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covid19

Secondhand smoke with coronavirus background

Coronavirus from secondhand smoke – How do you avoid this?

by qalfit September 21, 2020

written by qalfit

We all know that cigarette smoke contains hundreds of toxic chemicals and substances that can cause cancer. These are substances you wouldn’t want anywhere near your body. However, some people cannot resist their smoking habit and it is not only them that are affected by it. Non-smokers can also get serious health issues by inhaling second-hand smoke. So, what if a person standing next to you is infected with coronavirus and is exhaling cigarette smoke in your direction? Can you get coronavirus from secondhand cigarette smoke? Can smoking cause corona?

What we know about coronavirus so far

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) coronavirus is a new strain in a family of viruses that range from the common cold to much more serious diseases.
Symptoms of coronavirus infection range from respiratory problems to cases of pneumonia, the build-up of fluid in the lungs, and kidney failure.
Coronavirus is spread through close contact with infected people via oral and nasal secretions including saliva and respiratory droplets. These are released from the mouth or nose when someone coughs, speaks, or sneezes.
The virus can stay up to 4 hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and plastic, and up to 3 days on stainless steel.
Older people and those with illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure are highly susceptible to the coronavirus.

Can smoking cause corona? What do experts say?

Before examining the phenomenon of catching coronavirus from secondhand smoke, let us examine the habit of smoking itself. The act of taking off one’s mask to smoke puts others at risk. Although the government across the world has advised people to wear a face mask in public, there is one crucial difference between exhaling breath and exhaling smoke through the mask. You can easily breathe through a face mask, but you cannot smoke through it. Since the act of smoking or vaping requires the person to take off the mask, this is considered a high-risk environment for anyone in the area.

According to health experts, coronavirus is spread through oral and nasal secretions including saliva and respiratory droplets from the infected persons. When the infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or sings, these droplets are exhaled into the atmosphere. In the case of smoking, smokers are not only potentially spreading without the mask, but are also blowing droplets to the people around them. This, as a result, puts others in the vicinity at risk to contract coronavirus from secondhand smoke.

Smokers themselves might be at a greater risk since smoking increases the risk of coronavirus infection. According to research by the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, smoking was associated with more than a doubling of odds of coronavirus progression in people who have already developed COVID-19.

So, it is plausible that you may be able to contract the coronavirus from secondhand smoke from an infected smoker.

How do you avoid getting coronavirus from secondhand smoke?

1. Masks should be your No.1 Priority

One absolute thing you need to keep in mind is that COVID-19 still exists and the possibility of getting coronavirus from cigarette smoke is very real. So always wear masks. Even if you are in a situation where you cannot avoid secondhand smoke, wearing a mask reduces your risk of infection. As a result, your risk from catching coronavirus from secondhand smoke is greatly minimized.

Two white masks laying over each other on a red background — Masks are still your number 1. line of defense against Covid19

2. The eight feet rule to prevent coronavirus from second hand smoke

Health experts recommend maintaining a six feet gap in public to avoid the spread of coronavirus. But one thing to note here is that smoke travels further than air droplets and you need more than the six feet rule to save yourself from infection. So, maintain at least 8 feet distance to avoid getting coronavirus from secondhand smoke. Ask smokers not to smoke in your home or your car and keep the windows open.

Maroon pawn chess piece set aside from a group of red pawns — Smoke travels further than air droplets and therefore you need more than the prescribed six feet gap

3. Avoid smoking areas to prevent coronavirus from secondhand smoke

Avoid areas such as restaurants or similar places where smoking is allowed. If your co-workers take a smoke break, try to avoid it too. Even if someone tries to smoke around you, politely mention that it’s not safe and that it makes you cough. Constant awareness of your surroundings and go a long way towards making sure you do not contract coronavirus from secondhand smoke.

A man with a hat smoking next to a woman — Avoid areas that have smoking sections or similar places where smoking is allowed

Not only does smoking increase the risk of coronavirus infection but also puts second-hand smokers at risk too. Breathing in second-hand smoke increases the risk of coronavirus infection and can cause serious smoking-related health problems. So, keep these tips in mind to avoid getting coronavirus from secondhand smoke and remember, if you’re able to smell cigarette smoke, you’re still standing too close to the smoker.

