video, they cooked and prepared food. The results revealed that 97% of the participants did it wrong.
Washing hands is the most essential and easiest part of self-hygiene. Here’s WHO guideline: How to wash hands correctly.
Washing your hands properly takes about as long as singing “Happy Birthday” twice,
using the images below.
Image source: WHO
When should you wash your hands?
The Centre of Disease Control points out the key times when you are likely to contract and spread the germs.
Before, during, and after preparing food
Before eating food
Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
Before and after treating a cut or wound
After using the toilet
After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
After handling pet food or pet treats
After touching garbage
Scares of Covid 19 has spread across the globe. Countries have been locked down, airports are closed for international flights, schools and colleges are closed. Hence it is all the more important for us to encourage better personal hygiene.
Ayaz Memon looks back at the historic World Cup that he witnessed, which transformed the world of cricket for India.
When Kabir Khan announced that he was making a film on India’s 1983 World Cup victory, I was both overjoyed and assailed by apprehension.
The sport was getting greater recognition in India, including finding celluloid expression (flicks on Milkha Singh and MC Mary Kom had come earlier), which was a splendid improvement from the past. But how India’s greatest cricketing achievement (yet) would be treated was a concern.
Would this be a true-to-life account of the magnificent campaign, which saw Kapil Dev’s team pull off arguably the most stunning victory in the history of the game? Or, as happens often in Bollywood, history would be contrived and fictionalised to the extent that an extraordinary achievement is reduced to farce?
The 1983 team pulled off arguably the most stunning victory in the history of the game
In a meeting with Kabir more than a year ago, when he was trying to fill in gaps in information, there was a feeling of reassurance. His passion for cricket was apparent, and he averred he wanted to stick as close as possible to how the tournament factually
Kabir had also roped in most members of that 1983 World Cup as advisors and mentors, which is important in a project of this nature. For these players, memories of that tournament will never fade. With the passage of time, they also have a better perspective, which can add great value to the film.
I have no idea how the film has shaped up. I hope it does justice to the astonishing achievement of `Kapil’s Devils’, as the Indian team got to be known after the victory. I also hope that Kabir has been able to juxtapose the cricket with the ethos of that era. For, 1983 was a vastly different world from the one we live in today.
Airfare to England, for instance, was roughly around Rs 9000 (economy), the pound sterling’s value was around Rs 21, bell-bottoms and sideburns were in fashion for men, the Cold War had not yet been resolved, the USSR was still intact, there were two Germanys.
And yes, India was the dull dogs of international cricket.
In the two previous editions of the World Cup, 1975 and 1979, India’s had been undistinguished. Okay, let me say it without compunction: India’s performances had been forgettable, dismaying, dismal.
Sunil Gavaskar’s infamous ‘crawl’ of making 36 not out in 60 overs against England in the first tournament in 1975 was universally castigated as going against the spirit of limited-overs cricket. India failed to win any match in that edition.
When Kapil Dev got into his groove, the Indian innings got the kiss of life
In 1979, there was a solitary win, but it came against lowly East Africa, so hard to be savored. All other matches all lost, including against Sri Lanka, not full members of the ICC till then. That was the backdrop against which India’s 1983 campaign began.
You might then ask why any sensible Indian would be excited about the 1983 tournament, given that the prospects of Kapil Dev and his team looked hopeless. But that is ignoring the passion for cricket in the Indian psyche – fan, aficionado, journalist.
At that point in time, approaching mid-1983, I was on the horns of a dilemma. Should I pursue law as a profession, or journalism, which I had literally strayed into because of my love for the sport, especially cricket?
Making this choice was agonizing. But whatever the decision, I committed myself to cover the 1983 World Cup in deference to what cricket had meant to me in life.
Frugal resources
With frugal resources – since news organizations, those days hardly spent money on sports events – I flew to England on the eve of the tournament with a couple of journalists from Bombay. In fact there were to be only six journalists from India covering the tournament.
This is important to get a perspective on how cricket coverage in the country has grown since. For instance, for the 2019 World Cup (again in England), there were around 50-55 reporters/writers present. This swelled to almost double the number for the marquee match against Pakistan!
Money was limited. The World Cup was a long-drawn tournament so every penny was crucial. But this was my also first visit to England, and there was so much to see and experience which had otherwise only been read of or imagined.
From London’s superb underground rail system, machines which dispensed chocolates on railway platforms, various county grounds which bespoke deeds of the some of the greatest names in the game, the sights and sounds of Soho and Southall et al, the picture-postcard countryside as one traveled by British Rail, all made for a memorable experience.
But the primary reason for being in England was the World Cup. When I was on the flight, I spent the 9-9.5 hours mulling about India’s prospects, discussing with the two journalists traveling together whether there would be any improvement over the previous two tournaments.
I didn’t think so, which is why I chose not to see India’s first match at Old Trafford against West Indies and opted for England versus New Zealand at the Oval instead. There were three reasons that influenced my decision, two of them related.
Essentially, what hope does India have against the reigning champions, I asked myself? None at all was the answer. So why incur the expense of traveling to Manchester and why not watch a match in London, which was based, instead?
Also, I was very keen to watch New Zealand’s rising star, batsman Martin Crowe, of whom I had heard so much. And their match was to be played at the Oval, which was my favorite ground (though I had never seen it earlier) ever since B S Chandrashekhar’s team had helped India win a Test series in England for the first time, in 1971.
As it happened, what looked like an eminently sensible decision turned out to be totally wrong. While I was watching England v New Zealand at the Oval, India was pulling off an upset win over West Indies.
Because of rain, that match spilled over into the second day for a bit, but the West Indies had to bite the dust, which caused bookmakers to issue a hasty revision of odds. West Indies still remained favorites, but India, 66-1 at the start of the tournament, had odds against the hastily revised.
Once bitten twice shy, I eschewed any further adventurism where match coverage was concerned, following the Indian team diligently for their remaining matches in the league phase though there was nothing exceptional to report.
After the big upset in the first match, India seemed to have slumped into a familiar rut, losing match after match, except the first one against Zimbabwe. This was a double leg, two-group tournament, in which each team in in the same group played the other teams twice.
Matters reached crunch situation by the time India met Zimbabwe again for the second match, at Tunbridge Wells. A defeat here would virtually terminate the team’s campaign. There was more trepidation than hope when the team left for the small town in Kent County.
Kapil’s brilliant knock acquired greater sentimental value as the stock of Indian cricket grew
Historic contest
Though India had beaten Zimbabwe earlier, the team was no pushover, boasting several high-quality players in Duncan Fletcher, John Traicos, Dave Houghton, and fast bowlers Kevin Curran and Peter Rawson. In fact, in their first match of the tournament, Zimbabwe had beaten Australia.
The contest turned out to be historic. To save money on lodging in Tunbridge Wells, I travelled there from London (where I had a place) on the morning of the match. To save even more money, I took an off-peak ticket, which brought me to the ground about half an hour after the scheduled start.
