Blog Post 6 - News Review

Coronavirus and Nightmares: How to Stop Them? 

In reality, we are all in the same boat during this pandemic when looking at it from a humanistic point of view. But how many of us are being attacked in our dreams by COVID-19 and transforming them into nightmares? How many of us cannot escape COVID-19 even when we're sleeping? According to the article I'm reviewing, a sleep doctor gives us tips to stop having COVID-19 nightmares and start dreaming again. 

Right now, we quite simply can't escape the impact of COVID-19—not even in our dreams. No, really, not even in our dreams. There's a good chance that you, like me, have your shoddy four or so hours of sleep riddled with intense nightmares: hospital zombie apocalypses, tiger chases (with Joe Exotic), frantic climbs up mountains of toilet paper rolls that you inevitably tumble down, down, down. Perhaps you, like me, wake up the middle of the night, shaking, asking yourself, "Why am I having coronavirus nightmares? And how can I make them stop?"

The article is a good read but the tips that are given are not essential to the pandemic that is occurring because we should and need to incorporate them in our daily lives. I think the article lacks originality in this sense that it should not have been aimed as Coronavirus nightmares but rather COVID-19 should have been incorporated as the crisis we are facing in present times. It is part of the psychological problems occurring in people right now and as a result, a percentage of people are having trouble sleeping.

"Stress or anxiety can be nightmare triggers, and certainly the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic could precipitate vivid nightmares," says Dr. Watson. Thus, in this difficult time, it is important to focus on our general health and sleep health in order to have nightmare-free nights."

This is a general example given by Dr. Watson saying that the pandemic could cause vivid dreams but in our everyday lives we encounter nightmares on a daily basis so looking at it from a reader's point of view, the pandemic is another nightmare amongst all the nightmares we might have witnessed in the past, we're witnessing in the present and shall of course witness in the future. What I am coming to is people experience nightmares every day of their lives due to tragedy, death, illness, heartbreak. Therefore, only saying that during this difficult time, we should focus on our health is just a straightforward answer given to ease the stress we're encountering. By putting it in a more generalistic view, it would have been better and not put too much focus on the pandemic itself because it is a wave that we're living through today. In the future, another wave will come, and then what. I'm sure by then we would have had multiple nightmares and I'm sure health always needs to be a priority, not only today.

The writer says that we should focus on taking care of ourselves during this time and be aware of what we can realistically control. But shouldn't we do this every day of our lives? 

Ending on a positive note, what we can learn from this article is to take the given tips and use them for our daily routines even after this pandemic ends. 

Blog Post 5: News Review

The Population's Health: 

COVID-19 and Air Pollution 

According to two health studies presented on the BBC article, air pollution has been linked to death risk. 

Dr Maria Neira, of the World Health Organization (WHO), told BBC News countries with high pollution levels, many in Latin America, Africa and Asia, should ramp up their preparations. Those with underlying pollution-related conditions have developed severe Covid-19 in countries with high levels.

However, medical professionals say that it is too early to prove this relationship. 

"We will be doing a map of most polluted cities based on our database to support national authorities in these regions so that they can prepare their epidemic response plan accordingly," Dr Neira said.

A US study suggests Covid-19 death rates rise by about 15% in areas with even a small increase in fine-particle pollution levels in the years before the pandemic. Another study, at the University of Siena, in Italy, and Arhus University, in Denmark, suggests a possible link between high levels of air pollution and Covid-19 deaths in northern Italy.

The article simply shows numerous studies, the data collected and the relationship to COVID-19, however, we need to keep in mind that pollution has always been hazardous for our own health. The one beneficial thing that we can thank this pandemic for is that the earth is finally taking a break from humanity in all aspects of life, pollution being one of the most important aspects because it does not only hurt the world's atmosphere and nature but it also badly hurts humanity. 

Air pollution already kills about seven million people every year, the WHO says.

What this article has taught me is not integrated within the statistical studies made which are important, of course, but it helped me reflect upon what needs to be done after this pandemic is gone. Are we going to our past habits or are we going to rise from the ashes and do our part in taking care of the earth? In turn, the earth will take care of us. If we are not going to try and erase our ancestor's mistakes for over abusing the earth's natural resources, our generation is going to give the final hit to earth. Globally, humanity needs a complete shift in mindset and actions in order for change to emerge. 