September 21, 2020 0 comment

Fitness Home Remedies

Home remedies for laryngitis: Soothe your vocal cords naturally

by qalfit September 18, 2020

written by qalfit

You watched your favourite IPL team winning with a nail-biting finish yesterday night and perhaps you might have cheered a little too loudly the whole match. Cut to the next day- you’re paying the price with laryngitis that has caused your voice to become hoarse or maybe even disappear completely. Sounds too familiar? Laryngitis is one of the common conditions that many people experience at least once in their lifetime. Home remedies for lost voice, which are essentially home remedies for laryngitis, are therefore an essential option to consider.

Losing your voice due to laryngitis can seriously affect the quality of life. Thankfully, however, you can soothe your irritated vocal cords naturally and regain your voice with these home remedies for laryngitis.

Causes of laryngitis

Laryngitis is caused by inflammation of the larynx. The larynx is the voice box that contains your vocal cords. Your ability to speak, sing, or basically produce any sound is due to the vibration of these folds of tissues. Laryngitis affects your vocal cords making it inflamed, resulting in swelling, redness, and stiffness. This impairs the function of your vocal cords and they can no longer vibrate properly as they should. This leads to difficulty in projecting voice. Some of the common causes of laryngitis are,

Cold
Bacterial or viral infection
Acid reflux
Smoking
Repeated abuse of vocal cords
Inhalation of chemicals

If you’re looking for quick fixes for laryngitis, here are a few home remedies for laryngitis that will help to reduce the irritation and discomfort.

Home remedies for laryngitis

1. Ginger extract for laryngitis

Ginger extract is one of the best home remedies for laryngitis. This is because the chemical compounds present in ginger can kill any bacteria present in your throat and can reduce the swelling and irritation in the vocal cords. It also soothes the irritation in your throat. Ginger is thus one of the several effective home remedies for lost voice.

Ginger extracts contain chemical compounds that kill throat bacteria

What do you need:

Ginger

How to do it?

Take a piece of fresh ginger and grate it.
Then, add the grated ginger to a cup of water and boil it for 10 minutes.
Drink this several times a day.

2. Honey laryngitis home treatment

Honey is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory substance. It fights laryngitis by reducing the inflammation and pain in the throat. It also acts as a cough suppressant and prevents further damage to the voice box due to coughs. So in terms of being the best cure for laryngitis, honey is certainly up there.

Honey acts as a cough suppressant and therefore prevents further damage to the voice box

What do you need

Honey

How to do it?

Boil a cup of water.
Then, add 2 teaspoons of honey in it and stir well.
Drink this three times daily for better results.

3. Vinegar gargle laryngitis home treatment

If a bacterial infection is responsible for laryngitis, then gargling vinegar is therefore one of the effective home remedies for laryngitis. Vinegar provides a quick relief from discomfort. The acidic nature of the vinegar instantly kills the microbes responsible for infection and provides relief from irritation and swelling.

The acidic nature of the vinegar instantly kills the microbes responsible for infection

What do you need

Vinegar

How to do it?

Pour an equal amount of vinegar and hot water into a cup.
Then, mix it well and gargle several times a day.
You can also use a few tablespoons of salt instead of vinegar.

4. Lemon juice home remedies for laryngitis

Lemon juice is a classic home remedy for laryngitis. It reduces swelling and breaks up the mucus in the throat. It also boosts the production of saliva that helps to moisturize the throat and soothe the irritation. As a result, lemon juice is one of the popular home remedies for laryngitis.

Sliced lemon amidst sky blue background — Lemon reduces swelling and breaks up mucus in the throat

What do you need

Lemon

How to do it?

Take a fresh lemon and squeeze out the juice.
Then, mix it with a cup of hot water.
You can add honey if you want.
Drink this once a day.

5. Garlic cloves laryngitis home treatment

Garlic contains an extraordinary compound called allicin that has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. This serves as an excellent antidote for treating inflammation caused due to laryngitis. So, are you looking for the best cure for laryngitis? Garlic herbs are certainly up there!

Garlic an excellent remedy for treating inflammation

What do you need

Garlic

How to do it?