There was a hush when I walked into Nevill Ground. The dressing rooms were on the way from the gate to one of the shamianas that was the press enclosure for the day. The small ground was packed, but there wasn’t the clamour one would associate with an ODI match.
Seeing former India great Gundappa Vishwanath standing in the porch of the Indian dressing room, I ventured there to get an update from him on what was happening in the match.
This would be unthinkable today when players’ enclosures are so strictly sanitized. But as mentioned at the start, 1983 was a world apart from the one we live in, particularly in sport.
I sidled up to Vishy and asked him how the match was progressing. “All fine, nothing to worry,’’ he replied. Not having taken a look at the scoreboard till then, I turned to it and was shocked. 9-4! India’s top order had been lopped off and the team was in deep crisis.
This soon became 17-5 as another wicket fell. Then started the astounding recovery. Kapil Dev got into his groove with a couple of reassuring boundaries, found an ally in Roger Binny, and the Indian innings got the kiss of life.
I must have watched the match with Vishy for around 25-30 mins, and as soon as explosive strokes started emanating from Kapil’s bat, like ack-ack firing from a machine gun, I sense we were watching something sensational and swiftly headed towards the press shamiana.
Finding a strong ally in Syed Kirmani, Kapil scored a blazing 175 not out to take India to 262, which turned out to be a match-winning score. I rate this still as the best ever innings in a one-day international.
Incredible impact
A number of batsmen have far exceeded Kapil’s, some even making double hundreds. But considering the hardship quotient for Kapil, they all fall short in terms of impact on match and tournament. Remember, he was not a specialist batsman and India were in a hopeless situation when he came out to bat.
Sadly, Kapil’s brilliant knock was not captured for posterity, either on radio or TV. The BBC was on strike for just that day, and one of the greatest exhibitions of batting was limited to being disseminated by newspapers or conversations.
I must confess that this kind of helped me in subsequent years. As the stock of Indian cricket grew, that knock acquired greater sentimental value. As one of the few eyewitnesses to that inning, there has been a recurring demand for a piece, debate or discussion in the 37 years since!
When the last West Indies wicket fell, the crowd erupted
Victory over Zimbabwe seemed to bring new zeal in the team. The pressure under which this was achieved injected self-belief, and a deep desire to win had been stoked. The players had a spring in their steps as they moved ahead in the tournament.
Australia was summarily swept aside to complete the league phase and qualify for the semi-final. This was against the home team and joint favorite England. The match at Old Trafford was tantalizing, with India prevailing through a fantastic all-round show.
My abiding memory of that match was a placard in the stands that read, “Kapil Eats Botham For Breakfast.’’ The two great allrounders were always vying for honors when they competed against each other, but this time it was clear who had come out on top.
India was now in the final. Unbelievable but true. By now, people of Indian origin in England had been roused into a frenzy. Crowds at the semi-final resembled what one would see in Bombay or Calcutta. It was the same at Lord’s on June 25, 1983, when Kapil’s team met the mighty West Indies.
I reached late for this match too, though not in trying to save money: In fact to the contrary. Having overslept a bit, I thought I’d take a cab to the Lord’s instead of changing going by underground rail since this entailed changing a couple of lines. The cab cost a bomb and also highlighted that the efficacy of the underground rail in London was unchallenged.
Rushing past Grace Gates, I heard a roar and someone yelling “Gavaskar is out.’’ The Stewards were stodgy, not appreciating my haste. A couple of days earlier, when I had gone to collect my accreditation for the final, one had said to another, “Now we have Gandhi coming to Lord’s’’’’.
This was obviously inspired by the huge success of Sir Richard Attenborough’s film which made the Mahatma a household name in the western world but was nonetheless condescending. I asked them curtly to hurry up since I was losing vital minutes of the match.
Running up the staircase to the press box, I met former Australian captain and commentator Richie Benaud. “Odds of 66-1 still if you want to bet on India,’’ he said smilingly. I was tempted fleetingly.
But not being a gambling man, and the fact that the opponents were West Indies, I smiled back in return and ran past him. By the time the Indian innings ended, I admired my own smartness at not having taken the wager. India was bowled out for a very modest 183. Well done in reaching this far, but surely the trophy winners will be West Indies.
India had turned the world upside down and cricket would never be the same again
Twice champion with an array of devastating batsmen, there seemed no way India could win. Not even when Balwinder Sandhu got Gordon Greenidge early with a banana inswinger.
Greenidge was replaced by ‘Boss’ Viv Richards who looked in a mean mood and from the manner in which he started hitting boundaries all around, it appeared the match would be over in double-quick time. Then, against the run of play, came the turning point.
Richards tried to hit Madan Lal out of the ground, skied the ball to deep mid-wicket where Kapil Dev, running backward almost 20-25 yards, took a fantastic catch. This was just the inspiration the Indian team needed.
With Richards gone, the West Indies started struggling. Wickets began falling regularly, leading to a collapse that was totally unexpected: by cricket fans anywhere, the West Indies team, and I dare say, the Indian team too.
When the last wicket fell, the crowd, largely India, erupted. Dhols came out, and groups doing the bhangra took over the Lord’s ground to honor the Indian team in the dressing room balcony.
India had turned the world upside down. Cricket was never going to be the same again. Not in India, not anywhere else.
Years ago I was traveling by Air India from Delhi to Mumbai. It was an evening flight. I met an acquaintance of my father’s who asked if I was traveling to Mumbai and whether I had luggage. “I only have one bag,” I said to the gentleman. He asked if we could check in together as he was carrying a lot of excess luggage. I agreed and we checked in together. I requested an aisle seat and him for the other aisle seat.
Air travel was expensive in those days, and it was common for people to look for a friend in the check-in queue so as to save on excess baggage payment.
What a pickle
We boarded the aircraft and settled in. We chatted about various things and particularly how bad the Indian airline services were. He complained that the food was very bad and I agreed with him. The flight took off and we continued chatting and again he complained about the quality of food. Then he pulled the rabbit out of his hat, “The food is so bad on flight that I carry my own dinner.” He had a
It looks like food – but how good is it?
medical rep bag, from which he took out a round stainless steel box. On the lid he placed two pieces of Punjabi mango-pickle, onion and two green chillies. I was absolutely shocked. He halfheartedly asked “Will you have some?” I replied, no… and within a few minutes the strong smell of Punjabi aam ka achaar reached four rows ahead and four rows at the back. I wanted to shrink into the book I was reading. Just before boarding I had met two other friends who were on the same flight. Everyone who passed our aisle had an odd expression on their face.
By then the airhostess fortunately began serving the food; I ate mine and pretended to fall asleep. I must have actually dozed off only to be woken up to be told to fasten my seat belt. We said goodbye to each other once we landed.
