High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can lead to severe health complications and increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. The ideal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. Hypertension is when your blood pressure is at 130/80 and higher. Sometimes high blood pressure may not show any symptoms and so its called the silent killer. Therefore, it is very important to check your blood pressure regularly.Various factors can cause high blood pressure. These include: A diet high in salt, fat, and/or cholesterolLack of physical activityBeing overweight or obeseFamily historyToo much smoking or drinking Use of birth control medicines and other medicines.Preexisting health conditions such as kidney and hormone problems, diabetes, and high cholesterol.Older age (youre more likely to have high blood pressure as you get older)You can help keep your blood pressure in a normal range by living a healthy lifestyle. Below are some healthy habits to prevent hypertension

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5 healthy living habits to keep hypertension at bay - TheHealthSite

By Sheryl Salis

New Delhi, Jul 26 (IANSlife): As we face this global pandemic, it is important that we stay indoors. maintain physical distancing and focus on building a strong immune system which is a crucial shield against infections.

While we are confined to the house, it is important we maintain a regular routine which includes daily exercise, eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, maintaining good gut health, getting adequate sleep, and managing stress levels.

Our immune system works as the frontline defence mechanism against disease-causing microorganisms and protects us from all viruses and microbes that our body is exposed to. A healthy lifestyle along with a well-balanced diet containing all the essential macro and micronutrients is vital for optimal functioning and maintenance of the immune system.

Protein is a versatile macronutrient that sustains life and has a particularly important role to play in boosting immune function. Though we all know about the importance of protein, Indians are deficient in our protein intake. On average an individual needs 0.8-1.0g of protein per kg ideal body weight. Recommendations may vary depending on several factors such as physical activity, age, comorbid conditions like kidney disease etc. As per the General Consumer Survey (PRODIGY) conducted in 2015, 73 per cent of our population is deficient in protein intake with 93 per cent of our population being unaware of their daily protein requirements.

It is important to consume good quantity and quality of protein daily for the immune system to function at its best. A quarter of our plate at every meal must be protein.

A good quality first-class protein is one with high digestibility and has all the essential amino acids required by the body. Sources: all animal products like eggs, meat, fish, poultry, milk, milk products like curd, paneer, whey. Proteins that are partially lacking in one or more essential amino acids eg, cereals and pulses are called incomplete protein.

Combinations of foods such as cereal pulse combination like idli, dosa, Pongal, khichdi, dal rice etc. in 4:1 proportion helps improve the quality of protein in a vegetarian meal if you are unable to meet your protein requirements through diet alone, protein powders containing good quality protein can be included to bridge the gap. You can consult a qualified dietician to plan a diet tailor-made to meet your protein and nutrient requirements.

vitamins which help boost immunity

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is an anti-inflammatory vitamin and plays a critical role in enhancing immunity. Beta-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A which when ingested is converted in the wall of the small intestine to vitamin A.

Sources of beta carotene-carrots, sweet potatoes, red and yellow peppers, tomatoes, dark green leafy veg, pumpkins, asparagus, mangoes, drumstick leaves.

Vitamin B6

Vit B6 plays an important role in supporting biochemical reactions of the immune system.

Sources: fish, poultry, nuts, chickpeas, dark green leafy veg, bananas, papayas.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is a vital nutrient in the formation of healthy red blood cells and DNA synthesis. Vitamin B12 along with folic acid plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy immune system.

Sources: fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is the most powerful antioxidant known to boost immunity. It also helps in the regeneration of Vitamin E.

Sources: Indian gooseberry (amla), guava, orange, sweet lime, lemon, bell peppers, berries, red amaranth leaves, cashew fruit, kiwi, strawberry, broccoli, etc.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential to immune function and helps regulate the body's immune response. You can get your dose of Vit D by standing in sunlight either on your terrace or balcony without sunscreen during the day preferably between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. If your levels of Vit D are low, consult your physician who may suggest a Vit D supplement.

Sources: Egg Yolk, cod liver oil, mushrooms, sardines, fatty fish

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a key role in regulating and supporting immune system function. It prevents oxidation of Beta Carotene and Vit A in the intestine.

Sources: nuts such as almonds, pistachios, seeds like sunflower seeds, flax seeds, garden cress seeds In addition to protein and vitamins, certain minerals like zinc, magnesium, selenium along with omega 3 fats play a key role in boosting immunity.