Peel a clove of fresh garlic and put it in your mouth.
Don’t chew it but bite it gently so that you can taste the raw garlic.
Then, let it rest between your cheeks and suck on it like a candy.
Repeat this once a day.

Doomscrolling – What is it and why You should stop it right now!

by qalfit August 10, 2020

written by qalfit

When is the last time you stopped scrolling on Instagram to watch cute pets or looked for new workout routines to try, instead of reading the coronavirus news or news that was about disasters or anything generally negative? If your answer is. “I don’t remember” or “Maybe 5 months back”, you are officially engaged in the behavior known as ‘doomscrolling’.

What is ‘doomscrolling’?

The Urban dictionary defines doomscrolling as “When you keep scrolling through all of your social media feeds, looking for the most recent upsetting news about the latest catastrophe. The amount of time spent doing this is directly proportional to how much worse you’re going to feel after you’re done.”

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic left us locked down in our homes, we follow the same ritual, thumb down, and thumb up on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and literally on all social media apps. We do this in a desperate attempt to find some clarity among all the things that are happening around us right now. But as we do this, we fall into an endless downward spiral of feeling bad. This is what is called ‘doomscrolling’ or ‘doomsurfing’.

Why do we ‘doomscroll’?

Theory #1: Humans love information

According to experts, humans love information. So, having access to endless information for 24 hours via our smartphone means we can binge on it in excessive amounts, which is undoubtedly bad. Especially now, because the daily news is almost invariably negative and depressing and yet, we cannot resist the urge to scroll through and read all about coronavirus.

Social media icons displayed on smartphone screen — Our phone is an abundant source of non-stop information

Theory #2: We have nothing much to do.

According to a report from Axios, during this coronavirus period, the screen time is up as much as 50% among children ages 6-12. It is bad, but understandable of course. Because bad news isn’t necessarily in short supply these days and with the whole stay at the home scenario, people tend end up engaging in doomscrolling.

Young dark haired girl staring at her laptop and doomscrolling — We are prone to spend more time on the screen during the era of lock-downs

Theory #3: We are hardwired to see the negative

Another reason why we doomscroll is that we, humans are all hardwired to see the negative and be drawn to the negative. We do this because of our long-learned trait of ‘If we knew all about the bad, we can find a way to avoid the bad’. It is a kind of a survival mechanism that is hardcoded in our DNA. It helps us sense danger and learn more about it to avoid it.

But in reality, even if we keep scrolling and scrolling, hoping that doomscrolling would be helpful, we will only end up feeling worse afterward. But fortunately, there are some things we can do to lessen our doomscrolling habit.

Frustrated ethnic man with glasses after doomscrolling — We are prone to looking at the negatives

How to stop doomscrolling?

Step 1: Admit you that are doomscrolling

The first step to stop doomscrolling is to admit that you are doing it at all. Checking tweets about coronavirus first thing in the morning? Doomscrolling. Keeping tabs on the count of coronavirus positive cases in your area all day? That’s right. You are doomscrolling.

Step 2: Analyze yours mind state after doomscrolling

Now try to analyze your state of mind after you have doomscrolled. Does it make you feel better or do you end up feeling more hopeless? If it’s the latter, you need to stop doomscrolling right now!

Step 3: Limit smart phone and social media use

Try to limit your smartphone usage and social media usage. Keep a fixed time limit and when time is up, put your phone down and don’t doomscroll again for the rest of the day.

Step 4: Focus on the positive

Now, train yourself to see more positive things around you. You can also approach this methodologically by looking for at least three positive things a day. This will make you feel better.

Step 5: Avoid all negativity

Now all you need to do is to stick to it. Focus only on the positive things and try to avoid all negativity around you.

Ultimately, stopping doomscrolling and not looking at your phone won’t stop the pandemic. But doomscrolling regularly isn’t going to do any good to your physical or mental health. So, try to stop your doomscrolling habit and focus on the positive things around you.

August 10, 2020 0 comment

Fitness

Covidiot – what are the features and characteristics?

by qalfit August 1, 2020

written by qalfit

When COVID-19 first became a global pandemic, people struggled to keep up with the new normal. It taught us a lot of new things over the past 6 months. Hand sanitizers and respirator masks became hot commodities, our home couch became our office space and we became masters of video conferencing. We also learned a lot of new terms along the way like social distancing and heebie-jeebies. However, the latest term that has come to the fore is the term ‘covidiot’.