In those days air travel was completely different from what it is today. It was a smart thing to know someone in Indian Airlines who could put in a word and get you a ticket. And could also condone your excess baggage. Airline jobs were considered amongst the top-end jobs especially in the marriage market. You got a quota of free travel and the ones who managed to get a job in Air India could take their family to various international destinations wherever the airline flew.
Leaving a bad taste
In the last two weeks, I have had to travel on four Air India flights, one Spice Jet and one Indigo. It’s difficult to say which airline food was worse than the other. I traveled Mumbai-Delhi on an international Air India flight. There was kheema mattar, a beetroot tikki, methi paratha. The methi paratha was burnt from on the outside and uncooked in the inside – you could get the raw atta taste in your mouth. The beetroot tikki had more bread than beetroot, the kheema mattar was a tomato gravy with some green peas and even less kheema. There was no salad but a pakodi chat topped with imli ki chutney and a little bhujia on top. When you make pakodis you fry and freeze them. When they are served, one blanches the pakodis in hot water to get rid of the oil. But this pakodi chat was abysmal. It seemed that the caterer had skipped blanching; one bite into the pakodi and your mouth was filled with all the stale oil. This was the quality of food in business class.
With options being limited, maybe carrying one’s own food isn’t such a bad idea
The domestic aircraft are tacky, worn-out, the upholstery needs to be changed, the toilets are broken, the seats are loose and overall it’s a pathetic experience. On another occasion on the domestic sector, Air India served only vegetarian food, I can’t understand whether this is cost-cutting or a Hindutva factor. On another occasion, for breakfast, they served a sambar vada and upma. The vada could have been a little bit warmer and the chutney was ok, the chai was cold… take-it-or-leave-it kind. Air India’s cutlery is wooden spoons that lasts just about for the duration of the meal. The plastic containers are downright cheap and the tissue is what you would get at a grade three restaurant.
On one evening flight with Air India there was dal, chawal and an arbi sabji. On all three Air India flights I conversed with the staff and asked them whether they actually ate this food day after day. For it could have a long-term effect on their dietary and gut health.
The chief air hostess said she brought her own food and didn’t eat any of this. The married boys said they got their own food. They didn’t eat airline food. Two of the girls said that they had no choice since they were not from Mumbai, they stayed as paying guests and couldn’t cook on their own. Two of the boys said that they ate the same food but Air India had now got a dietitian who prescribed salt-less food so that the staff should not put on weight. I even tried boiled spinach that was awful, hospital-tasting, pathetically unappetizing.
The vegetarian scam
My next trip was on Spice Jet. The air hostess said she had run out of non-vegetarian and could only offer me a paneer tikka shashlik; there were four small pieces of paneer tikka, three round cut potato slices stuffed with paneer. There was also one Tikki in which I couldn’t tell whether there was more aloo or bread. I suspect she was lying because I once sat on the front row and again the air hostess said that they had run out of non-vegetarian food. I asked her how that could be when I was the first passenger she was serving.
Our airports are great… but what happens when you get on board?
The Indigo food is not great either. The cup noodles, biryani, poha etc have so much preservative in it. The food has a very synthetic aroma and the safest thing to eat is the little packet of cashews/almonds that come in a tin called Nutcase. The airline suggests that you can take the tin home and reuse it. I wish they wouldn’t go through this exercise of adding clutter to the planet and simply give us cashews in a paper bag. However, a Coke and a packet of cashews can set you back by Rs 250. So who is responsible for maintaining a food standard on the domestic sector?
Unfortunately, Jet Airways shut – it offered very good quality food and service. At the moment Vistara is the best in India. The food is good, served piping hot, the staff and the service are also very good and the aircraft is spotlessly clean. Unfortunately our aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri is unaware of the quality of services that airlines provide in the domestic sector. Somebody ought to tell him not to get bothered about one clown Kunal Kamra heckling another Arnab Goswami– it’s a part of their profession (yeh unka pesha hai) – but to look at the ground reality on the quality of food and customer satisfaction.
Cabin air and cramped space makes a bad food experience even worse
Finally, Kingfisher made a loss. They are after Vijay Mallya. Jet Airways made a loss. They are after the Goyals. Who should take the blame for Air India’s huge losses?
Coming back to the gentleman whom I had met at the Delhi airport, my advice would be exactly what he said, that if you travel by Air India, Spice Jet or Indigo it’s not a bad idea to carry your food with you. Amen.
To lend or not to lend: That’s the unique conundrum Indian parents face when their adult children ask for financial aid. By A Staff Writer
In a country like India where the concept of savings is deeply entrenched into the mindset of its people, it is only post-retirement that most seniors loosen their purse strings and splurge on items or experiences that they missed out on during their working years. After a lifetime of hard work, dedication, and savings, seniors retire to finally enjoy the fruits of their labor. But what happens when an adult child approaches his aged parent asking for money? How does a parent bail out a child in need without dipping into his savings?
When it comes to lending money to adult children, Indian parents often find themselves in a pickle. On one hand, they consider it their moral duty to provide for their offspring thus ensuring their safety and stability; and on the other, they need funds to secure themselves against unforeseen circumstances and potential medical expenses. The awkwardness around money has been known to drive a wedge in relationships often leading to polar views. Instances of friendships turning sour, families falling apart or professional colleagues becoming distant due to money are very common in recent times.
One thing is for certain- both relationships and money are sensitive matters and should be treated as such. Some children view their parents as BoMaD (Bank of Mum and Dad) and use it as an excuse to fuel their own laziness. They assume that their parents will continue to fund their lifestyle even after they are adults without having to earn their own living. Any parent would be wise to cut off funding for such a child and instead use it to enrich their own savings.
At the other end of the spectrum, in case of medical emergencies, financial crises’, huge loss or any other unforeseen circumstances, it is natural for children to approach their parents for financial assistance. So where does one draw the line? How should one go about lending money to their children? What are the important factors that one should keep in mind before doing so?
Co-Dependent VS Independent
An integral part of Indian culture has been the idea of joint families where it is common for Indian families to live together even after the son is married and has his own children. This is believed to create an atmosphere of happiness, togetherness and shared values. Many even argue that what’s life without your family? But pressures of the modern world lead a lot of parents and children to think that it’s better to live separately as each values their own privacy and living together might take a toll on the financial situation of the parents.
If you are sending your children money, ensure that it is not being misused
In this case, parents should first decide whether they value a joint family system or they prefer an independent relationship with their children. If they conclude that they want to continue to live with their adult children, they must ensure that each child contributes to the household expenses. This can be done through sound planning and a fair system of division of expenses.
To do this, all expenses must be listed on a spreadsheet. This would include rent and maintenance, energy and water bills, home maintenance and repair, insurance expenses, cleaning expenses, entertainment expenses, food and grocery expenses and so on. Each adult member of the family should contribute a fixed sum of money per month to the consolidated expense sheet thus creating equal responsibility amongst family members as opposed to relegating the entire financial burden on one person alone. Families can also create a separate joint account where each member would deposit their share every month. A mutually convenient date per month could be set on which every member must deposit their share of the expenses.