We can also give our immune system a boost by adding anti-viral foods easily available in our kitchen like garlic, fennel, ginger, cloves, tulsi, turmeric and coconut oil.

Making simple tweaks to your diet by including immune-boosting nutrients to help to fight infections. Lastly, do not forget to maintain hygiene by washing hands regularly, wear masks when out maintain physical distancing.

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Pump up the protein and vitamins in your diet - Daijiworld.com

Tucked next to a laundromat in Oberlin sits a nutritional shop.

The shop, small and lined with pale walls, gives off a vibrant and bright contrast to the wooden decor when the sun beams inside.

Oberlin Nutrition owners Adrian Carter, 28, and Maria Pitts, 19, specialize in nutritional health and physical fitness. According to Carter, the shop gives people within the city an option of healthy shakes and teas while promoting a healthy lifestyle.

"We give people a healthier option because there's not a lot of that out there especially that's quick and on the go. You can come in here and grab something really fast thats good for you and gives you all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals you need, Carter said.

Popular menu items include mega teas, which are teas with an energy tablet and collagen for healthy skin and nails. With shake flavors such as Oreo, birthday cake, cake batter, frosted animal cookie, the 90 shake flavors give customers a chance to satisfy their sweet tooth.

Youre going to get something that tastes like dessert but also gives you the good stuff at the same time, Carter said. "Its killing two birds with one stone. Its satisfying a sweet tooth but giving you nutrients."

According to Carter, the shop sees more local community members come out as opposed to students despite being near Oberlin College.

Our location is special because theres nothing like us around here, Carter said. "People come in from Oberlin and theyre excited."

"I just think its unique here. Especially if you want a healthy option it stands out on that alone.

During the novel coronavirus pandemic, the business has kept up with all additional and necessary sanitary measures and precautions, including cleaning everything at the top of the hour and taking away seating.

The capacity for the shop is 10 people and is now open for online ordering. Originally, online carryout was opened for the pandemic when takeout was only available, according to Pitts.

We still do that because so many people utilize it. Im not sure if itll stay but people seem to like it, she said.

Along with the online ordering, Pitts said she has seen a strong increase in business since the pandemic began.

Everyone asks how it affected us, but I dont know what to say," she said. "It was unexpected, but people came more than ever.

With such a focus on health, Carter said he believes people started coming to the shop to become healthier as a precautionary measure for COVID-19.

It gave people more awareness for physical health. If you aren't healthy, you have a better chance of getting it, Carter said.

With the shop being carryout, Carter said the energy of the business has shifted.

We didnt offer carryout before," he said. "People used to come in to hang out and now we gave people a chance to order online. It kind of changed the vibe.

Part of what Pitts said makes the business such a staple for the community is the simplicity of the business.

A lot of people are starting to come in. Ordering is simple, you just circle what you want on a piece of paper and we make it for you, she said.

With the pandemic still carrying on, Oberlin Nutrition plans to continue to supply the community with healthy meal replacement shakes and teas.

I think right now is the time to get healthy, Carter said. "Now is the time to check in with ourselves and ask us what were going to put in our bodies. Your immune system is going to save you."

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Oberlin Nutrition serves up shakes while promoting healthy lifestyle - The Morning Journal

Retro Fitness CEO Andrew Alfano on the coronavirus pandemic keeping gyms closed and why they should be deemed essential instead of dangerous.

The fitness industry has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic, leaving hundreds of thousands of employees without jobs while gyms are closed.

We're a group that has been hit really hard by this pandemic, but largely left out of any relief given by the government, Chris Craytor, a board member of the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) told FOX Business.

While restaurants and hotels received specific waivers in the first PPP loan package, fitness centers did not, Craytor explained.

Gym and fitness center jobs are being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and state-mandated closures across the U.S. (iStock)

We have a pretty similar employee base, with quite a few part-time employees as well as full-time, Craytor said. While we're not as large as those industries, we're also still pretty important because what we do is keep people healthy. And it's probably never been a better time to be healthy and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Craytor, who is also the president and COO of acac Fitness & Wellness, a regional chain of fitness clubs in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, said that without government help, 25 percent of fitness businesses in the U.S. are expected to close for good this year.