What is ‘covidiot’?

According to the Macmillan dictionary, the term ‘covidiot’ is an insulting term for someone who ignores health advice about Covid-19 or hoards food unnecessarily.

Basically, the word ‘covidiot’ is a combination of the words, ‘COVID-19’ and ‘idiot’. a covidiot is someone who doesn’t take COVID-19 and the risks of the virus seriously, despite what the global health community says. A covidiot would also behave selfishly when it comes to slowing down and stopping the spread of coronavirus. The term covidiot sprang out of nowhere and became popular when some social media users posted photos of people who stubbornly ignored the social distancing protocols.

How can you identify a covidiot and who qualifies as one?

According to experts, you can easily identify a Covidiot if you closely look at how they behave. Here are a few behaviors that a covidiot would exhibit.

1. They tend to be in Denial:

People in denial often claim that the virus doesn’t exist or that it is just a media hoax. A covidiot may claim that the coronavirus is not as bad as the media projects it be. Such individuals cannot grasp the dangers of getting a coronavirus infection. This way they put others at risk too.

Fake news spelled in letter blocks — People in denial are often prone to believing that something is ‘fake news’

2. They think that the virus is less powerful than them:

A covidiot may tend to think that he or she is immune to the coronavirus or won’t get seriously ill with the virus. Such individuals have a mindset that the virus is less powerful than them. As a result, they continue to ignore safety measures. This behavior is dangerous because they may get infected, pass the virus along, and give it to someone who may even die from it.

Man in green and black camouflage uniform holding black rifle

3. They think that they are rebels:

Some people think that they are rebels and they just want to be nonconformists and rebel against societal norms. This makes them rebel against wearing masks and practicing social distancing. This rebelling mindset may be acceptable for other issues but certainly not now when we are in the middle of the pandemic. A covidiot is prone to possessing a rebellious nature.

Rebel blond woman with tattoos and white t shirt — Rebellious and non-conformist individuals may be in denial

4. A covidiot may always be anxious:

A certain segment of the population tends to be always anxious and participate in more extreme behavior. They will be so anxious and concerned about coronavirus. This may promote negative behaviours and eventually lead a covidiot into denial that the virus doesn’t exist.

A girl sitting on the couch and suffering from anxiety — Anxiety can cause one to be in denial

5. A covidiot is prone to being selfish:

A covidiot will be more concerned about his or her selfish gratifications than the good of the larger society. Such individuals may hoard foods, denying them from the needy people, and exhibit all kinds of selfish behaviour in times of crisis. They would also be impulsive at times, like throwing a huge party or going out if they have symptoms.

Blond woman staring into an oval mirror — Not caring about the greater good stems from selfishness

The coronavirus pandemic has added another new term to the dictionary. But this doesn’t mean that you have to be an example of it. So, try not to be a covidiot and look out for the greater good when it comes to saving the world from a deadly disease.

Read more: Ayurveda for coronavirus

August 1, 2020 0 comment

Brunette young woman standing in front of gym mirror

Fitness

Getting back into the gym after a long break: Gym hacks

by qalfit July 25, 2020

written by qalfit

Ever since the Coronavirus pandemic forced even the most dedicated gym-goers to stay indoors, we have all been waiting to get back into gym workouts. Now, as many countries around the world are easing their lockdowns, Gyms are more likely to be reopened soon. Although working out at home is all fun and safe, the thought of getting back into the gym workout mode after a long break is surely refreshing.

But before you step back in, remember it has been more than 4 months since you had a proper gym workout. You need to ease back into your workouts slowly. Here are five tips for getting back into the gym after a long break.

1. Never let your guard down

One thing you absolutely need to keep in mind when going back after a long break is that COVID-19 still exists and the possibility of becoming infected is very real. Although gyms are doing everything to keep their members safe, you must be smart and ensure your safety. Follow all the gym safety protocols along with the basic coronavirus safety protocols like washing your hands frequently, practising social distancing, and wearing a mask.

