Our lifestyle plays a fundamental role in our health. While healthy choices may not prevent us from getting the infection in the first place, healthy habits can improve our ability to prevent severe symptoms. Because SARS-CoV2 is a novel virus, we do not have concrete data if these techniques will prevent the symptoms of COVID-19. All we can do is use previous research to guide our lifestyle choices.
It is easy to take these things for granted, but NOW IS THE TIME, to make serious lifestyle modifications that you can build into your daily schedule even after the pandemic subsides:
1. Sleep:
Shoot for 7-8 hours a night for adults and stick to a schedule. Practice good sleep hygiene. I like @ariannahuff book “The Sleep Revolution”
2.Quit smoking, vaping, juuling:
These products attack the same type II pneumocytes as SARS-CoV2 increasing the burden on the pulmonary system
3.Maintain a healthy weight:
while the BMI metric has it’s flaws, those with a BMI between 18.5 to 25 have the lowest rates of infection & immune dysfunction. Also, the CDC lists those with a BMI over 40 to be at an increased risk of severe disease
4.Exercise at least 150min a week:
Exercising consistently is difficult especially with gyms closing! I like finding new youtube Yoga videos to follow or going outside to walk, jog, or do some bodyweight exercises while maintaining a safe distance from others.
5.Reduce Stress:
Scientists are beginning to realize the hormonal changes that occur with stress burden the immune system. While life is stressful, especially with the outbreak, economy, and the struggle we all feel financially, reducing stress is crucial. Some of my favorite ways to calm the inner dragon is through journaling, meditating, or reading one of @ryanholiday books.
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Disclaimer: Opinions on this site or on social media do not reflect that of my institutions. I do not provide medical advice. If you have a medical question please see your doctor or if you have a medical emergency, please go to the nearest emergency room.. I have a PhD in Nutrition and Metabolic Biology and three masters degrees including two master’s in nutrition & metabolism. I am a personal trainer & have researched nutrition for 12 years. The info I post is my interpretation of the medical and scientific literature.