A cautionary tale
When it comes to lending or borrowing money, it can certainly be a slippery slope. This is where most controversies arise and if not handled delicately it could tear a family apart. If money is needed for an urgent matter — like emergency surgery, medical bills, a lost job, house mortgage – It’s a no-brainer: Experts say parents should help in such situations as long as they can afford it. Lending money in such a situation means you’re rescuing them temporarily; you’re not indulging them forever and putting them on your payroll.
However, it’s also important to ensure that you are not being taken advantage of by your own children. There have been instances of children collecting money from their parents under the guise of low income when they are actually quite well off by themselves.
Sanjay Arora, a wills and estates lawyer in Delhi, recounts a tale of an elderly couple who funded their only son’s college education in one of the esteemed Universities in India. Unfortunately, after his college he landed a low-paying job in another city far from home – that’s what he informed his parents. He continued to take financial support from his parents. Sometimes under the guise of the low-paying job to having a disabled child unable to pay the medical bills and other household expenses citing his earning did not suffice. For years parents kept sending him a large sum to support their only son’s family. Until one day they made a surprise visit to meet them. And were shocked to find out that their grandchild was not disabled and their son was on an extravagant holiday with his wife. It was after so many years they found out that their child had been using them as BoMaD. The parents finally realized that we’re being duped and cut the son off from their will immediately.
Are your children financially dependent on you?
Ramesh was an army officer who had bought a two-bedroom flat in one of the numerous corporative societies provided by the defense forces for their officers. The flat was worth a decent sum of money. Ramesh and his wife wanted to sell it and use the money for their retirement. Meanwhile, his son wanted a loan to buy his own flat and the parents overcame the dilemma by giving the initial deposit for their son’s flat, reasoning that if they didn’t support their son what would be family all about. Eventually, they sold their own flat and bought two flats and lived next to each other. They would look after their grandchildren and the son and daughter-in-law would contribute to the household expenses. It also provided a safety net that if Ramesh or his wife were to pass away there would be someone to look after them in their old age.
Yet another couple, who had two daughters. One of the daughters was in a high paying job, lived away from the family. And the younger one was working with an NGO that helped destitute women. The parents insisted that she lived with them and not pay rent. They took care of providing for the daughter who lived separately and left the home to the younger daughter. For most Indian parents living with the children is an accepted norm unless of course career opportunities take the young away from the parents. Even the young parents in their sixties fear loneliness and grandchildren do provide grandparents with genuine love and affection.
Going the legal way
While this is an extreme case, parents must do their due diligence before handing over a large sum of money to their children. To secure themselves, parents can also give the money as a loan which would be repayable over a period of time. If the sum you are offering your child as a loan is large, make sure that you draft a legal agreement, clearly defining the terms, including the purpose of the loan, the exact amount being offered, interest rate, time frame for repayment, consequences in case of defaults, and any other conditions you want to be outlined. Going the legal way can help avoid future conflicts as it is a contract that is signed by both parties which leave no room for loopholes. A copy of the contract should be maintained by both parties. This may seem overly formal but when it comes to money matters, it’s best not to be swayed by emotions and approach it in a logical and sensible manner.
Cash Cow or Hoarder?
Letting your emotions govern your decision can sometimes be the catalyst in bad decision making. Experts reveal that when parents make bad decisions regarding money it can be categorized into two parts: cash cows or hoarders. Hoarders operate on the principle of tough love. They deprive their children of little joys through their lives in order to save money for their future. Forgoing vacations, not providing financial support during the marriage, refusing to loan them money to purchase their own home just to create a nest egg after retirement is a classic symptom of a hoarder’s mentality. A child of such parents can become hostile towards their parent and may no longer require the money when the parent leaves it to them in their will. They argue that when they needed it the most, the parent refused to part with their money leaving them to fend for themselves.
On the other hand, the cash cow parent falls prey to guilt and emotions and agrees to hand over large sums of money whenever a child demands it. Such parents are very malleable and children often resort to emotional blackmailing. They demand money for frivolous reasons like a luxury holiday or the latest gadget- things that do not require parents to dip into their savings. Experts suggest that parents should avoid giving away money unless they can afford it. It is estimated that about 90 percent of liquid assets are spent during the last 10 percent to 20 percent of a person’s life owing to medical expenses. Parents must avoid giving away more than 10 percent of their liquid assets.
A sensible financial arrangement can benefit all of you while avoiding friction
Fair and Square
Indian families are typically large in size and it is common for parents to have 3 or 4 children. Each child tends to expect equal support from their parents and can create unruly conflicts if parents extend financial support to only one child. Parents should approach family wealth with a fair lens and keep all children in the loop when they offer their financial support to a particular child. If money is given to one child, the other children should be informed and promised similar monetary gifts either now or at the time of inheritance. If a parent gives a loan to one child, this loan amount can be deducted from the inheritance if it is not repaid before the parent dies. This can eliminate any possible resentment amongst siblings and prevent family disputes once the parent passes away.
Indian parenting is very different from western parenting where a child is pretty much on his own once he turns 18. Indian parents tend to remain attached to their children throughout their lives and are involved in most of their adult decisions as well. Ultimately a child will always inspire emotions within the minds of a parent and the final decision to lend money to a child lies with the parent. For parents, if you can afford – give money to your children with the understanding that the money is not going to come back. If you cannot afford – it’s better to say no and not feel bad because you have given everything you could. In today’s day and age parents must have money for themselves and to meet all their needs.
We have published two true-life stories of parents being in a situation where they had given all their money to their children: The taste of green peas and the story of Pitaji. Which brings us to the very question: What would you do if your children ask for money? Write to editor@seniorstoday.in
The coronavirus-led Covid-19 epidemic has been declared as a pandemic. But much ahead of the outbreak globally, there’s one state of affairs that’s a killer. Right in our neighborhoods, in the various sabzi markets and mandis.
Fresh veggies are transported directly to the streetside markets of Mumbai and many urban centers. But other than fresh food, what you are also served is dollops of killer germs. And possible bacteria Photo Feature and viruses. The pictures alongside are from the market in Dadar West in Central Mumbai.
Since the consuming masses aren’t too fussed about the way they clean their veggies, poisonous organisms are bound to make their way inside our bodies.
So even if you escape this coronavirus, the hygiene levels of our sabzis may get you…
PS: The next time you buy your veggies – esp greens and where the edible parts are exposed, ensure they are cleaned with saltwater. Mix two teaspoons of salt with four cups of lukewarm water and stir to let the salt dissolve. Once the water cools down, soak the vegetables (and fruits as well) in it for at least half an hour.