Person washing both hands below running tap — Wash your hands and maintain hygiene at all times

2. Start small when going to the gym after a long break

Let’s admit the truth, at-home workouts do not match gym workouts. You might be working out at home regularly during the lockdown. However, chances are your strength levels aren’t quite what they used to be. After getting back into the gym after a long break it may be tempting to return to the same routine you followed before quarantine, but there is a high risk of injury if you go down that path. Try to embrace a beginner’s mindset and start small in your workout routine. Get back to the basics and increase your intensity week by week.

Blonde woman at gym looking into mirror while holding dumbbells on dumbbell rack — Start with lighter weights

3. Prefer shorter workouts during your session

Getting back after a long break might hype you up and make you spend long hours at the gym. But you need to understand that most gyms are reopening with foot traffic restrictions and time slot restrictions to ensure strict safety protocols. So, while getting back into working out at the gym it would be better if you opt for shorter workouts. You can use compound exercises like bench press and, superset your opposing muscle groups like squats for lower body and pulldowns for the upper body. This saves time and makes the most of your workout.

African american man doing weight pull downs in gym — Upper Body Pull Down

4. Focus on gym specific workouts

Seeing all the equipment again after getting back into working out after long layoff may make you want to try all of them the moment you step inside the gym. To jumpstart your workouts, you need to focus on gym specific workouts that you could not do at home. For example, you can do cardio and mobility workouts at home. So, if you did enough cardio at home, it is time to utilize that leg press or squat rack. This is essential for getting back into the workout routine after a long break.

Brunette millennial woman doing shoulder press in gym — Upright shoulder press at the gym

5. Don’t forget your at-home workouts

Getting back doesn’t mean that you have to stop your at-home workouts. You can still follow your at-home routines and still go to the gym. There is no harm in combining the benefits of both gym workouts and at-home workouts. So, don’t give up on your at-home sessions and make the most of your workouts.

Read more: 5 fun ways to exercise at home

Blue and black haired millennial woman doing push ups in dark room — Home workouts like push ups are still important

By following these tips for getting back after a long break, you can safely return to your gym when they reopen. But remember that your overall health is more important than your fitness goals. So, if you feel like it is unsafe to go to the gym right now, take your time and plan patiently and plan to get back into your routine safely and smartly.

July 25, 2020 0 comment

Lifestyle

How to maintain your social life while stuck at home?

by qalfit July 4, 2020

written by qalfit

To help prevent the spread of the virus and to flatten the curve, public health officials and scientists are recommending we stay away from a large group of people. For many people, this coronavirus quarantine period has turned out to be a much-need break from their regular life. But on the flip side, postponed weddings, cancelled birthday parties, and rescheduled get-togethers with our loved ones have really made us pretty upset. This new self-isolation is making people feel lonely, frustrated, and disconnected from the world and their social life.

But, being stuck at home doesn’t mean that you have to put your social life on hold. There are a lot of ways to maintain your social life while practising self-isolation. Here are a few ways you could use to maintain your social life while stuck at home.

1. Have virtual reunions

Remember the friends whom you’ve told that you would stay in touch with? Well, now is the time! Even before the coronavirus lockdown, a lot of us were too lazy or busy to stay in touch with our friends. But with the lockdown in place and a lot of time on our hands now, we can use this time to have virtual reunions with our old friends. This will bring much-needed joy into our lives this quarantine period.

Read more: 5 effective tips to reduce stress

2. Host a house party!

A party? Now? Yes! You can now host virtual game nights and fun parties while stuck at home. The Houseparty app is basically made for the era of social distancing. It is created with a focus on ‘Shared experience’. You can hang out virtually with your friends where you can chat one-to-one, have a group chat, and even play games and quizzes with one another. Basically, all you need is a smartphone and an internet connection to have a party anytime anywhere!

3. Take up an activity together

At this time, it is tremendously important to keep yourself engaged and in touch with others. Anything and everything that keeps you engaged is good! You can take online dance classes, live online fitness classes, cooking classes or can even play online games with your friends like PUBG and Ludo. So, take up an activity together with your friends or family and keep a healthy social life.

4. Celebrate everything!

Being stuck at home on important days like birthdays and anniversaries is one of the worst feelings that you could endure. But, sitting at home and feeling sad would only make it worse. This is why you need to celebrate everything with your family and friends. Whether it’s your birthday or anniversary or your pet’s birthday, invite people to video call and celebrate it!