GYM-LOVING NEW YORKERS HINDERED BY CORONAVIRUS SHUTDOWN ARE CROSSING STATE LINES FOR WORKOUTS

On Monday, IHRSA sent a letter to Congress describing the job losses and the long-term effects of the pandemic on the fitness industry. The association also asked lawmakers to pass legislation that would give the industry financial assistance for the long term, including allowing mid-sized health and fitness chains to access PPP loans.

According to that letter, the fitness industry is estimated to have lost $7 billion in revenue through July 1.

The letter also said that 489,000 fitness employees are unable to work in states including Michigan, New York, Washington, North Carolina, Arizona and California, because of state-mandated closures.

Another 280,500 employees may be out of work again soon in Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania if those states order fitness centers to close a second time -- as they are expected to, IHRSA said.

IS IT SAFE TO GO TO THE GYM DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC?

The uncertainty about whether gyms will be allowed to reopen and stay open is a huge challenge for the industry, Craytor said.

We dont know when [government regulation is] going to be turned on or turned off, it can happen any time, Craytor said. That uncertainty has been really hard for our workforce Once you're shut down again, anybody who came back to you is now immediately back on unemployment and with the current stimulus, we really don't know how long that's going to last.

Its particularly difficult because many owners of fitness centers are small regional or local players, Craytor said.

These are people who built their business from the ground up, he said. These are small business owners, these arent big corporate business owners. They are small companies that are just going to go away.

I think what were going to hear is that these jobs go away and then they dont come back, he added. Where are these people going to go work?

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Even in the midst of the pandemic, fitness centers and gyms are still doing their best to stay afloat.

I think many clubs are doing absolutely everything they can to maintain their workforce and their membership, whether that be offering virtual classes, whether that be renting out their equipment or even doing things outside if they're not allowed to open their doors, Craytor said. So our clubs across the country are pivoting very quickly, but that does not replace in any way their core business. So what we're doing is holding on. And what we're doing is trying to make sure that we survive.

Ultimately the fitness industry needs outside help, he added.

I think that we really need people to recognize that this is a really important industry that serves billions of visits a year and millions of employees and 40,000 locations across the country and it's been largely ignored, Craytor said.

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Coronavirus is crushing fitness industry pros - Fox Business

Battling asthma while growing up in Beaver Falls, Sheldon Stewart Smith still wanted to follow his fathers footsteps and join the military. Instead, he embraced a new fight to help liberate Blacks all over the world while using his medical degree as a perfusionist and respiratory therapist. He is now a highly sought-after doctor on the frontlines battling COVID-19 in one of the nations biggest hotspots Cleveland Clinic/Fort Lauderdale-Miami.

As the youngest of three children born to Army 2nd Lt. Calvin Smith and Betty Cross (Stratton) Smith, Sheldon Stewart Smith nicknamed "BuBu" and now known as Dr. Ahmses SaRa Maat grew up aspiring to become a military hero, much like his father, who was a WWII veteran in the African American flying regiment known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

Childhood disability empowered and unknowingly helped steer his career path

Maat reflected on how growing up with chronic asthma impacted his life as a teen navigating life as a young adult, trying to avoid peer pressure.

"It was tough because kids can be mean. Along with the asthma, I also suffered skin rashes. Id get teased by the boys, but even worse my girlfriends would shy away, once the skin disorder took effect," he sadly recalled. "I remember lying in bed praying to God for the ability to just breath normally like everyone else."

Living with asthma as a child, not only hindered Maats aspirations for early athletic prowess, but after high school graduation, a failed military physical exam, his chances to volunteer for the Air Force in efforts to follow his dads and older brothers military-based footsteps were not a reality. His older brother, Newt Smith II, is a retired Air Force officer. In May 2018, a former veterans park in Beaver Falls was officially re-named the Lt. Calvin Smith Tuskegee Airman Veterans Park.

Void of clear-cut career goals after graduating from Beaver Falls High School in 1977, Maat, who never considered himself a committed academician in high school, recalled his 1.47 GPA his senior year, when he needed a 1.5 GPA to graduate. Having been taught to play chess by his father, he challenged the high schools woodshop teacher to a game. If he wins, he graduates high school. If he loses, he repeats another year. Apparently, Dads chess lessons paid off.

Following his early training at Community College of Beaver County and Community College of Allegheny County, Maat initially worked as a respiratory therapist at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. He quickly developed star-quality studying patterns while attending both CCBC and CCAC and was promoted to supervisor at AGH a stark contrast from his academic performance in high school.