If we are not going to be the ones that start to change the world we live in, everything will continue to go downhill. It does not matter how much the world has been modernised because of technology and science. If we can sustain what keeps us alive - earth, then everything we do is simply a waste of time because future generations will not benefit from anything if what will remain for them is a world in need.

If you would like to read the original article, please find the URL link below:
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52351290

Blog Post 4: News Review

Children and Happiness: 

UK Children At Their Lowest Levels of Happiness In A Decade

Children's innocence and the happiness that they are able to create within their own world can be said to be envied by most adults who experience reality every single day. We can acknowledge the fact that real happiness can be found when we are kids (of course not every child can be happy due to the reality and experience they are born into) because we have no understanding of the outside world. When we are children, we create our little world full of happiness and wonder and we live in that little bubble with ourselves and with the friends that we make until we grow up and really hits that everything left behind is nothing more than happy memories and dreams we made up as children. We try to hold onto them as much as possible, not because we were children but we try to remember what happiness felt like as a child, contrarily to the happiness we feel as adults. 

Children's happiness in the UK is at its lowest point in a decade - with crime and the environment among their key concerns, according to a new report.

The Independent published an article the clearly shows the decrease in happiness in children in the UK is at its lowest in a decade. According to figures from the Children's Society charity 

nearly a quarter of a million children in the UK – the equivalent of 219,000 – report being unhappy with their lives as a whole.

According to the Children's Society annual report, INCREASEd BULLYING, FEELING UNSAFE AT SCHOOL, and EXCESSIVE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA are some of the potential driving factors behind the drop.

The significant decline is a “national scandal”

One in eight children are unhappy with school - which is at its lowest level since 2009 - and Year 10 students suggest bullying and not feeling safe at school are some of the reasons for low wellbeing. 

Poverty, financial strain, and unhappiness with school life are found linked according to the study. Moreover, physical appearance has been growing and the gap between girls and boys is narrowing. Usually, boys are happier with their appearance than girls but times have changed and both circles are growing. The report suggests that part of the rise is due to social media 

Mark Russell, chief executive at the Children’s Society, said: “Modern childhood is a happy and carefree time for most, yet for too many it is not. It is a national scandal that children’s unhappiness is increasing so quickly. Today’s young people are becoming progressively unhappy with their friendships – one of the fundamental building blocks of wellbeing – as well as appearance and school. “Children are also burdened with fears ranging from worrying about the future, not having enough money to not feeling safe at school and bullying. Many young people tell us they feel sidelined and ignored by those in power.”

The world we live in today is drastically changing day by day and this is not only affecting adults but also children. There needs to be a change otherwise, we are going to drown in an ocean filled with unhappy children and that is going to be our future generation.

The article mentioned the problems but did not give any detailed information about what can be done apart from the following. 

Children will be taught how to build mental resilience – as well as how to recognise when their peers are struggling with mental health issues – as part of statutory lessons, the government announced.

If you would like to read the original article, please find the URL link below:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/child-happiness-crime-environment-school-bullying-social-media-a9080721.html

Blog Post 3: News Review

Psychological and Emotional Well-Being:

5 Mental Health Tips During Lockdown 

Being stuck inside during this pandemic can feel overwhelming even though we are in the comfort of our own home. Being unable to go outside freely makes the majority of us feel imprisoned and this can have a negative effect on our psychological and emotional health. 

BBC News shares a video with the world with direct instructions given by Dr. Radha Modgil on how to deal with mental health during this lockdown. 

Her first tip is being in CONTROL. She suggests to reflect upon and be aware of what we are in control of and what we are not. We can definitely be in control of the following which is crucial in the present situations: washing our hands, social distancing, and self-isolation. On the other hand, she suggests writing a list of things we are not in control of. This way we can visualise our thoughts on paper, reflect on uncontrollable situations, and learn how to let go of them. This way, we learn how to maintain an emotional and psychological balance with our inner selves and removes unnecessary stress that we do not need whereas, in reality, the majority of us keep on accumulating until we feel like a timebomb ready to explode. I'm sure many of you can relate to!