5. Stay connected.

Honestly, no pandemic or social-isolation is going to suddenly change people to constantly engage socially. But during times like these, it is important not to feel lonely and disconnected. So, even when you’re not actively chatting with your friends or family on a video call, keep the screen on. This gives you a feeling that someone you love is always connected with you.

The past few months have been a challenge for most people across the world. From once having a thriving social life to being stuck at home, sudden social isolation has hit us hard. So, keep these things in mind to maintain our social life while stuck at home.

July 4, 2020 0 comment

Lifestyle

How to adapt well to your new work from home lifestyle?

by qalfit June 10, 2020

written by qalfit

The new work from home lifestyle that most of us got during these high times can be quite a change from our normal ‘working in an office’ routine. While shifting from a robotic schedule to the freedom and flexibility of working from home may be a welcoming change for many, we cannot ignore the distractions in the form of your lovable pets preferring your lap for a nap, sudden food cravings, messy pile of clothes in your room and the most serious distraction of them all- ‘The toddler mayhem’, if you’re a parent!

It is easy to find yourself scattered and unproductive while working from home. But rather than submitting yourself to these distractions, you can adapt well to your new work from home lifestyle by following these expert tips.

Suiting up is not necessary:

Suiting up to start your office work for the day in your home may put yourself in the right mood, but it may also make you uncomfortable while you work from home and affects your productivity. Because, in your office, you may be entitled to your cabin in a chair and a neat formal costume would do the part. But at home, you have the freedom to sit and lean wherever you can work. So, there is no reason to do it unless you want to. Wear what’s comfortable for you.

Use different spaces:

Sitting with your head at the pillow all day while you work from home will not only make you unproductive but also takes away the whole fun! You can mark different locations in your home for different office works. For instance, make your sofa as your working space, dining table as your meeting space, work on your proposals at the coffee table and so on. You don’t need a big house to achieve this, even marking your space at four corners of a room will do the trick.

Consider Time blocking:

Time blocking is a process to make your day productive. You can divide your day into specific time frames, each denoting a single specific task. To do this, you need to split your big tasks like completing a presentation into smaller tasks, then decide how much time you want to spend on this block of the task and when do you want to start the task. So, when the time comes for a particular task, switch off all your distractions and work on it.

Take it easy:

There will be times where you’ll be overwhelmed by your office works and personal works at home. You don’t need to give up that easily when it comes to this situation. Just take a deep breath and try to find the source of this- what made you feel overwhelming. In most cases, it will just be simple things like a messy room or minor deadlines. If it’s something you find distracting in your home, try to solve it and if it’s about office work, identify and work on what’s important and reschedule the other works for another time.

It’s actually okay!

This is the most important part you need to remember when you’re working from home. If you think you’re not handling the whole work from home situation well and others are having it perfectly sorted, that’s a hoax your mind made up! It’s actually ok to be deviating a little off from perfect when you’re working from home. Just focus on your productivity and quality of work and everything else will come together.

Not everyone can handle the new work from home lifestyle perfectly well, but the important thing is that you are putting in the effort and time to be productive while taking care of your physical and mental health. So, try to follow these expert tips to adapt well to your new work from home lifestyle and make the most of it!

Thinking about how you can start working out at home? Read this article to get started.

June 10, 2020 0 comment

Lifestyle

Suffering from sleep disturbance? Why you need quality sleep now more than ever.

by qalfit June 9, 2020

written by qalfit

With all the hassle and distress that is going on in the world right now, most of you would find yourself suffering from sleep disturbance. You would either be having trouble sleeping or maybe the exact opposite- you may find yourself sleeping more than usual right now. Some of you may even have completely changed your sleep cycle since you’re at home. This is completely normal behaviour under this difficult situation. A Harvard news report (https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/04/sleep-problems-becoming-risk-factor-as-pandemic-continues/) states that many people around the world are experiencing sleep-related problems owing to the coronavirus crisis. So, don’t worry, you are not alone.

A night of quality sleep plays a vital role in your overall health, but there is more to it in this pandemic situation. Here are a few reasons why you have disturbed sleep and why you need quality sleep now more than ever.

