COVID-19
COVID-19
Being indoors, wearing masks and indulging in excessive cleanliness has cost us all our Microbiome (the community of bacteria and fungi living inside our Gut, our bodies and outside/on top of our bodies.). This Microbiome helps us fight against external viruses, bacteria and fungi (also known as pathogens) that may or may not be harmful to our bodies. Many of these pathogens (external disease causing viruses and bacteria) are not harmful to us, but they keep challenging our immune system. Before the COVID pandemic, our Immune systems would habitually take on these viruses and develop antibodies against them. However, since our exposure to viruses and bacteria has reduced during the pandemic, so has our immune system’s ability to develop antibodies against these pathogens.This is solely the reason why people have experienced a spike in viral colds, flus and coughs after the Second wave of COVID had subsided.
The Covid pandemic and the COVID infection in itself have left people with several other health issues. We have listed few of them below for you to recognise and identify. Knowing these issues, will help you understand why you are unable to lose the weight you’ve gained or why your body has changed in the past year.
- 1) Bodily Inflammation during COVID
- 2) Weight Gain during the COVID Pandemic or After Vaccination
- 3) Anxiety/ Fear/ Panic attacks during COVID
- 4) I've been detected with Diabetes during the COVID Pandemic. What should I do?
- 5) My Doctor recommends Bed rest for my Back pain or other Health issues. Is it necessary?
1) Bodily Inflammation during COVID
Inflammation is a process elicited as a response to bacterial/ viral/ parasitic infections, chemical irritants, and nondigestible particles that afflict human bodies. The longer the inflammation persists within a patient’s body, the higher the risk of associated and unwarranted health issues. Chronic, low grade inflammation can damage healthy cells, organs and cause constant pain in muscles, tissues, and joints. It’s this type of inflammation that has been linked to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, weight gain, hair loss and persistent physical pain. Chronic, low-grade inflammation often does not have symptoms, but doctors can test for C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for inflammation in the blood. High levels of HS-CRP have been linked with an increased risk of heart disease. The COVID pandemic has caused Low grade, chronic inflammation in a lot of us. This has resultantly caused an exponential increase in aches, pains, stiffness, brain fogginess, anxiety and sleep issues to name a few. Such bodily inflammation also adds up to the patient being unwilling to do regular strengthening exercise (Remember, walking every morning CANNOT help you strengthen your muscles!). When you add all of the factors that have changed within the body of the patient, it adds up to a lot! Eg: For the treatment of a Lumbar Disc bulge eliciting Back pain, chronic bodily inflammation complicates and prolongs recovery. Several patients are therefore left wondering about the doctor’s competency. We request patients to help us, help you get better by first making you aware of your own body’s struggles.
2) Weight Gain during the COVID Pandemic or After Vaccination
Inflammation as stated above is commonplace in bodies riddled with Chronic, low grade inflammation. We have several clients who mention that they are struggling to lose weight, despite a clean diet and regular exercise. The human body is an excellent piece of work! It knows when and where to store fat, and when to get rid of it. If you are not assisting your body in ridding it off the underlying triggers that are causing inflammation, none of your clean eating and exercising will get you closer to your goals!
3) Anxiety/ Fear/ Panic attacks during COVID
The uncertainty around the COVID pandemic, loss of jobs, lack of financial support, rise in inflation and several other environmental factors have left a whole lot of us angry, afraid and anxious. The Physical manifestations of fear, anger and anxiety are manifold. We have counselled several patients into understanding how their anger issues have left them with debilitating back pains. This does not mean that a patient’s disc issue is a lie. It means that it is imperative to address both Biomechanical and Psychosomatic factors while treating physical aches and pains. We help our patients understand this part and request them to help them understand their bodies. Proper counselling coupled with Physiotherapy shows lasting results in Musculoskeletal conditions that have peaked during/ after the COVID pandemic.
4) I've been detected with Diabetes during the COVID Pandemic. What should I do?
There has been a sudden spike in Diabetes cases in young adults or in perfectly healthy adults within the past year. We have traced this back to a past history of undiagnosed Insulin Resistance OR a severe, chronic Inflammation of the Gut from a past COVID infection in such adults. Addressing any or both of these factors can and will help individuals tide over the current Diabetes epidemic!
5) My Doctor recommends Bed rest for my Back pain or other Health issues. Is it necessary?
Clients who have severe aches and pains in their neck or low back will be doing a disservice to their own bodies if they follow their doctor’s prescription of Bed rest. The human body was made for movement. Very few conditions like fractures or certain surgeries mandate complete bed rest or ‘taking it easy’. Early mobilisation and independence is advised by doctors all over the world for conditions of back pain, neck pain, headaches, disc bulges/prolapses, joint surgeries and a MAJORITY of Neuromusculoskeletal conditions. The number of patients advised ‘Bed rest’ in India for conditions that Doctors are unable to diagnose or treat conservatively, is amusing! Patients on the other hand feel better with bed rest too, because the body compensates to accommodate the underlying faulty biomechanics issue/s in an attempt to decrease existing aches and pains (not to forget the anti-inflammatories and pain killers that your doctor prescribed to you). So it is a coincidence that a patient feels better after a week/ month of bed rest! The real test lies in whether the patient can function at his/her full, optimal potential without the return of the previous symptoms after this month of bed rest. At our facility, we have learned that “Aaram Haraam hai!” (Bed Rest is the worst!). To get better, know your bodily problems through proper assessment, then work towards correcting it. Ignoring the problem and resting it out will not cause your problem to go away.
We request our patients to be patient with their bodies as it navigates its course through these troubled times. You have been through a lot. Your body has been through a lot. Be grateful to your body that you made it this far. Nourish it, strengthen it and give it what it needs. Give it your time, your attention. We are with you as your body reaches its full potential. Get Going! Gut Going!
CONNECT with us today at info.dpinto@gmail.com OR getgutgoing@gmail.com. You may alternately call us at 9136634555 OR 9136634466.