Studying and practicing in Atlanta resulted in a bachelors degree in respiratory care from Georgia State University and post-bachelors degree in perfusion technology from Northeastern University in Boston. He was able to practice his newly gained experience while working at Atlantas Grady Memorial Hospital, one of the worlds leading Level 1 trauma centers.

While studying and focusing on African spirituality and physics, he attained his Ph.D. in 2000 from the Metaphysical Institute of Higher Learning in San Bernardino, California.

Fast-forward to winter 2020, amid the coronavirus outbreak, Maat finds himself in an unprecedented battlefield on the frontlines of Americas first pandemic in 100 years as a medical professional treating patients suffering from chronic respiratory deficiencies.

With more than 40 years of experience and training as a respiratory therapist, and later as a perfusionist, Maat is a highly sought-after traveling medical practitioner. Hes currently deployed at Cleveland Clinic/Fort Lauderdale-Miami, helping to counter Floridas recent spike in coronavirus cases and deaths.

Helping stem COVID-19s growing rates among Blacks

"While coronavirus patients typically display symptoms requiring oxygen support with symptoms such as chest pains, shortness of breath and muscle aches, the use of external respirators and ventilators are typical devices used to treat respiratory deficiencies," Maat said.

His perfusionist training requires expertise in administering artificial lungs, hearts and kidneys used during the replacement process of heart-lung bypass surgeries.

"My role as a perfusionist is to keep the patient alive during the replacement of organs, kidneys, lungs, hearts, during the entire operation. Where advanced cardio life-support ends, perfusion life-support begins," he explained.

Amid current cases of COVID-19 cases rising throughout the United States with disproportionate numbers impacting African Americans, Maat knows and understands how valuable his knowledge, experience and overall skill sets are during this pandemic.

But the real question that must be answered is why the African American community has suffered more than any other group during the pandemic?

Maat noted the disparaging numbers affecting people of color as the ones with generally lower immune systems.

"Those are the ones suffering from diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Its also a fact that too often, Black folks dont eat lots of vegetables and have lived in environments with high toxins like lead-based paints. Although the larger cause is systemic racism and oppression," he said. "It exists all throughout the globe, including America, and the medical industry, unfortunately."

"Systemically, as a respiratory therapist or clinical perfusionist, I tend to see a system geared toward a certain population facing more social ills. I want to make the world a better place, doing what I do and my non-African peers they see whats going on, and they too, want to do the right thing," he added.

Living in a sports-related environment was challenging

Growing up in sports-enthused western Pennsylvania specifically in Beaver Falls he wanted to be the next sports star.

"Like all the kids in my 15th Street neighborhood, I wanted to play football, basketball and baseball and become the next Joe Willie Namath, our hometown hero and Super Bowl III quarterback," Maat said.

"Hoops and football couldnt work for me, but I enjoyed playing baseball. It didnt demand the intense running like basketball, and it wasnt dirty and dusty like football. I always had to concern myself with staying healthy at all times so I always carried my inhaler," he noted.

In retrospect, Maat connected his asthma woes with environmental impacts. He lived next door to the now-razed Armstrong Cork plant, which consistently emitted smokey fumes and white, ashy particles from its factory walls. He also lived with two cigarette-smoking parents.

By the time he reached age 12, with the influence of a childhood neighbor, Richard "Dicky" Morris, Maat started taking karate lessons from the now infamous Beaver County School of the Oriental Arts of Self-Defense, headed by the family of Willy and Roy Wetzel, one of the nations first karate instructional schools, in Beaver Falls and later, Rochester. In March 1975, the school closed after a much-reported family battle between son Roy and father Willy.

Maat said his karate and judo training tremendously impacted his breathing patterns and primarily helped him to overcome childhood asthma.

With a growing reputation of being an incredibly skilled martial artist throughout Beaver County, Maat was also able to leave behind unfavorable experiences of being bullied by larger upper classmates while in high school.

He credits his mother and godmother, Marian Jane Taylor, for tending to his crisis situations as a youngster and later ensuring that he was proficient at self-care, even at a young age.

"I was always a mamas boy," he admitted. "She was fully committed to my ailment, and would often take off work early to ensure my medical needs were met. Self-care is essential to my health and has always been a part of my proactive healthy lifestyle."

Career and family development

While living in Atlanta, he joined an an
ti-KKK protest march in Forsyth County, Ga., in 1987, led by the late Rev. Hosea Williams, one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) colleagues, along with SCLC head, the Rev. Joseph Lowery.