1. You are under a lot of stress

It’s understandable that you might feel a lot of stress and anxiety during this crisis, and sleep-related problems are common in times of stress. Stress will work up your mind at night and makes it difficult for you to fall asleep. But even worse, it can make you fall into a vicious cycle where you can’t sleep because you’re stressed and you’re stressed because it irritates you that you can’t sleep. This is why you need regular sleep now more than ever. So, try to stick to the same sleep time every night. This makes it easy for you to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Read more: 5 effective tips to reduce stress

2. Sleep boosts immunity

Sleep is directly linked to your immunity. Lack of sleep or sleep disturbance can affect your immune system and makes you more prone to infections. But, a good sleep, on the other hand, has been found to improve your immune cells (http://jem.rupress.org/content/early/2019/02/11/jem.20181169) known as T cells. Thus, people who get a healthy sleep of 8 hours are much more likely to resist viral infection- Another reason to not feel bad about sleeping more right now!

3. Your screen time is off the roof

Like the usual alarming usage levels of smartphones and computers were not enough, now we have more than doubled up our usage time. It’s not completely our fault because we need some kind of human interaction during this isolation period and we depend on electronic devices for it. This is another reason why you need to sleep more now more than ever. All those video calls, Netflix binges, and Zoom meetings are draining your energy and you need more rest after a day with your eyes all day on the screen.

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4. You are living a different life now

It’s no secret that we are confined to our homes with all other members of our family and most of us are working from home under these circumstances. This is a great time to spend time with family for some people, but unfortunately for others in a home with less structure and cramped spaces, working from home with other family members, especially with toddlers can be difficult. This sudden change in routine and adapting to a new lifestyle can lead to frustration and poor sleep. So, try to regularize your schedule for the day so that you don’t have to deal with frustration while you go to bed. This way you can get quality sleep without any disturbance to be energized for facing the next day.

5. We are experiencing a collective trauma

The coronavirus is still at large and the fact that a vaccine is yet to be found can make us feel helpless on a global level. So, essentially, we are all experiencing some kind of a collective trauma which our body sees as a threat, and when our body sees something as a threat, it uses a considerable amount of energy to react to the threat. All these tires our mind and body. So, if you’re feeling a little low or tired, go ahead and take a good nap to feel better.

While sleep disturbance is understandable in the current situationSleep has a lot more health benefits than resting your body, and you need quality sleep now more than ever. But the good news is developing a healthy sleep routine is easy and results in long-lasting health benefits. So, whenever you feel the need to sleep, just do it!

June 9, 2020 0 comment

Lifestyle

Managing your home loan in India during COVID-19: Is availing the 3-month moratorium a good idea?

by qalfit June 4, 2020

written by qalfit

COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down. The best thing we can do to survive this pandemic is to stay home and adapt to this new lifestyle. However, as the pandemic has forced most businesses to shut down, many are dealing with lay-offs and loss of income. This makes people worried about the implications of paying the home loan and other loans in India during this financial crisis.

RBI’s relief on home loan payment:

Many people are finding it difficult to repay home loans during this critical time. To ease the repayment pressure on the borrower, RBI had announced a 3-month moratorium on EMIs for all term loans from March 1 to May 31. Today, there has been another announcement from the regulatory body of an added 3-month extension to the initial announcement. This 6-month moratorium applies to all term loans including home loans, across all types of banks. It includes rural banks, small finance banks, co-operative banks, microfinance companies, housing finance companies, and non-banking finance companies.

This helpful move by the RBI allows you to spend money on essentials like groceries and medicines. It also gives you the much-needed time to understand and reassess your income status.

Concerns regarding the home loan moratorium:

The 3-month moratorium(extended by another 3 months) is not a waiver for your home loan in India. By availing this moratorium, you’re just shifting your payment schedules.
If you opt for the moratorium for your home loan, the interest will continue to accrue on the outstanding portion of your home loan throughout the moratorium period.
Availing the moratorium is manual, you need to approach your lender and show proof that your income has been affected to apply for the extension.

Should you apply for the moratorium on your home loan repayment?

This is a great relief for borrowers who are struggling to repay their home loans during this lockdown period. But you need to make an informed choice in availing perks like these. Here are a few things you need to consider before you apply for the moratorium.