All you need to know about vitamins, as explained by Dr. Noor Gill
How many of you have been taking BCForte or Vitamin B complex capsules for a while now? Have you been popping vitamin E and multivitamins just because someone (not with a degree in medicine and a stethoscope around their neck) recommended them to you?
Well, when you take your capsule in the evening you should at least know what you’re taking it for. Read on to boast to your friends all the ways in which you can use VitE while you sip on your whites and reds.
Vitamins are organic compounds that occur in small quantities in different natural foods and are necessary for the growth and maintenance of good health and well functioning body. Most vitamins can be procured from our food. Yes, you are already getting your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamins from your diet itself. Make a healthier lifestyle and dietary choices so you don’t have to remind yourself to take an extra tablet. Some people may, however, need supplements.
Some Essential Vitamins
Both men and women require vitamins to keep their bodies well oiled. But in the Indian scenario women tend to have deficiencies more than men do. Some of the vitamins that are necessary to keep the body functioning well and their added advantages are:
Vitamin A: Its active form is present only in the animal tissue. But don’t you worry, our body knows how to break down and convert the inactive form to an active one. So eat your greens and carrots and papaya. Mango season is on its way which means that you’ll be loading up on VitA without even realizing you’ve already chowed two mangoes down. Milk, cream, cheese, egg yolks, and liver are great sources. And fish liver oil is the richest of them all.
Women tend to have more vitamin deficiencies than men, especially in India
VitA has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It also decreases sebaceous secretions. So if you have oily skin or are prone to acne, VitA (retinol/isotretinoin) is your go-to. It is also great for wrinkles it does not make them disappear altogether but they sure do tighten your skin. It plays a great role in our vision and is also necessary for reproduction. Miscarriages are noticed in some women with deficiencies.
Vitamin B Complex: This has more vitamins than you think. All very complex. Each vitamin is important individually and as a group.
VitB1 (Thiamine): Its richest source is cereals. But avoid eating polished grains, they might sound like they are better, but believe me, they are not. B1 metabolizes fat and produces energy. It is what is keeping you up and moving.
VitB2 (Riboflavin): It has some great antioxidant properties. Its deficiency is very rarely seen since it is naturally synthesized by the intestinal flora.
VitB3 (Niacin): This decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Its deficiency in women can cause pellagra which translates to rough skin. This is because VitB3’s metabolism is inhibited by estrogen metabolites.
VitB6 (Pyridoxine): VitB6 deficiency can lead to VitB3 deficiency and thus cause pellagra. It also causes anemia by hindering the process of heme formation. So load up on those wheat germs, pulses, and cereals. And don’t forget your greens. If you’re on ATT (Anti Tubercular Therapy) take supplementary B6. Mild B6 deficiency is also seen in women on oral contraceptives.
Vit B7(Biotin) and VitB9 (Folic acid): Ever wondered why pregnant women glow? It’s not only happiness, the inner radiance comes from VitB7 and B9, which also keeps your skin, hair, and nails healthy and shiny.
VitB12: This is necessary for proper red blood and nerve cell function and formation.
VitC: It is essential for the growth and repair of the body tissue. It has great antioxidant properties and thus may prevent cancer formation. Daily intake of VitC can reduce the risk of cancer. It also helps in collagen formation thus keeping wrinkles at bay, or at least delayed.
A healthy diet and lifestyle choices may help you avoid supplements
VitD: The “sunshine vitamin”. It helps in calcium absorption hence keeping your bones strong and healthy and also a healthy immune system. If you sit in the sun (with your sunscreen on!) for 20-30 mins a day, you will not need dietary supplements for the same.
VitE: It is a powerful natural antioxidant. It also protects the RBC from dying in vain (hemolysis). It slows the aging process and also boosts the immune response.
VitK: It is necessary for coagulation. Some of the clotting factors depend on VitK for their formation. This is also produced by the intestinal flora but green leafy vegetables are a good dietary source.
Choline: It plays a major role in the nerve cell and liver function and formation.
If these vitamins are deficient, they can cause problems but too much of anything is never good either. So you need to find just the right balance between too much and too little, and always consult your physician before you start taking any supplements. Eat better, stay healthier.
Introducing a new monthly column by Sandeep Suri that will help technology appear easier for our readers.
We are witnessing unprecedented change around us, especially in the field of technology. We have gone from Cassettes to Digital Players, Landline to Smartphones, Books to Book Readers, Watches to Smartwatches and now Wearables.
Let’s start with understanding the subject: Wearables. You may have heard someone mention wearable technology, but perhaps you weren’t quite sure what it meant? Simply put, wearable technology is a general term for a group of devices — including eyewear, fitness trackers, footwear, neckwear, bodywear, smartwatches and so on — that are designed to be worn throughout the day. These devices are often called Wearables. A few popular brands: Watches-Apple, Withings, Fitbit, Garmin; Spectacles-Snap 3; Shoes-Nike Smart shoe AdaptBB, Adidas1; Bra-Nike Motion Adapt; Shirt-Under Armour Hexoskin etc. Wearable technology has always held great appeal for first adopters and trailblazers, but the only piece of wearable technology that has achieved true mass adoption is the Smartwatch.
Doing a lot more
Of late, wearables have become increasingly popular, but the basic idea is nothing new. For example, if you’ve ever worn a wristwatch, you’ve already used a simple kind of wearable. Today’s wearables can connect with your devices, like computers and smartphones, which means they can do a lot of exciting things. In fact, networking is the glue that holds the various technology branches together. Earlier, the worlds of voice and data were separate. As these two technologies integrate, this could bring in endless potential to grow.
The mobile phone itself may eventually be replaced entirely by the smartwatch
Now, talking about the usage of wearable technology, it is not just limited to health care alone. Interestingly, it is extending its reach to the entertainment industry as well. Wearable technology will soon allow us to immerse more in entertainment forms such as video games and televisions. One should be able to feel and smell things as the film progresses is something you could only imagine in the past but would be a reality soon. Wearable technology that can allow you to take part in these fun and interactive activities physically could revolutionize the entertainment industry.
It has raised the expectations of what a smart wearable can do, and each brand is vying for best-in-class status. The most recent trend observed is about top-performing insurers leveraging sensor technologies to create value. The customer (policyholder in this case) uses wearable devices to manage their health outcomes. Behavioral data (data on your living style through your wearables) is included for drawing up loyalty programs by the insurance company, and this is becoming a new trend in policy pricing. It would soon become extensive, profound and long-lasting,
Surge in popularity
In the last few years, there has been a surge of popularity in wearable technology, including activity trackers, smartwatches, and smart clothing. This burgeoning market could blow to become the next smartphone—a mass industry that creates its economic ecosystem. Just to give you a quick sense of the scale of this industry, Wearables are bound to become the world’s best-selling consumer electronics product after smartphones. Smart wearables are projected to reach 305 million units in 2020, with a compound annual growth rate of about 15 percent, the current market size of wearables is estimated to be around $45 billion. This market growth could be attributed to the demanding lifestyle of the society, but that requires people to incorporate these gadgets into their daily lives in a way that they haven’t before. Consumers and suppliers are beginning to use various devices for a variety of applications with no sign of slowing down!