"In the late 1980s when South Africas President Nelson Mandela was released from prison, that sparked my interest in the liberation of Black people all over the world and to live a more revolutionary lifestyle," he said.

He changed his name, explaining, "Its similar to when Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The reason for the name-change was based on my culture. I was Sheldon X in 1992 as a member of the Nation of Islam, and in October 1995, I led a medical brigade from L.A. to Washington, D.C., to be a part of the Million Man March."

Maat is married to Akua Two Hawk Maat, sharing a blended family including four adult children: Alexia, Malika, Mnsa and GyeNyame Maat.

Although his high school years were somewhat challenging, Maat said within his soul, he pridefully maintains the old Beaver Falls High School creed.

"Once a Tiger always a Tiger," he said, adding, "Still fighting."

Timothy Cox is a Beaver Falls native who graduated with a journalism degree from Point Park University. He also attended Slippery Rock University and CCBC. He formerly worked with Gannett, Scripps-Howard and currently freelances with Beaver County Times, Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Augusta Chronicle and publications in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Washington, Pa., and Washington, D.C.

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Beaver County native 'fighting' on frontlines of COVID-19 battle - Ellwood City Ledger

Scientists are as curious to find out more about the secrets of longevity as anyone. New research conducted by scientists of Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, revealed that the secret to being a centenarian depends a lot on the environmental conditions. Based on this study, scientists suggest that although hereditary factors have an irrefutable effect on longevity, the living environment contributes significantly to determining life expectancy of an individual.

Read Also: Anti-Aging: HGH Can Reduce Biological Age by One Year and a Half Study Shows

Mortality rates of Washington State from 2011 to 2015 were utilized for conducting this research and it included information of around 145,000 individuals living up to the age of 75 years or more. This study, which was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, revealed that individuals residing in more walkable areas get naturally involved in the habit of walking more and are consequently prone to living longer than others.

The study also suggests that a lively and interactive social community is crucial for increasing the possibility for people to become centenarians. People who live in mixed-age social communities tend to interact with each other more and such communities create a lively social environment with youngsters and children living around senior citizens.

Read Also: NAD+: A Guide to The Longevity-Boosting Coenzyme

Another interesting finding of the study is the fact that higher socioeconomic status also contributes to longevity. According to study results, a higher percentage of people living in urban areas and enjoying a higher socioeconomic status reached the age of 100 years. So Seattle and Pullman were found to have more centenarians than other areas for this reason.

Read Also: Study On HGH Therapy Effects On Older Adults Over 60

Based on the findings of this study and an analysis of earlier research on hereditary factors of longevity, researchers concluded that environmental factors, community, and socioeconomic status play a vital role in determining whether an individual would be a centenarian or not. Major variables of the study included walkable environment, age groups in the community, socioeconomic status, pollution, and greenery in the environment. The eye-opening study findings made it clear that if an individual lives in a healthy and happy environment he/she is likely to live up to or more than 100 years regardless of his/her genetic predispositions.

The researchers further created an interactive map based on the study findings, highlighting areas of Washington State with a higher percentage of people reaching the age of 75 years or above. Based on the findings of this study by the medical students of WSU, life expectancy can be increased making it possible for more and more individuals to be centenarians. By creating a healthy and supportive environment around us, we can all expect to live much longer. Economic stability, better health care facilities, and a pollution-free environment are vital for a long healthy life. Similarly, factors like social support and healthy lifestyle also play a vital role in increasing life expectancy.

Read Also: Anti-Aging: HGH Can Reduce Biological Age by One Year and a Half Study Shows

Environmental Correlates of Reaching a Centenarian Age: Analysis of 144,665 Deaths in Washington State for 2011

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Research Reveals that Being a Centenarian Depends a Lot on the Environmental Conditions - Gilmore Health News

Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt and Karan Johar have fallen far behind. In the past few months, one of the most commonly searched phrases on Google happens to be, how to boost immunity. It seems everyone is out to build thatelusive immunity during these Covid times. Scientific jargon like T-cells andcytokines are casually bandied about whileevery uncle (and aunt) on WhatsApp is a newly-minted expert on homemade immune boosters. So, what gives?

Simply put, your individual immunity levels decide your response to the novel coronavirus infection, just like any other infection.