Her second tip is CARE. This tip revolves around self-care and routine. By taking care of our outer selves and maintaining a routine, we are giving ourselves the love that it deserves from the outside and also from the inside. This tip is vital because unless we take care of our health and try to keep a balance between ourselves and our lives, everything else we do will seem useless because we will be trapped in a circular motion of doing the same thing over and over again like machines instead of living the moment, whatever we may be doing. The first tip is simple - making sure to wake up at the same time every day, but in reality, how many of us wake up at different schedules day after day which ends up affecting our circadian rhythm. Maintaining good hygiene, having a good sleep, and doing some sort of exercise all are important tips that Dr. Modgil shares with us in order to take care of our outer and inner selves. 

CONTINUITY is her third tip. We live such a chaotic and stressful life that balance is something the majority of us struggle with, therefore it vital for us to try and find some time each day to ourselves in order to find our grounding, our normality. It differs from person to person but makes sure you are doing something that lets you unwind and makes you feel happy. Due to the current situation try to find your happy place by doing something you love inside or try to learn something new. Some simple things you can do are watching your favourite TV programme or listening to your favourite radio station, reading books, drawing, playing an instrument, watching an instrument, learning a new skill whatever it may be like for example learning a new language. Internet is your best friend. Learn to use it to your advantage and instead of spending hours on social media, try to use the internet to acquire something for yourself that you can use in your free time or on a day to day basis. 

CREATIVITY is her fourth tip. This tip is crucial especially during this time period because we need hobbies to keep us engaged, sane and give us a sense of normalcy. There are many different hobbies that we can learn or that we already have but could not find time to do them before. Now is the perfect time to start. Painting, crafting, singing, dancing, reading, journaling, cooking, gardening, writing poetry or lyrics, etc. Whatever it is and what makes you feel happy just do it because it will help your mind. It will help you!

Last but not least is COMPASSION. By compassion, Dr Modgil is referring to kindness. We need to be kind to ourselves and seek help if we need to especially during these difficult times but we also need to be kind to others. Help you, siblings, with homework, you mother by cooking and cleaning, you father with gardening or washing the car, contact a friend via mobile or social media and listen to them if they need someone to talk to. Try to give them your advice if it helps. Do something for you but also do something for others. 

Last but not least take care and stay safe.

The tips mentioned above are suggested by Dr Modgil but I added to them by giving my own personal opinion. If you would like to watch the short video on her tips, please find the link below: 

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/newsbeat-52411394/coronavirus-dr-radha-s-five-mental-health-tips-for-lockdown

Blog Post 2: News Review 

Mindfulness During Lockdown:

 Taking Care of Our Psychological and Emotional Health 

We are all dealing through this pandemic in our own way. Some may think that we are all in the same boat and others may not. Reality wise, we’re floating on the same boat when it comes to the virus itself because we are all human beings and each and every one of us can be hit by this invisible monster. However, when it comes to our psychological, physical, and emotional health, every individual is definitely struggling in his/her own way due to our personal experiences that we are being faced with in present times. 

For those that are trying to find some sort of normalcy by creating your own psychological and emotional balance, whilst the storm keeps hitting on a daily basis, The Telegraph news posted an online article of ten tips and activities for us to try during this lockdown. 

The guide introduces a list of activities that can help us enjoy as much as possible a stress-free lockdown and find some serenity during these strange times. What’s different about this list is that it does not focus on issues like eating healthy, exercising at home, getting a goodnight's sleep, etc. which are of course vital and beneficial to our health and well-being. However, this is an interesting list that can be truly beneficial as a daily routine which I would preferably call them as tools.

The first one is rather interesting. It's something that we do on a daily basis but never think about how much time we waste and how much stress we accumulate by reading and writing e-mails. This tool helps us to reduce the time we spend on e-mails, therefore we are also reducing our stress levels and time. 

EMBRACE YOUR INFINITY BOX

Studies show the average person sends and receives over 100 emails a day, checks their inbox 77 times, and spends 3.2 hours of their working day on emails. Which is a whole lot of time wasted.

What’s the answer? Step forward, ‘inbox infinity’, which is the exact opposite of striving for ‘inbox zero’. While the latter is the never-ending quest for a clean inbox, the former is simply accepting the number of emails in your inbox will always be infinite. Or else, only check your emails at set times rather than every five minutes; never hit ‘reply to all’ unless necessary; hide your inbox so you can’t see emails pop up while you’re working, and know it’s OK to ignore some emails.

Another tool that we can use is by finding some time to disassociate ourselves from our own thoughts and enhance our focus by using breathing techniques. 