Smart wearables are often used for fitness tracking and monitoring vital signs
As technology evolves, these Wearables are becoming more popular and have become part of our lives. They are now intertwined with our lifestyles. We are more inclined to monitor ourselves much closer than we ever did before. It all started about ten years ago when the companies realized the potential of wearables dominating the fitness market. There has been a monumental rise in the world of fitness devices that track your progress. In all likely hood, it will improve and become even more critical and popular. Today, there are devices where you input your biological data, and the wearable will create bespoke programs to improve your fitness levels.
While wearable technology may be all the rage right now, only time will tell us what will make it stick around this time! So, if you are game, go ahead and take your pick from the slew of wearable products that suit your pocket, meet your requirement and start monitoring your fitness levels. Stay healthy, stay fit and take good care of your health!
Next Month: Tech4Seniors will carry a scan on seniors-friendly wearable devices
March is celebrated as Women’s Month, so here’s a look at one of the finest female bonding films made in Bollywood. By Deepa Gahlot
Mrityudand (1997)
“Pati ho, parmeshwar ban ne ki koshish mat karo” (You are a husband, don’t try to be God). With that one line uttered with contempt, a woman shows her husband his place. In the feudal culture of Bihar where the concept of women’s rights is alien, Ketki dares to demand change.
Prakash Jha grew up in Bihar and understood the caste and gender structure, the politics, the corruption and the unbridled machismo. It is a strongly patriarchal culture, yet the protagonist of Mrityudand (1997) is a woman, Ketki, played by Madhuri Dixit.
The film begins with the brutal murder of a young widow and her mother, accused of witchcraft, but in reality it’s a plot to grab their land. There is a farcical investigation, at which the killers are not identified. The next few scenes establish the main players in the complex drama that plays out. The head of the landowning family, Subhash Singh (Pyare Mohan Sahay) is old and ineffectual; the local politician (Harish Patel) is in cahoots with a corrupt contractor Tirpat Singh (Mohan Joshi); Abhay Singh (Mohan Agashe), the older son of the landlord, has an eye on the powerful position of the village monastery and Rambaran Mahto (Om Puri), a low caste man who controls his community and hence, the labour force. For old time’s sake is also helped Subhash Singh with discreet loans.
Smita Patil in Mirch Masala
Seething cauldron
Into this seething cauldron of amorality, comes in Ketki, an educated young woman, married to Vinay (Ayub Khan), the youngest son of the landowning family on the slide. In spite of financial problems, Vinay and Ketki are happy for a while, then Abhay Singh plots the murder of the head of the monastery and annexes the position himself, abandoning his childless wife Chandravati (Shabana Azmi). He is an evil man, who lets his submissive wife be blamed for barrenness, though he is the impotent one. She takes to her bed with shock and gives the keys of the household to a reluctant Ketki.
Tirpat gets Vinay into debt, and under his influence, the sweet-natured Vinay becomes just like the rest of the men, coming home drunk, mistreating Ketki. She is not one to suffer silently, and the loving relationship starts cracking up.
Chandravati’s condition worsens and Ketki takes her to a nearby town for treatment, with Rambaran escorting them. Nobody has ever cared for her the way Rambaran does. Chandravati gets into a relationship with Rambaran and is ecstatic to find herself pregnant, proof that she was never barren.
On receiving a letter of apology from her husband, Ketki returns home, and, with a loan from Rambaran, helps her husband get out of the clutches of Tirpat. Even the manipulative villain has to concede, “Your wife has beauty and brains.”
Caste atrocities
Ketki also takes on Tirpat over the exploitation of a lower caste woman Kanti (Shilpa Shirodkar) and insults him in front of the entire village. When he sees his power base eroding, Tirpat is like a snake whose tail has been stepped on. Just when Ketki discovers her own pregnancy, Tirpat has Vinay blown up with a bomb, not expecting a lone widow to remain standing against him. His attempt to rape Ketki fails, but he and Abhay Singh unite against the women when Chandravati’s pregnancy is discovered.
They all march towards Ketki’s home, with the idea of killing her and Chandravati. But Tirpat’s wife (Abha Dhulia) warns them and when the group of armed men arrive, they are met with an army of women. Tirpat’s wife, who had been driven almost mad by his atrocities, now looks him in the eye and lands the first blow. Ketki then picks up Tirpat’s gun, strides out after him as he runs and shoots him. A voiceover says that she will bring up her child never to inflict injustice on the weak.
Although violence is not the solution to anything, Prakash Jha builds up a multi-layered and gripping story, in which a woman resorting to killing her tormentor and the scourge of the entire village is justified.
Jha made other films on social issues, but Mrityudand was the only one that examined a male-dominated feudal society from a woman’s perspective. Years later, he cast Priyanka Chopra as a cop in Jai Gangaajal, set in the same milieu, but it was not as effective in its portrayal of women.
Bollywood’s Feminist Forays
Dor (2006)
Nagesh Kukunoor’s remake of the Malayalam film Perumazhakkalam (2004) is about a city woman (Gul Panang), who has to get a pardon from the widow (Ayesha Takia) of the man her husband has been accused of killing in the Gulf. Widowhood is a curse in a patriarchal Rajasthani society and mercy is expected of one whose life has lost all joy. The friendship between the two has the tender empathy that such suffering can bring to the hearts of women who have seen a glimpse of hell on earth.
Fire (1996)
Deepa Mehta’s controversial film starring Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das is about two women in loveless marriages to two brothers living in a crowded Delhi colony. When they decide to offer support and sexual pleasure to each other, the foundations of an oppressive family system that expects submissiveness from wives are shaken.
Zakhmee Aurat (1988)
This B-grade Dimple Kapadia starrer, directed by Avtar Bhogal, had a group of vigilante women who go around castrating rapists. In its own coarse way, it spoke up for justice for women in a society that punishes victims of rape instead of the perpetrators.
Mujhe Insaaf Chahiye (1983)
In this almost forgotten film by T. Rama Rao, Rati Agnihotri played a woman who is wooed and seduced by a man (Mithun Chakraborty), who dumps her when she gets pregnant. Instead of quietly hiding her “shame”, she joins hands with a fiery lawyer, played by Rekha, to drag the man to court. She believes, that if society considers unwed motherhood a sin, then why does the man not share the blame?
Mirch Masala (1987)
In Ketan Mehta’s film, when a village woman (Smita Patil) turns down the advances of the police chief and takes shelter in a spice factory, where women work, they all band together to protect her, when the men of the village are prepared to throw her to the vengeful wolf.