Immunity is dynamic

Dr Subramanian Swaminathan, Senior Consultant (Infectious Disease) at Gleneagles Global Health City, threw some light on what immunity exactly is. It is a dynamic thing and there are noquantifiable measures to say this is what immunity is. All of us have some amount of innate immunity. But, because Covid-19 is a new infection, we dont seem to have enough. The only way to deal with this is to either get infected or get a vaccine in order to build immunity. Immunity has many different levels and is an entire system in the body. For example, the skin is as much part of the immune system as is the stomach. Immunity, to asignificant extent, is genetic, but it is also a result of our interaction withthe environment and other factors like vaccination.

Dr Sachin Kumar, Senior Consultant and Head, Department of Pulmonology, Sakra World Hospital, described immunity as the naturalised frontline defence mechanism against any illness, especially viral infections.

Immunity helps the body fight through receptors that identify unpleasant viruses. Medicine takes care of a part of the illness, but your immunity is the backbone in this fight.

Do concoctions and pills work?

Covid-19 has opened our eyes to the need for immunity. However, are we doing the right thing by stuffing ourselves with health foods, guzzling herbal concoctions using spices from our kitchen racksand perhaps doing some yoga? Says Dr Isacc Abbas, well-known nutritionist and health expert, Rebirth Fitness Centre, Mumbai:Our immune system cannot be boosted overnight like social media messages would have us believe. The body needs balanced nourishment to fight infections, but many believe they can boost their immunity in a few days, just by consuming superfoods or kitchen spices. The most common mistake people make is to pop multi-vitamins or mineral supplements. But, there is no evidence that multi-vitamins boost immunity. In fact, when taken in excess, some of these have been found to alter some components of the immune function.Only sustained efforts over a period of time work, Dr Isacc said.

Surely, our kitchen recipes passed down from generations are not harmful and have, in fact, aided in speedy recovery from the coronaviruses that cause the common cold, cough and flu? A bite of ginger or garlic every morning cannot boost your immunity instantly. Healthy lifestyle strategies give a goodboost to your immunity, but over time. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, along with low carb-high proteinfoods is good. Many people overdo the healthy eating part thinking the more the nutrition they pack into their day, the better their immunity. Actually, a person must eat according to her nutritional needs. I would recommend buying any fruit/veggies/greens that you can afford.Avoiding locally-available nutrition is counter-productive to immunity, said Dr Isacc.

Doctors are of the opinion that there is no harm in taking Vitamin C and D, along with zinc, but these cannot stave off an infection. Kitchen spices cause no harm and if they help improve your general well-being, you can consume it, but kashaya or kadha is not the only way to protect yourself. When in the middle of a pandemic, following safety protocols is most important, said Dr Swaminathan.

Is there a shortcut?

To cut a long story short,good immunitycan only be achieved through leading a healthy lifestyle, doing regular exercises, ensuring good sleep and eating a well-balanced diet. The healthier your intake, the better equipped your body is to fight an infection.

Proteins help to strengthen antibodies, which is why those with poor immunity are advised high-yield proteins. Vitamin C and minerals like zinc are important. Keep an eye on yoursugar and oil intake and avoid smoking and drinking, if you desire good immunity, Dr Sachin explained. People above 65 are finding it difficult to cope because of co-morbidities and decreased antibody generation due to ageing, which compromises ones immunity, headded.

What about Ayurvedic remedies?

This brings us to another interesting question of whether our own ancient nature and plant-based science Ayurveda could provide any answers.

The Ministry of AYUSH gives an interesting take on immunity stating that Ayurveda, being the science of life, propagates the gifts of nature in maintaininga healthy life. Ayurvedas extensive knowledge, based on preventive care, derives from the concepts of Dinacharya (daily regimes) and Ritucharya (seasonal regimes). Dr Sachin said, India has a wealth of informationon alternative methods of treatment, including Ayurveda and yoga. But, findings should be backed by robust scientific data, which is where the difficulty comes in. That said, there is no harm in taking preventive measures.

How to tell if your immunity is good or bad?

Dr Sheela Chakravarthy, Director-Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, said, the tricky part is that one cannot really tell if ones immunity is good or bad. Unlike popular perception, mild infection is not always indicative of good immunity. Medical researchers around the world are exploring the effects of diet, exercise, age, psychological stress and other factors on the immune responseand the jury is still out, so to speak.