CHANNEL YOUT INNER TIGER WITH THE 3-4-5 BREATHING TECHNIQUE 

“No matter what situation we are in, if we can learn to dissociate ourselves from the thoughts and the tricks that our minds can play on us, that's where success lies. “The simple way to anchor yourself in the present is the 3-4-5 breath, which is just breathing in for three seconds, holding it for four seconds, and breathing out for five seconds,” says Britton. “That enables a lovely flow, with your diaphragm expanding and the deep breaths coming in. It grounds you at the moment.

An endless strain for many is money and through these harsh times we are encountering, money can is clearly an issue especially for many who lost their jobs. 

KEEP A SPENDING LOG 

If there’s one thing that drives us all to distraction it’s money. Whether you have too much or too little, planning our financial matters can send even the most rational person into despair. But the Japanese have created the perfect way to stop money matters from causing you too much strain. Kakeibo is the Japanese art of saving – and being more mindful of – money, and it involves running a five-step process money journal. 

On the first page of your journal, start by writing down your money goals and how much you’d like to save. You’ll be reviewing this each week and month to check your progress, so make sure whatever your goal is, it's achievable. Next up, calculate how much money is available to you each week and month after bills. Then keep a weekly spending log. Write down everything from that daily flat white to the payday shopping spree. By forcing yourself to write it down and confront your spending, you may find yourself less willing to shop ‘til you drop in the first place. In other words, you'll become more mindful of your money. At the end of every week and month, come back to your journal and review your purchases. Finally, having reviewed your spending, compare it to your overall money goal. What could you be doing to improve and help make it towards the goal? Once you’ve figured out a plan, write that down too. 

Above are only mentioned three of the most interesting tools that I found beneficial to many not only during this stressful period but also for our daily lives when normalcy is back on track. However, if you are interested in reading all the tools, please find the URL link below.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/coronavirus-tips-mindfulness/

Blog Post 1: News Review 

 How is COVID-19 Impacting Our Health and Lifestyle? 

A beginning, a start for something new — 2020 was supposed to be a new decade for many! Something has new was definitely on the horizon, however, none of us were expecting it to be a pandemic. COVID-19 has impacted the health of millions, killed thousands and we are still months away from the anxiously awaited vaccine. 

How is this pandemic affecting our health and lifestyles? 

On the BBC News website, diverse questions emerge regarding how simple lifestyle choices that were unnoticed in a not so distant past have become the epicenter of many. Questions like: 

Can I walk my dog under the category of daily exercise? - James Leslie, Burgess Hill

How long does the virus live on different surfaces? A friend gets my paper and shopping, and I have meals delivered - how do I unpack? - Mrs. Rye, Crewe

Is it safe to buy fruit and veg, including salad food that is not in any packaging and if it is not, what should I do to make it safe? - R Doyle, Berkeley

are being asked on a regular basis by many. This is due to the fact that this invisible and invincible (at least until a vaccine is found) virus can be caught from anywhere and many people want to be educated about it. 

The questions shown above were asked and answered on the BBC article but the news article should have tackled even more problematic areas that many people are encountering. I am sure that you as the reader can think of some!

The questions were tackled in simple straight answers whereas the writer should have not only answered the questions but should have built a topic, for example on how people can exercise at home during these difficult times. Our health definitely cannot be neglected but walks are not the only forms of exercise that one can do in this situation. People in the UK, for now, can still go on walks but how about those that are in total lockdown like Italy? We have the use of technology which is definitely a blessing to many. Therefore, why not try to surf the Internet whereas one can find many videos and articles pertaining to fitness with guided instructions. YouTube, for instance, has numerous videos pertaining to health and fitness from beginner to experienced levels. 

The news article should have also clarified the means of presenting a list to the readers to see how many hours or days the virus lives on different surfaces. 

Evidence suggests the virus can live for an extended time outside of the body, including on surfaces.

This quote is part of an answer pertaining to the second question. Yes, of course, the virus can live for an extended period of time, but people need to be educated on the amount of time that it can live on the different fabrics, surfaces, etc. A simple list with the name of the surface for example and the amount of time would have sufficed. 

The news article should have brought more to it by building on the questions of others because there is a lack of information that could have been implemented instead of a question and answer only.


If you would like to read the original news, please find the URL link below:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51176409

Welcome to My Health and Fitness Blog! 

This blog is aimed at everyone who is interested in Health and Fitness. Various topics and health and fitness news reviews will be introduced, analysed and discussed. Enjoy!