Today, sports stars are competing with film personalities for celebrity brand endorsements, writes Prabhakar Mundkur
Time was when you said ‘celebrity’, people took it to mean a film star. But no longer. While the earliest celebrities to be used in advertising were indeed film stars, today sports stars compete with film stars for brand endorsements.
For example, if one looks at the Forbes Celebrity 100 for 2019, Virat Kohli is No 1. In fact, in the top 5, there are two sports stars. The old style of rating celebrities was to look at their earnings. Today’s celebrity ranks are a function not only earnings but of their fame quotient arrived at through their print and social media reach. And because the sport is as big an industry as cinema at least in terms of visibility and exposure though not in valuation, sports stars are much wanted by advertisers.
Sports is also related to the fitness industry, and fitness is quickly becoming the national obsession, with strings of gyms opening over the country, and the familiar sight of runners and cyclists on the roads in the country every morning.
In India perhaps the first sports icon to bring fame to brands was Kapil Dev in Palmolive da jawab nahi. Almost everybody remembers that commercial. And of course, Kapil Dev in the Boost commercial with Sachin Tendulkar. After that, sports stars have ruled the roost in Indian advertising.
Caution required
So, what is the difference between sports stars and film stars when it comes to endorsing brands?
I think sports stars have to be much more careful about endorsements. Because they represent ‘ideal health’ to the masses, sports stars have to be cautious about endorsing unhealthy products. They have an important responsibility to promote public health, unlike film stars. This is particularly true of food and beverage products. Virat Kohli ended a six-year contract with Pepsi because the product went against his ideals of fitness.
A sports star’s career is much shorter than that of the film star. Because their profession is dependent on physical fitness, most sports stars give up active sports by the time they are 40. But film stars have a career even when they get older because there is always a place for an older character in any script or story.
Then there is the sports star that eventually ends up as a film actor. A great international example is Arnold Schwarzenegger. A bodybuilder, he became famous as the Terminator and even became the Governor of California which is less unusual. Arnold has 50 film credits to his name. Many of our Indian sports stars have also become politicians, the latest being Gautam Gambhir who has been preceded by others like Navjot Singh Siddhu, Mohammad Azharuddin, and Kirti Azad to name a few.
Role in society
After retirement sports stars can help in the area of public reform. After retirement they often use their popularity and personal dedication to help reduce or prevent negative developments and participate in implementing reforms. Mohammad Ali, Pele and many others followed this route. Pele for example became Minister of Sport for Brazil.
As India moves from a single sport nation like cricket to badminton, football and other sports, sports stars in the country will be on the rise. Sports is an important aspect of any nation because it can teach you life skills like no other activity can. Sportsmen and sportswomen are often admired for their status, achievements, and sometimes for their inspiring journey to success. Many young people look up to them and for a young country like India, sports will become more important as our country moves into the future.
A quick (but intense) look at the Hollywood chaps and blokes who turn the ladies’ heads. By Senor Dey
John Travolta –Travolta was one of the youngest performers to be nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for Saturday Night Fever. He is also a licenced pilot and owns five aircraft.
Know about the infection-prone zones and how to avoid getting infected
Airplanes create an environment for germs to thrive in and enable it to transfer from person to person – close quarters, frequent passenger turnaround and recirculated air. The cabins are usually cleaned when the plane stays overnight at the airport, the germs can last up to 24 hours on hard surfaces and can linger between flights.
About 80% of all infectious diseases we introduce to ourselves on flights. According to a study by a US-based website which collected bacteria samples on flights at five different airports, there are certain areas, the “hotspots” we are most likely to touch that are infection-prone such as – the tray table, overhead vent, bathroom flush button/lock, seat pockets, and seatbelt buckle. However, the dirtiest is the drinking fountain buttons at the airports.
Here are 8 ways to stay healthy while flying.
1. Sanitize surface areas – Humans touch their faces about 200 times a day. The chances of one walking by or touching a contaminated surface then unwittingly touching their face are higher. On all the typically germy surfaces, especially tray tables, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. When you get settled in your seat, put several drops on a wet wipe and wipe down those areas that you’re going to touch. Use hand sanitizer frequently throughout your flight, particularly when you lower the tray table to eat and after you return from the bathroom – even if you’ve washed your hands with warm, soapy water. Those seat pockets can be tricky to clean, you may want to use your own bag under the seat to store your belongings.
2. Flu shot for your immune system – If you’re flying during flu season ensure taking a flu shot. Influenza spreads by droplets made when people sneeze or cough, even from as far away as six feet. Especially in a crammed in space. While there’s no guarantee that the vaccine will prevent the flu, it will certainly lower your chances of contracting it, and if you do contract it, your illness is likely to be less severe.
3. Opt for the window seat and consider wearing a mask – A study published in the Clinical Infectious Disease, Boston mentions passengers in the aisle seats are more likely to contract infections. Especially for seniors with health conditions, the aisle seats put you in a more vulnerable position, with all those potentially sick passengers walking (and sneezing) past. Plus, people may steady themselves by grabbing your headrest when heading to and from the restroom, to make matters worse, the hand-washing conditions are not ideal. Hence it is essential to wear a mask during this time.
4. Control the airflow – The filters in the air vent remove 99.97% of germs. However, that doesn’t help when you are seated next to a person with flu. Use the overhead air vent on a low setting to create an air current that will move germs away. Place your hands just below your belly button, two inches away from your body and you should be able to feel the airflow.
5. Stay hydrated – The humidity in the flight drops 10% after takeoff, contributing to the breath of passengers. That dry air can do a number on the mucous membranes in your nose and airways, which need hydration to do their job. Drinking plenty of water will counter the dehydrating effects of air travel and most airlines provide a bottle of water. It is important to drink plenty of water especially if you are on medication.
6. Keep a nasal spray handy– Our mucous membranes are far less effective at blocking infection if they dry out. Look for a saline spray. It has the same pH as the delicate tissues in your nose. Avoid medicated nasal sprays or anything with preservatives, which can dry out nasal passages. While you’re at it, stash a small bottle of eye drops in your bag. They’ll relieve dry, itchy eyes, making you a lot less likely to rub them with (possibly) contaminated fingers.
7. Stretch your legs – The position of the seatback tends to slow circulation, putting us at risk for deep-vein thrombosis, the formation of blood clots in the legs. Since most flights are packed for holiday travel, you’re more likely to remain seated. Resist the urge to stay put, and move about the cabin every hour or so. With your feet flat on the floor, bring your heels up and down, in a rocking motion. And if you are over 60 or obese, or have a history of heart disease, varicose veins or blood clots, see your doctor before your trip, especially if the flight is longer than two hours.
8. Relax – The effect of stress lowers our immune system and the ability to fight off germs. Worry of getting to the airport, check-in, getting to the right gate leads in anxious behavior – rubbing eyes or biting nails and that a disaster. Keep calm and get to the airport early for your flight to eliminate stressors.
Finally, it would a good idea to carry your food along. It is way healthier than the food served in the aircraft that has been through many hands.