The body continually generates immune cells, but it is not yet known how many are needed for optimum immunity. Researchers and scientists have also found that a probable cause of lesser immunity as we age is the decreased production of T-cells that fight infections.

Dr Swaminathanopined thatwhile it is true the elderlyare more susceptible to infections andare at a higher risk, statistics concerning this group should not be extrapolated to individuals.

One of my patients, an 85-year-old man with hypertension, walked out healthy after his brush with Covid-19. And we have heard of many such cases now. So, we have to be careful with statistics. As with previous infections, hopes have been pinned on vaccines. Dr Sachin, meanwhile, said that immunity levels against a virus generallyimprove over three or four months, but one cannot be sure that the same immunity will be good for the next viral infection.

Viruses change all the time in character, making it difficult to say if one vaccine will make us immune. The silver lining is that if the virus is killing someone, it is also dying. This is what happened in H1N1. Today, it is increasingly a case of survival of the fittest, he added.

Dr Swaminathan added: What we know now is just the tip of the iceberg.However, an interesting aspect that has emerged is the use of convalescent plasma. People who have recovered have donated plasma with their high levels of antibodies and this has led to positive results in many cases. This is one area where immunity helps both donor and recipient and we need to explore this further.

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Fighting the good fight - Deccan Herald

People often think that gaming and good health dont mix. Then again, one look at Henry Cavill who, by the way, is an avid fan of Warhammer instantly blows this theory out of the water. That said, you can get fit even if your idea of fun on a Saturday afternoon is killing zombie Nazis.

But lets not get ahead of ourselves and say that gaming does not pose a physical risk. For sure, there is always danger when you have had too much of a good thing. You just have to find ways to make the experience a healthier one for yourself. Again, gaming does not necessarily keep you from leading a healthy lifestyle; you just have to adopt the right lifestyle habits.

Here are some of the best tips you need to level up your health while you gain EXP for your dwarven bandit:

1. Take occasional breaks

This ones a no-brainer but its the most critical part of every gaming session. Spending hours on end in front of the screen can actually impact the quality of your sleep. Moreover, too much screen time can also cause eye-straining and chronic pain along the spine. If you are planning to play multiple sessions, its best to take breaks in between.

Get off your chair and do some stretches. Also, use the 20-20-20 rule to prevent eye strain. Just look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. This should give relief to your eyes after long hours of gaming.

2. Swap your snacks

Indeed, no session of Call of Duty is complete without a can of Mountain Dew and a big bag of Doritos, which have become a mainstay in every gamers diet. But apart from lacking the nutrients you actually need to improve your performance, this combo only adds more sodium and sugar to your body.

Instead, opt for healthier alternatives like celery, dark chocolate, and nuts. They might not be included in every gamers ration pack, but these munchies are packed with the minerals and vitamins you need to dominate your enemies.

3. Look for ergonomic equipment

What makes gaming and working a white-collar job similar? They both require you to sit hours on end in front of a computer screen until your neck, shoulders, and back give up. If you are feeling discomfort from your fingers all the way to the nape of your neck and your lower back, you might want to replace most of your equipment with ergonomic pieces.

Sure enough, proper ergonomics are important for gamers as it prevents back injuries, muscle strain, and fatigue. You might want to shop for a gaming chair with comfortable armrests and adequate lumbar support. You can also pick a gaming desk that gives you easy and comfortable access to the keyboard and mouse.

Its fun owning other players in games like PUBG and Battlefield, but without these basic health tips in mind, you might not win a lot offline.

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Power Up With These Health Tips for Gamers - The Good Men Project

High school girls lacrosse players are at a higher risk of concussion from a stick or ball impact than boys lacrosse players. In girls lacrosse, players are allowed, but not required, to wear flexible protective headgear. What they arent allowed to wear is the type of hard-shell helmet with a full-face mask that the boys lacrosse players use.

A new study, published in May 2020 in Injury Epidemiology, finds that if girls lacrosse players used the same helmets that are mandated in boys lacrosse, the number of concussions suffered by girls could be reduced by 44 percent.

What we found is that a surprisingly high proportion of the concussions that girls' high school lacrosse players sustain, specifically by being struck in the head directly by the stick or the ball, could have been prevented if they had been wearing the same helmet as the boys, says Dawn Comstock, PhD, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Colorado School of Public Health in Denver.

Researchers used lacrosse concussion data from the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study, also known as High School RIO, an internet-based data collection tool that allows direct comparison of injury rates across sports.

