Looking after your mental and physical health during the pandemic

The last years have been challenging due to the coronavirus pandemic that forced people to isolate themselves at home. Social distancing has affected people’s physical and mental wellbeing because it disrupted their lifestyle routines and prevented them from having regular health checks. 

Even with the vaccine accessible to everyone, it’s challenging to predict how long the pandemic will last or when people will be free of social distancing restrictions.

The pandemic has taken a toll on people’s health. Young people can’t go to school, frontline workers are overwhelmed, family members and friends are separated, and those infected are dealing with devastating side effects even after being cured. 

It’s understandable to feel stressed out during this period, but you should know that you can get help for your physical and mental health, whatever situation you are in.

Check your health

Due to the pandemic, you (like many other people) put your health needs on hold. You probably were afraid to leave your house because you may catch the virus. Or maybe you thought that your health issues weren’t urgent and catching the virus would be more harmful to your health. But with the pandemic’s end nowhere in sight, you can no longer postpone seeing a doctor. Even with the vaccines available, the pandemic won’t pass anytime soon. However, you can benefit from medical help in safety conditions because health organizations have put complex safety measures in place to keep patients safe when they visit their locations. Also, many providers have integrated telehealth healthcare into their services to care for patients while keeping them safe. Hospitals and healthcare organizations use telemedicine to consult and treat patients who cannot visit their land-based facilities. If you’re afraid to visit your local clinic for a health check, give them a call and ask them if one of their clinicians can treat you using a telehealth solution. Additionally, if you’re interested in maintaining good dental health, you can seek dental expertise from the best dentist in chandler.

Supposing you decide to visit a local hospital, expect the reception staff to screen everyone before allowing them to enter the practices. You’ll have to use a sanitiser to clean your hands, wear your mask correctly, and practice social distancing in the waiting room. Data shows a reduction in the number of patients participating in screenings during the pandemic that had a negative impact on the population’s overall health. A delay in diagnosis reduces the survival chances for patients dealing with conditions like cancer. Adequate control of medical issues like heart disease and diabetes is also at risk during the pandemic because the groups struggling with these conditions are more predisposed to experience complications of COVID-19 and prefer to stay away from medical facilities. The authorities have encouraged medical facilities to invest in telehealth technology to provide consultations over the internet. 

Engage in exercise

Healthcare specialists recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity for five days weekly. Therefore, you should engage in some muscle-strengthening activities. Exercise helps your physical and mental health because it prevents health conditions like cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis and alleviates mental health problems like anxiety and depression. When you exercise, your brain releases happy chemicals such as sertraline and dopamine to make you feel better. 

Due to social distancing restrictions, your local gym may be closed, but it doesn’t mean that you cannot exercise at home. Luckily there are countless other options such as online exercise programs, mobile apps, and outdoor activities. Be creative and develop an exercise plan that suits your needs. Physical activity during the pandemic is vital because it enables you to maintain your physical and mental health. 

Pay more attention to your diet

Let’s face it; everyone forgot about their healthy diets once the pandemic forced us to lock ourselves into our houses. It’s challenging to keep healthy eating on track when you are home alone, and all you do is work and watch Netflix movies. Due to lack of motivation, boredom, increased anxiety and stress, loneliness, and comfort eating, you are predisposed to embrace unhealthy eating habits. An unhealthy diet paired with no exercise can lead to extra isolations kilos. 

Studies show that people think they gained weight during the coronavirus pandemic due to home isolation and bad diets. 61% of the people who gained weight during the pandemic think it’s due to the increase in junk food consumption and snacking. An unhealthy diet can negatively affect your health and trigger or worsen underlying conditions like heart issues and diabetes. Healthcare specialists report an increase in the number of patients with high cholesterol levels and slipping diabetes. 

If you took comfort in food over the last months, it’s the moment to get back on track and re-establish a nutritional routine. Plan your meals to reduce the trips to the supermarket, and cook using fresh ingredients to lower the amount of harmful ingredients you ingest from frozen food. 

Boost your moods

The pandemic has harmed everyone’s mental health. You experienced travel restrictions, reduced social connectedness, financial concerns, and uncertainty. Some days it felt overwhelming to try to adjust to your new life, and you struggled with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Socialization and connection are essential to maintain your mental wellbeing. What you eat, how you sleep, and how much you exercise can impact your mood, and therefore you need to develop healthy habits to keep stress and anxiety at bay. Your routine has been disrupted during the pandemic, so you have been feeling blue. But you can alleviate these symptoms if you remain connected to your family and friends. Apps like Skype, Zoom and FaceTime can help you stay in touch with your loved ones. You can be creative and use them to host family events, movie dates with your friends, and trivia nights. 

Even if connecting over the internet is not the same as meeting face-to-face, it’s an excellent way to stay connected, especially with your older family members who must isolate themselves to prevent catching the virus. 

If you struggle to maintain your mental health, please seek support. Reaching out to your family and friends or a specialist can help.