Additional interest burden

Not paying home loan EMI for 3 months may add up to 24 months to your overall loan tenure. Also, the accumulating interest during these 3 months would lead to a huge interest burden over the loan lifetime. So, make sure you can endure the financial burden before availing the home loan moratorium.

Cash flow constraints

Since home loans come under secured term loans, you have the flexibility to pay a lump sum amount anytime. So, if you’re a salaried professional in India with a regular income, you can compare your cash flows with the revised payment schedules and additional interest payment. Once you have done that, you would be in a better position to make a decision on availing the moratorium.

Saving for essentials

In times of crisis like this, the situation can turn from good to worse pretty soon. It is critical to save and spend your money wisely. Even if you have uninterrupted income during this pandemic period, you need to save money to be on the safer side. Calculate your expenses, cut non-essential spendings, save money wherever you can and spend on the essentials. So, if you have uninterrupted income and want to be on the safer side, it would be wise to apply for the 3-month moratorium.

This EMI moratorium move by RBI is great for loan borrowers whose current cash flows are adversely affected by the ongoing pandemic. However, it is important that you make a well-informed decision regarding availing this 3-month moratorium for your home loan.

June 4, 2020 0 comment

Fitness

Unlock the health benefits of Vitamin D & Sunlight in this lockdown

by qalfit May 27, 2020

written by qalfit

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads rapidly, people are focusing more on strengthening their immune system and improving their overall health in meaningful ways. There are many effective strategies like regular exercise, good sleep, and healthy eating to promote your health and strengthen the immune system. But health experts say that even simple sunlight can provide you with many health benefits. From good sleep to improved immunity, here are some of the health benefits of Sunlight and Vitamin D.

Sunlight, Vitamin D, and immunity:

Vitamin D is a crucial ingredient for maintaining our overall health and unfortunately, our body can’t make Vitamin D on its own. Although you can take vitamin D as a standalone supplement, the best way to ensure maximum vitamin D intake is through exposure to sunlight. When natural sunlight hits the skin, it triggers the body’s production of vitamin D that improves muscle strength, boosts brain function, and protects the body against inflammation. Vitamin D is also directly linked with immunity. It can modulate your body’s immune responses. A recent study at NCBI found that Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as increased susceptibility to infection. Thus, sunlight is crucial for the production of vitamin D that boosts your immunity. Vitamin D is a crucial ingredient for maintaining our overall health and unfortunately, our body can’t make Vitamin D on its own. Although you can take vitamin D as a standalone supplement, the best way to ensure maximum vitamin D intake is through exposure to sunlight.

When natural sunlight hits the skin, it triggers the body’s production of vitamin D that improves muscle strength, boosts brain function, and protects the body against inflammation. Vitamin D is also directly linked with immunity. It can modulate your body’s immune responses. A recent study at NCBI found that Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as increased susceptibility to infection. Thus, sunlight is crucial for the production of vitamin D that boosts your immunity.

Additional health benefits of Sunlight and Vitamin D:

The right balance of sunshine can benefit our health in numerous ways. Here are some important health benefits of sunlight and vitamin D.

Higher Bone density:

We all know that we need to take an adequate amount of calcium to maintain healthy bones. But your body needs vitamin D to absorb the calcium that you consume. According to a recent study at NCBI, without a sufficient amount of vitamin D, your body won’t be able to absorb calcium efficiently. Thus, taking an adequate amount of vitamin D will improve your bone strength and density.

Lower blood pressure:

When your body is subjected to sunlight, a chemical compound called nitric oxide is released into the blood vessels. It is one of the most important molecules for blood vessel health. It relaxes the inner muscles of your blood vessels and increases the blood flow. Thus, it helps lower blood pressure.

Happy mood:

According to a study at NCBI, sunshine, serotonin, and skin, sunlight can prompt a surge of hormones like serotonin and endorphins into your blood that are associated with better mood and energy. Also, getting more exposed to the sun during the day boosts the production of the sleep hormone, melatonin. This way you can have a better mood all day and have a good sleep all night.

Health experts say that you only need about 10-20 minutes of sunlight per day to get your daily dose of vitamin D. By adding a little sunshine to your life, you can unlock the numerous health benefits of sunlight and vitamin D. Go get some sunshine!

May 27, 2020 0 comment

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