By looking at the number of concussions, the number of events and practices, as well as the cause of the concussion, researchers estimated the total percentage of girls concussions that could have been prevented if the girls wore the same helmet required in boys lacrosse.

Investigators found that while the rate of concussion for boys and girls was nearly the same, the causes of the concussions were not. In girls lacrosse, stick or ball contact was the most common trigger and accounted for 72.7 percent of all concussions, and athlete-to-athlete contact accounted for 19.8 percent. For boys lacrosse, almost two-thirds of concussions were caused by athlete-to-athlete contact and stick or ball contact accounted for 23.5 percent.

The rules for girls and boys lacrosse are different. The girls game is designed to be softer and safer, says Dr. Comstock. Girls are not allowed body contact or bodychecking like boys are, and girls have what they call the sphere rule, which dictates that there is a seven-inch imaginary bubble around the head of each girl, and no one is supposed to be allowed to stick check within that imaginary seven-inch bubble, she says.

Those two rules are supposed to be preventing head injury in girls lacrosse. The problem is our data shows that those rules are not currently protecting them, says Comstock.

Although there could be a few different solutions for reducing the risk of concussion in girls lacrosse, requiring the girls to wear the same helmets as boys seems to be one of the more logical and proven options, says Comstock.

Theres lots of research out there that shows that helmets are actually very effective at preventing the kind of injuries of the type that occur when youre struck directly in the head by a stick or a ball. Helmets are not as effective in preventing the concussions that occur from athlete-to-athlete contact though, she says.

This safety issue seems like low hanging fruit, says Comstock. Weve recognized an injury problem in a sport, and we have an available intervention that we know would be effective at reducing that injury risk why not utilize it? she says.

Although girls arent allowed to wear the same hard-shell helmet that boys wear, there is headgear that is optional for girls lacrosse. In 2015, U.S. Lacrosse, the governing body of lacrosse in the United States, collaborated with ASTM International, a nonprofit organization that develops and publishes international voluntary consensus standards, to develop a standard protective headgear for womens lacrosse.

The headgear fully covers the head and is flexible to ensure that players wearing the headgear will not injure players who are not wearing it, according to U.S. Lacrosse. The standard has two options, one with integrated eyewear, the other without, although any headgear used must be worn with the required eyewear.

The differences in head protection are presumably based on the rules, and not any inherent difference between the sexes.

There isnt really a biological or clinical reason for requiring different helmets for boys and girls, says Mark Halstead, MD, an associate professor in orthopedic surgery and pediatrics and the director of the sports concussion program at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

And, Comstock adds, Its not clear if all the girls wore the optional headgear if it would reduce concussions, in part because hardly any girls chose to wear it.

Girls lacrosse was very resistant to the protective eyewear mandate in 2004. There was a lot of pushback, says Dr. Halstead. Eventually it happened, but with a fuss. Certainly, I could see a similar issue if the change in headgear was proposed, he says.

This unwillingness to change is not unique to lacrosse, says Comstock. Historically, every time theres been an effort to introduce protective equipment into different sports theres been pushback from people, though the arguments are often the same, regardless of the sport, she says.

Some people argue that the helmets and full-face mask would reduce peripheral vision or somehow impede the vision of the players, therefore putting the athletes at increased risk because they wont see balls or sticks coming at them and be able to react accordingly, says Comstock. That sounds logical, but if the boys could wear the helmet without any undue risk, why cant the girls? she asks.

Then there's the gladiator effect argument: If you put a piece of protective equipment on the players it will cause them to be much more reckless and aggressive, which could introduce new injuries into the game because of that increased aggressiveness, says Comstock. The helmets havent had that effect on the boys game, and theres no reason to think that it would cause that for girls, she says.

Playing a sport is associated with numerous health benefits, such as decreased risk of obesity, chronic disease, and depression, along with improved life skills, including time management and goal setting, according to research published in the Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine.

We know that playing sports is the most important way for young people to incorporate physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle, Comstock says, adding that the findings are not intended to discourage girls from participating in high school lacrosse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that athletes avoid the following behaviors to reduce the risk of concussion in sports:

Id love to see more kids play more sports. I just want to keep them as safe as possible while they do so, Comstock says.

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Should High School Girl Lacrosse Players Be Required to Wear the Same Helmets as High School Boys? - Everyday Health