Know more about Coronavirus (COVID-19), its symptoms and the precautionary messures – ClickHere
These essential ingredients will set you in the mood for love
Senior citizens become less sexually active beyond the age of 60. This reflects more in women than men. It happens due to various reasons such as lack of desire, various health illnesses, erectile dysfunction or grief. Often this aspect of senior’s life is ignored making it difficult for seniors to talk about it openly. Being sexually active for the elder affirms physical health, self-confidence and prevent anxiety.
Chocolate, strawberries, whipped cream and champagne are some of the popular aphrodisiacs, yet to be backed by science. Certainly they do create the mood and help release serotonin – a neurotransmitter also known as the happy chemical. However, the popular aphrodisiac could only do so much for our seniors. Hence we bring to you some aphrodisiacs backed by science and has been part of Indian traditional medicine for centuries. These ingredients are potent and effective and are mentioned in Kamasutra the famous handbook of love.
Here are five aphrodisiacs that you will easily find in your kitchen.
Nuts – Almond, pistachio, walnut, pecan, cashew nut and pine nut…almost all nuts are packed with nutrients essential for a healthy sex life. They are rich in calories and fat. However, nuts are to be consumed in moderation. Consuming 60g of nuts everyday is good for the heart, help manage diabetes, lowers bad cholesterol levels and helps boost your sex drive. Moreover it helps increase blood flow and reduces symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
Indian Ginseng (Ashwagandha) – Ashwagandha is known to enhance sex life since the time of Kamasutra. It lower stress, boosts memory, has anti-ageing properties, relieves joint pain, restores sex drive and stamina in men and women. A tablespoon of ashwagandha with hot milk at night for few months will have an effective result.
Saffron (Kesar) – Kesar is a traditional aphrodisiac agent mentioned in Kamasutra. It helps with depression, anxiety, reduces stress and enhances mood. It is especially effective for people consuming antidepressants.
Fenugreek (Methi) – Packed with amino acids and estrogen-like properties methi seeds are an effective aphrodisiac for women but it also boosts arousal in men. For women it helps boost libido, lessen hot flashes and relieves from menopausal symptoms. It also aids minimisevaginal dryness.
Olive Oil – Olive oil is loaded with essential fatty acids and packed with nutrients and antioxidants. It is has a range of health benefits. Fatty acids help produce hormones and improves blood flow which results in a better sex life.
Food plays a significant role in creating the right mood – in more ways than one while keeping you healthy.
After our feature on desi actresses of bygone days, now take a
look at old-time films’ hot hunks – By Neelam S
1. Dharmendra Known as the He-Man of Bollywood, Dharmendra has enthralled his fans with his macho personality combined with a soft heart. In 1960s he was the 7th handsomest man in the world.
Did you know that exercise can help ward off or delay the onset of dementia?
Gireesh Kumar B explains
Physical exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, contributing to general fitness, muscle control, and coordination, and to a sense of well-being. Physical exercise is also essential for maintaining adequate blood flow to the brain and may stimulate brain cell growth and survival. Exercise is, therefore, one of the major factors for reducing the risk of developing dementia. Several studies have found that physical activity in early, mid and late-life is associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
Exercise can help reduce stress and depression, common in people with dementia
The benefits of exercise are clear when considering other factors associated with the risk of developing dementia. People who exercise regularly are less likely to experience heart disease and stroke, both factors that are associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. Exercise is also important in reducing the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and obesity, all of which are risk factors for dementia. Regular aerobic exercise, walking, at least 30 minutes, is beneficial for cognitive health. Exercise may improve blood flow to the brain, reduce cardiovascular risk factors and possibly stimulate nerve cell growth and survival.
Benefits for dementia patients
Physical exercise should be continued for as long as possible for people with dementia, as it has been found to have a number of benefits. It can help prevent muscle weakness, mobility problems and other health complications associated with inactivity. It can help promote a normal day-night routine, improve mood and increase social participation.
Exercise also plays a part in reducing stress and depression, which are commonly experienced by people with dementia. Repetitive activity such as walking on a treadmill or using an exercise bike can help reduce anxiety for people with dementia as there are no decisions to make or things to remember about what to do next.
An exercise program incorporated into a person’s lifestyle in the early stages of dementia is more likely to be maintained as the condition progresses, extending the benefits to health and well-being for as long as possible.
In moderate to late stages of dementia, support and encouragement from family, carers and service providers are important to ensure that an exercise program is maintained. Accessing a structured exercise program with trained staff and using family, friends, and volunteers can help to ensure this.
Most effective exercises
Resistance or weight training involves exercising muscles against an external force that provides resistance to the movement.
Flexibility and balance exercises strengthen the spine and supporting muscles and improve coordination and balance.
Aerobic exercises are defined as exercise performed at a moderate level of intensity over a long period of time. It improves general physical health and increases blood flow to the brain. Examples of aerobic exercise are brisk walking, dancing, jogging, bicycling and swimming.
People who exercise regularly are less likely to experience heart disease and stroke, both factors associated with an increased risk of dementia
Seated exercises
People with dementia can benefit from a regular program of seated exercise sessions. These exercises are aimed at building or maintaining muscle strength and balance and are less strenuous than exercises in a standing position. Some examples of seated exercises include:
Turning the upper body from side to side
Raising the heels and toes
Raising the arms towards the ceiling
Raising the opposite arm and leg
Bending the legs
Clapping under the legs
Bicycling the legs
Making circles with the arms
Practicing moving from sitting to standing
Other activities
If exercise is boring, try activities such as gardening, which can help strengthen the body’s muscles and improve breathing
If exercises are boring, these physical activities can be incorporated into a person’s lifestyle.
Gardening: Gardening activities may help strengthen the body’s muscles and improve breathing. Gardening can be an enjoyable activity for people at all stages of dementia
Dancing: It can increase strength and flexibility, help with staying steady and agile, and reduce stress.
Swimming: Swimming, under supervision, is a good activity for people with dementia. Many people find the sensation of being in the water soothing and calming.
Walking: Walking suits all abilities. It is free, does not need specialist equipment, and can be done anywhere.
It is important to seek advice from your physiotherapist on what type and intensity of exercise is best suited to you.
in your seat, put several drops on a wet wipe and wipe down those areas that you’re going to touch. Use hand sanitizer frequently throughout your flight, particularly when you lower the tray table to eat and after you return from the bathroom – even if you’ve washed your hands with warm, soapy water. Those seat pockets can be tricky to clean, you may want to use your own bag under the seat to store your belongings.
If you’re flying during flu season ensure taking a flu shot. Influenza spreads by droplets made when people sneeze or cough, even from as far away as six feet. Especially in a crammed in space. While there’s no guarantee that the vaccine will prevent the flu, it will certainly lower your chances of contracting it, and if you do contract it, your illness is likely to be less severe.
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